STATE PREP GOLF: A glance of qualifiers for events today, Tuesday
Coeur d'Alene Press | UPDATED 10 years, 8 months AGO
At Highlands Golf Course, Pocatello
Local qualifiers: Coeur d'Alene boys and girls; Jake Vetsch, Lake City; Kenny Dodge, Lake City; Emily Dodge, Lake City.
Eagle's boys won their fourth straight state title last year, and fifth in the last six seasons. Coeur d'Alene was second for the fifth time under coach Bryan Duncan. The Vikings, second to Lewiston at regionals, have flown a bit under the radar this season, but produced the top two scores at regionals in medalist Colton Gable's 74 and Bryce Volking's 75. None of this year's Viking boys played at state last year. Eagle won its eighth District 3 title in nine years last week.
Coeur d'Alene's girls, who beat Lewiston to win the regional title last week, are led by Allison Duffin and Emily Callahan. Rocky Mountain's girls won state last year, and Lewiston was second. Rocky won the District 3 title last week.
At Twin Falls Municipal Golf Course
Local qualifiers: Derek Bayley, Lakeland; Lakeland girls
Bayley, who has signed with Washington State, won the individual title in a playoff two years ago as a sophomore, then finished 10th last year. He's been the dominant player in North Idaho this year, winning six tournaments. The improving Hawks boys program was hoping to qualify, but finished second to Sandpoint by 11 strokes at regionals.
Lakeland's girls won the regional title, led by medalist Haley Rotchford.
Twin Falls' boys and Bishop Kelly's girls are defending state champions. Twin Falls has won the last three state titles, BK the last two.
At Clear Lake Country Club, Buhl
Local qualifiers: Kellogg boys and girls; Ross Jenkins, Timberlake; Eric Parent, Timberlake.
Gone is Kaceelyn Pouttu, who won the last four 3A girls individual titles for Kellogg. She's now at Weber State. But the Wildcats are back at state, led by District 1 tournament medalist Jessi Gibbons. Kellogg gave longtime coach Simon Miller a nice retirement present last spring by winning its first state girls title in school history. Longtime golf pro Ron Barker is Kellogg's head coach this year. Gibbons was third at state last year.
Kellogg's boys are led by District 1 tourney medalist Jesse Lambert, who was eighth at state last year. Lambert, Chrishtain deYoung and Tristan Panke are returees from last year's Wildcats team that was sixth at state. Jenkins and Parent qualified for state by finishing second and third, respectively, at regionals. Buhl is defending boys champion.
At Rupert Country Club
Local qualifiers: Wallace boys; St. Maries boys, girls; Jordan Nilson, Lakeside; Rachael Arthur, Lakeside; Emily Nelson, Wallace.
Wallace's boys won the District 1-2 title last week, and St. Maries' boys and girls each were second. Ryan McNulty, was boys medalist last week, helped St. Maries to an eighth-place finish at state last year. The Lumberjacks were third at state last year, 22 stroke behind winner Nampa Christian. Wallace was ninth.
Aberdeen's girls won state last year. St. Maries, led by returnee McKenzie Rose, was sixth. Orofino's girls won districts this year.