For the last few years, Sandpoint High School golf head coach Mike Deprez has been building the program from the bottom up, and it's paid off.

His boys qualified for the 5A state tournament last year, finishing sixth, while his girls have been a staple of state tournaments since he took over the program in 2019. Though the Bulldogs went through a slight rebuilding year on both sides in 2025, Deprez said he believes his teams are ready to get back to district champion standard. 

"Once Taylor Mire's team graduated, it's been a question mark each year for everybody," Deprez said. "But this year, hopefully, the girls will ascend, and the boys will take that one more critical step for consistency and in competition, then we'll be in good shape." 

The way Deprez intends to return to form is how they've always done it: through depth. Deprez has made consistency throughout the lineup a priority in his time as head coach, ensuring that it's not just his top player who can shoot the target score of 81 or better. 

On the girls' side, that looks like building up players like sophomores Ella Mahlum, Evey Walker and Ysabelle Lopez. Deprez said the girls' fundamentals are solid, and that the only thing they are missing is more practice in the competitive sphere to get them accustomed to the pressure and get reps. 

Those girls will be supporting Hailey Gove, daughter of former PGA Tour player Jeff Gove, Allison Petro and the team's most accomplished golfer, Hannah Majors. Deprez sang the praises of Majors' commitment and swing, adding that this is the year he believes she can lower her scores down to the 80s. 

"We got our sea legs under us," Deprez said. "I don't think we're at the level to win state, but we are at a level that if things happen and we follow through on and we have the correct approach and commitment levels, then the answer is we could probably take fourth or third place in state." 

For the boys' team, Deprez was quick to name star senior Bode Eacret as the team's leader heading into his final season with the Bulldogs. Eacret's strong performance in the 5A district tournament propelled the team to state last year, and Deprez said he is "all-in" on the sport, looking to help his team yet again. 

Seniors Landon Day and Rajah Brown, who returns to the team after taking his junior year off, will look to lead the team alongside Eacret. 

"These boys are putting their foot on the accelerator," Deprez said of his seniors. 

Surrounding the trio of seniors, sophomore Beckett Fuller, Miller Ely and a few incoming freshmen will be competing for spots on the team. The strongest of the freshmen, Drake Reid, is already shooting in the high 80s, an impressive mark for how young he is, Deprez said.  

Jamen Jensen, Camden Funderberg and Ryan Yake are all continuing to train and progress well with Deprez.  

"State is a two-day tournament, and they take the four best scores out of five. And so, for us, we're going to try to make sure that we are competitive," Deprez said. "If we can do that, then there's a chance that we might sneak in there at fourth or third place. And that's our goal." 

While the expectations may seem high for both groups, Deprez said he feels they are ready for the jump because they've bought into his culture and met his offseason goals. For the girls' team especially, he said there should be no surprises for the young group and expects them to take advantage of it. 

Sandpoint is set to host the 5A State Championship this year at The Links Golf Club in Post Falls, which adds to Deprez's confidence since he says all his players will be familiar with the course. 

"Everybody's a year older and a year wiser," Deprez said. "Their swings are one more year developed, and I'm very happy with that." 

FUN FACT: Beckett Fuller is the nephew of Joey Lovell, an assistant coach for Montana State's women's golf team. Deprez said Fuller has been taking full advantage of his uncle's knowledge as he heads into his sophomore season. 

PLAYERS TO WATCH: BOYS — Bode Eacret, sr.; Landon Day, sr. GIRLS — Hannah Majors, soph.; Hailey Gove, soph. 

MOST ANTICIPATED MATCH: Lakeland, Wednesday, Sept. 2. Deprez said this mid-season tournament is the first time that all the coaches will have their teams figured out and serve as a preview of districts and state.