By JASON ELLIOTT

Sports writer

The scores are right with the top teams in the state for the Coeur d'Alene boys golf team.

So will be the familiarity of Lewiston Country Club, where the Vikings have played — and won — twice already this year, including last Thursday's 5A Region 1 tournament.

"The boys have just been really consistent this year," Coeur d'Alene boys golf coach Chase Bennett said. "All of the team scores near the top are within a few shots on any given day. And we're right in the mix."

Coeur d'Alene won the regional title with a 303 last week. Middleton, likewise, shot a 303 to win the District 3 title (Boise area) last week. Lake City also qualified from the Region 1 tournament with a 337.

"We're right with Middleton, but it will be like it always is," Bennett said. "It's going to be a dogfight and a battle."

The 5A tournament is Friday and Saturday in Lewiston. The 4A tournament will be at the University of Idaho Golf Course in Moscow.

5A: Eagle and Boise, winners of the 2022 tournament in the first year of a two-year trial of playing golf in the 5A and 4A classification in the fall, are also expected to contend according to Bennett, in his fifth year as coach.

"With Boise schools, it's tought to tell," Bennett said. "They travel well, but so do we right now. I really like our odds and we're playing as good as anyone right now. Maybe this is the year where we can give ourselves a shot for the blue trophy."

Coeur d'Alene finished third at state in 2022 at Teton Lakes Golf Course in Rexburg. Four of five golfers return from that squad.

"If they can go out and play their game, and play where their ability is, that could win it," Bennett said. "If the boys can play the couse and play pressure and stress free, being this close to home, it can defnitely help out."

Lake City freshman Trey Lambert was boys medalist last week, shooting a 1-under 72. Teammate Max Hosfeld, a senior, shot an even par 72 earlier this year at Lewiston.

"Hopefully we can string some stuff together and get a few guys into the low 80s and see what happens," said Lake City boys coach Kelly Reed, in his second season. "Coeur d'Alene has a great chance to win it because they're super familiar with that course. Our kids, they felt they could have played a lot better and are excited to get back down there. Our kids are golf junkies and at the course all the time, getting better and paying attention to the little things. It's been fun to see them mature throughout the season."

Coeur d’Alene won the girls regional title by seven strokes over Lewiston at regionals last week. Rocky Mountain won its third straight girls title last fall.

Coeur d'Alene was sixth at state in 2022, with Lewiston finishing fifth.

4A: Bishop Kelly (boys) and Twin Falls (girls) won team titles at last year's tournament.

Sandpoint's girls and Moscow's boys qualified from the Region 1 tournament last week in Moscow.