STATE 6A/5A GOLF: Wilson wins again, Viking girls second in 6A; Lake City's Lambert fourth in 6A boys

NAMPA — From the summer to this weekend, Coeur d’Alene sophomore Ella Wilson had played RedHawk Golf Course more than a few times between junior golf and high school golf. 

On Friday, Wilson made it count once again. 

Wilson shot an even-par 71 in the second round and finished at 2-under-par 140 to win a second straight state 6A golf championship, her six-shot victory helping lead the Viking girls to a runner-up finish for the second straight year. 

“This one feels a little more real, but it’s still surreal,” Wilson said. “I definitely felt like I knew the course so that when the pressure came, I was more prepared to handle it.” 

On the par-3 sixth hole, her tee shot stopped 6 feet from the hole, and she rolled in the birdie putt.

“It was definitely a turning point,” Wilson said. “I birded both the sixth and seventh hole, and that really turned things around and I started to play with more confidence. I knew right then that I’d stick it out and battle.” 

Coeur d’Alene finished 19 shots back of Rocky Mountain of Meridian, which won a fifth straight state title with a 609.

Sophomore Leah Heavener finished 11th with a 76-82—158 for the Vikings. Freshman Emily Stillert was 15th with an 80-82—162, freshman Kinsley Meier tied for 17th with an 82-84—166, and sophomore Jossetta Williams tied for 20th with an 85-85—170. 

“I couldn’t be more proud of my team for how we represented our city and school,” fifth-year Coeur d’Alene girls golf coach Jeff Lake said. “The girls played great both days, and we’re a really young team with everyone back next year. There was a little disappointment after the tournament, but we’re setting our sights on next year.”

Lake City junior Trey Lambert, the 6A boys leader after the first day with a 67, finished fourth in a card-off with a second-round 73 to finish at 140. 

“It was just one of those days where he was striking the ball really well, but had some unfortunate bad luck,” first-year Lake City boys golf coach Nik Bjurstrom said. “He had a couple of putts that lipped out and didn’t catch many breaks. He played well and put himself into a lot of good opportunities, but just couldn’t find it. The pin placements were really tough today, and if you were off, it left you a difficult spot coming in.” 

Lambert finished seventh at state a freshman in 2023 at Lewiston Country Club.

Coeur d'Alene sophomore Ben Focke finished seventh with a 1-over 143.

"He's been right there at even par all season," seventh-year Coeur d'Alene boys golf coach Chase Bennett said. "He's just been really consistent for us and played unbelievable today."

Focke tied for 11th as a freshman.

Coeur d'Alene's boys finished sixth with a 627. Mountain View of Meridian won the boys title with a 579. 

Justin Anderson from Thunder Ridge in Idaho Falls beat Gavin Mylnarik of Mountain View in a playoff for the boys title, after each finished at 4-under 138.

Zachary tied for ninth after 

first day in Caldwell

CALDWELL — Lakeland junior Tyler Zachary shot a 5-over-par 76 to finish the first round in a five-way tie for ninth place in the state 5A tournament at Purple Sage Golf Course.

Lakeland's girls are sixth after shooting a 386 in the first round.

Defending champion Bishop Kelly of Boise leads the 5A boys tournament with a 297.

Twin Falls leads the girls tournament with a 334.

The tournament concludes today in Caldwell.

6A 

At RedHawk Golf Course, Nampa 

BOYS 

Par 71 

6,208 yards 

TEAM SCORES — 1, Mountain View 285-294—579. 2, Timberline 293-296—589. 3, Boise 299-297—596. 4, Thunder Ridge 305-309—614. 5, Rocky Mountain 311-313—624. 6, Coeur d’Alene 317-310—627. 7, Eagle 326-309—635. 8, Highland 315-321—636. 

STATE MEDALISTS (Top 10) — 1, Justin Anderson, Thunder Ridge, 68-70—138. 2, Gavin Mylnarik, Mountain View, 69-69—138. 3, Mason McGee, Mountain View, 70-70—140. 4 , Trey Lambert, Lake City, 67-73—140. 5, Luke Drescher, Timberline, 69-71—140. 6, Andy Metzler, Timberline, 70-71—141. 7, Ben Focke, Coeur d’Alene, 72-71—143. 8, Jack Bureau, Boise, 70-75—145. 9, Brayden Johnson, Meridian, 73-72—145. 10, Reid Hoppock, Boise, 73-73—146.

COEUR d’ALENE — 8, Ben Focke, 72-71—143; t-19, Hunter Paquin, 74-80—154; t-27, Brady Rubert, 80-80—160; 44, Kellen Christensen, 91-79—170; 47, Dylan Cook, 98-89—187. 

LAKE CITY — 4, Trey Lambert, 67-73—140. 

GIRLS 

Par 71 

5,885 yards 

TEAM SCORES — 1, Rocky Mountain 298-309—607. 2, Coeur d’Alene 307-319—626. 3, Eagle 342-357—699. 4, Mountain View 346-355—701. 5, Highland 357-355—712. 6, Canyon Ridge 364-359—723. 7, Borah 379-375—754. 

STATE MEDALISTS — 1, Ella Wilson, Coeur d’Alene, 69-71—140. 2, Danika Humphries, Canyon Ridge, 75-71—146. 3, Maggie Urian, Rocky Mountain, 72-75—147. 4, Zoe Moore, Rocky Mountain, 72-77—149. 5, Natalie Nichenko, Rocky Mountain, 80-74—154. 6, Indie Taylor, Eagle, 77-78—155. 7, Autumn Ankeman, Ridgevue, 81-75—156. 8, Alexandra Jensen, Centennial, 157. 9, Elliana Hoopes, Rocky Mountain, 74-83—157. 10, Lucy Johnson, Borah, 78-80—158. 

COEUR d’ALENE — 1, Ella Wilson, 69-71—140; 11, Leah Heavener, 76-82—158; 15, Emily Stillert, 80-82—162; t-17, Kinsley Meier, 82-84—166; t-20, Jossetta Williams, 85-85—170.

5A 

At Purple Sage Golf Course, Caldwell 

BOYS 

Par 71 

6,753 yards 

TEAM SCORES — 1, Bishop Kelly 297. 2, Twin Falls 314. 3, Skyline 315. 4, Preston 323. 5, Sandpoint 326. 6, Century 330. 7, Hillcrest 331. 8 (tie), Lewiston, Pocatello 339. 10, Middleton 344. 11, Skyview 345. 12, Jerome 347. 

TOP 10 INDIVIDUALS — 1, Aiden Szentanai, Bishop Kelly, 68. 2, Liam McGee, Century, 72. 3 (tie), Russell Larson, Emmett; Charlie Hilvers, Bishop Kelly, 73. 5 (tie), Bode Eacret, Sandpoint; Dan Moodie, Bishop Kelly, 74. 7 (tie), Brody Payne, Twin Falls; James Dunn, Twin Falls, 75. 9 (tie), Mason Denning, Hillcrest; Noah Salem, Idaho Falls; Tyler Zachary, Lakeland; Jaxon Lopez, Preston; Tanner Cole, Skyline, 76. 

LAKELAND — t-9, Tyler Zachary, 76. 

GIRLS 

Par 71 

6,337 yards 

TEAM SCORES — 1, Twin Falls 334. 2, Middleton 340. 3, Shelley 369. 4, Bishop Kelly 373. 5, Century 375. 6, Lakeland 386. 7, Jerome 396. 8, Lewiston 397. 9, Skyline 408. 

TOP 10 INDIVIDUALS — 1 (tie), Gracee Payne, Twin Falls; Mallory Higham, Shelley, 76. 3 (tie), Cara Carter, Bishop Kelly; Ava Smith, Middleton 79. 5, Ellie Higham, Shelley, 82. 6 (tie), Emme Mickelsen, Skyline; Dear Phongam, Nampa; Abby Mann, Middleton; Kambell Richards, Century, 83. 10, Reagan Larson, Emmett, 84. 

LAKELAND — 14, Paige Carey 87; t-18, Dani Russell 90; t-28, Ellie Austad 98; t-39, Bridget Derbyshire 111; NS, Kendal Prety 122. 

    Courtesy photo The Coeur d'Alene High girls golf team finished second in the state 6A tournament on Friday at RedHawk Golf Course in Nampa. From left are Livi Garcia, Ella Wilson, Kinsley Meier, Leah Heavener, Emily Stillert and Jossetta Williams.
  

    Courtesy photo Coeur d'Alene junior Ben Focke finished seventh in the state 6A golf tournament on Friday at RedHawk Golf Course in Nampa, shooting a 1-over-par 143 in the two-day tournament.
  

    Courtesy photo Lake City junior Trey Lambert finished fourth in the state 6A golf tournament on Friday at RedHawk Golf Course in Nampa.