Titans, Bears Drive Into Golf Season April 10

When spring rolls around in the Valley, so does golf season. The Valley’s Greater Spokane League golf teams already have swung on the practice green and are preparing for season openers on April 10.

Here’s a look at this year’s Central Valley and University squads:

University

Coach Dale Bouge has more than a few eyes looking his way. After bringing the Titans to GSL domination last year, he hopes for a replay.

“Last year was the first time we won the championship, but we were never a losing team,” Bouge said. “I don’t know if we can win it again, but that’s certainly our goal.”

He sees this year’s boys threats as Mead and Central Valley.

Although he lost Mark Waddington, last year’s state AAA individual champion, Bouge has five of his seven varsity players back. True to the trend of big turnout numbers, he had a large pool to choose replacements from.

“We had 55 kids signed up, and that’s for a sport that used to get only 15 or so,” he said. “It’s gotten really popular.”

This year’s returning players on the boys’ side include three-year lettering senior Matt Johnson, who was named to the all-GSL team as a sophomore. Others returning are seniors Tim McElhinny, who was named allleague last year, and two-year letterman Matt Lindeblad, and juniors Josh Knowles and Kelly Hineman.

Others expected to contribute are seniors Brad Mickelson and Tim Bisterfed and junior Jeremy Knudson. Bouge also sees potential in freshman Chad Waddle.

The Titans have a young girls team, with just two players returning from last year’s sixth-place GSL finishers.

“They’re young but talented,” Bouge said.

Those returning players are Amy McElhinny and Brooke Smith, both sophomores. The rest of University’s varsity is composed of newcomers, including sophomore Emily Tyson and freshmen Megan Johnson, Tanya Burrough, Emily Anderegg and Alyssa Woods.

The Titans start their season April 10 against Gonzaga Prep and Shadle at Esmeralda.

Central Valley

The Bears didn’t run the league last year, but they weren’t a team to crack under pressure. The CV boys placed fourth in the GSL last time around, and the girls placed seventh.

Coach Barry Poffenroth said it’s a matter of stamina: Add some experience to his team’s predictability, and the Bears will be a force to be reckoned with.

“If they’re consistent, we should be right in the hunt,” Poffenroth said. “We didn’t have the real low scores last year, but everyone scored low consistently.”

Helping to that end on the boys’ side are returning players Mike Labella, a senior, and juniors Marty Woolf, Jeff Allen and Jeremy Saty.

Other players to watch include Luke Stabros, a junior transfer who was Freeman High School’s No. 1 player last year. Talented freshman Brandon Smith and sophomore Shawn Pattison will also be vital this season.

“(Pattison) is right up there,” Poffenroth said. “He’s a sleeper.”

Returning players on the girls’ side include lone senior Tracy Schauerman and junior Christa Klein, who is expected to be the Bears’ No. 1 player.

Others returning are junior Desiree Lockwood and sophomore Megan Fincher. Sophomores starting for the first time are Alix Miller and Kim Allan.

The Bears start the season April 10 against Rogers and Mead at Liberty Lake.