MERIDIAN — The Sandpoint golf team finished day one of the Idaho Class 4A state golf tournament at the Lake View Golf Course on Monday in fifth place with a score of 416.

"All of them are very new to high school golf as a collective," Sandpoint golf coach Michael Deprez said. "I couldn't be happier with their performance. They wanted to shoot lower but the golf course was rough."

The team's morale was eerily similar to another group, according to Deprez.

"We're really hoping for an evolution arc here," he said. "In 2019 the girls finished in third and a light bulb went off."

That same group went on to win a state championship in 2021.

"I think these girls walked away with the same thought process," Deprez said. "They're all smart and understand they have a good foundation. They just need to iron out some details."

Alexa Tuinstra led the pack with a score of 90.

"(Alexa) Tuinstra played really well," Deprez said. "I'm really proud of where her hitting is at. She just needs a break every now and then."

Joey Aexel, the lone boys' player, finished two-under par with a score of 94.

“The course was tough on everyone today,” Deprez said. “He had a rough first couple of holes and then he finally had a good break towards the end.”

Deprez is confident in Aexel’s ability to learn from his mistakes and improve for the second round.

“He’s learning the course,” he said. “I expect him to take this round and learn from it. He’ll make better decisions relative to the momentum.”

The Bulldogs will be back in action today for round two of the Idaho Class 4A state golf tournament.

TEAM SCORES — 1, Minico, 346. 2, Bishop Kelly, 353. 3, Twin Falls, 360. 4, Century 384. 5, Sandpoint, 416. 6, Hillcrest, 421. 7, Middleton, 424. 8, Skyline, 431.

MINICO — Dallis Shockey, 77. Ava Young, 84. Allison Shockey, 86. Malia Manning 99, Jaycee Matthews 106.

BISHOP KELLY — Margret Smock 79, Gia Codina 107, Maddie Heringer 89, Maeve Fitzgerald 98, Jesi Moodie 87.

TWIN FALLS — Ava Schroeder 83, Ciarra Bohrn 93, Cierra Bohrn 93, Remi Pedersen 89, Hallie Western 95, Mackenzie Burnham 108.

CENTURY — Sofia Lippiello 85, Lauren Asand 83, Ariana Long 98, Emmy Richards 118, Secorra Osborne 123.

SANDPOINT — Audrey Sheffler 111, Alexa Tuinstra 90, Taylor Mire 98, Reagan Samuels 118, Claire Loutzenhiszer 117.

HILLCREST — Challiss Potter 88, Ellie Billings 88, Eliza Smith 118, Alexya Hutchings 127, Jodyn Keller 143.

MIDDLETON — Olivia Lammey 89, Amy Oekerman 110, Gabby Bermudez 114, Rylee Brocke 111, Yauenia Rodriguez 123.

SKYLINE — Hailee Cole 86, Karlie Mickelsen 104, Kamry Fellows 118, Maya Wells 134, Kyan Shippen 123.