Fresh off a state tournament bid a season ago, but with some new faces, the Bonners Ferry High School Boys’ and Girls’ Golf teams will have competitive leaders at the top and lots of development from underclassmen.

“There’s a lot of new faces that haven’t played a lot,” said head coach Travis Blackmore. ”I’ve got 20 kids that have come out, and I’ve got five that have golfed before. We’re going to be really green, and we have a lot of work to do. But I’m looking forward to all the kids getting some good experience under their belt this year and hopefully progressing throughout the season and get better into next year.” 

The girls’ team has only three returning starters – Syndey Hinthorn, Callie Bateman and Nolie Hiatt – all of whom are in their second season of golf. 

“They’re going to be the strength of our core for the girls’ team this year,” Blackmore said. 

The girls will be without twins Avery and Braylyn Bayer, who both graduated last year and now play Division 1 college golf. It was the first time two girls from BFHS in the same sport and same class signed to play for D1 schools. 

The boys have two returning seniors, Eli Blackmore and McKean Laredo. Blackmore earned 3A (now 4A) District 1 medalist honors a season ago. 

“It’ll be Eli and McKean that anchor everything, and then all the younger boys are all brand new,” coach Blackmore said. “I’m excited to see if Eli can do well individually, as well as strengthen our boys’ team. I think he’s got it in him. I think he could be in the top three in the state. It just depends on what the timing and opportunities provide.” 

Skill development for the new golfers can be quick early on, but it will plateau. Blackmore said the key is patience, much like how the team must be patient for better spring weather to truly hit the links. So far, most of the Mirror Lake Golf Course where the team practices is unplayable because it is still too wet. The team hopes for better conditions before its match at Mirror Lake on April 10. 

“We’ve been out before where we’ve never even been able to hit a ball on the course before we played at this match,” Blackmore said. 

Both boys and girls competed in the state tournament last year. The girls were state champions in 2021 and 2023, and they finished second last season behind Kemberly.