RITZVILLE — Including one state qualifier returning from last year’s team, the Lind-Ritzville/Sprague golf team brings a unit of 10 golfers into the 2024 season, an increase of last year’s six players.

“We’ve got a pretty good sophomore class,” LRS golf coach Jack Welker said. “I think five freshmen came in and they’re all a good group of kids that have been working together and playing on the golf course since they were little.”

This will be Welker’s second season as head coach of the Bronco golf team, having stepped into the role last season. Welker also coaches football in the fall and wrestling in the winter.

“I learned that golf is a real mental game,” Welker said of what he learned from last year. “Focusing on the mental aspect and finding drills that help you focus on that.”

LRS senior Lance Williamson was one of two Broncos that qualified for the 1B/2B Boys State Golf Championships in Tumwater last May, with the other being Hunter Dinkins, who graduated last year. Dinkins finished in 22nd place, while Williamson missed the cut for the second round.

Welker said Williamson has been a leader for the team’s fellow golfers.

“For him, he’s the big example,” Welker said. “He comes into practice and he focuses, he works his tail off. The other kids see that, and they follow his lead.”

Along with Williamson, Welker noted sophomore Beau Fode and freshman Jase Bowman as fellow standouts returning from a season ago.

“We had a couple kids that went to sub-districts last year that were really close to making it to districts,” Welker said. “Their goal is to get to districts, and then hopefully get to state. We’ll see a couple of those kids really pushing forward on that.”

Many Bronco golfers also compete in other spring sports, whether it’s running track or playing baseball.

“We give them the choice, so it’s whatever they want to do; if they want to focus more on one sport than another, they can totally do that,” Welker said. “I have some kids that are doing Tuesday (and) Thursday golf, and then track Monday, Wednesday, Friday.”

Through the next few weeks before the Broncos head to their first tournament, Welker said the golfers have been working on yardage and chipping drills.

“(We’re) just completing those drills every day, and then doing a little bit of golfing,” Welker said.

LRS opens the 2024 season with a league match at the Quail Ridge Golf Course in Clarkston.

“(I’m hoping) to really see them putting in the things that they’ve worked on and seeing it on the golf course,” Welker said. “Some of the things they really want to focus on at the beginning of the year that they struggled with last year, and seeing if they progress  in those things that they’ve been working hard on.”

Ian Bivona may be reached at ibivona@columbiabasinherald.com.

    Broncos junior Brix Curtis chips the ball toward the green during a March 12 practice.
  

    Lind-Ritzville/Sprague freshman Jase Bowman hits an approach shot during practice at the Ritzville Golf Course.
  

    Broncos sophomore golfer Beau Fode tees off during practice Tuesday afternoon.