Low 5s Earn High 5s For 2 Golfers Cda’s Latscha, Lc’s Asher Medal At A Region I Tournament

Before he blew up in the final round of the Masters last month, Greg Norman owned the par 5s.

Coeur d’Alene High’s Kerry Latscha and Lake City’s Missy Asher, respectively, were medalists at the A Region I Tournament on Wednesday because they devoured the par 5s at the Coeur d’Alene Golf Club.

And the pair are champs because neither blew a gasket in the face of adversity.

Latscha birdied all four par 5s and fired an even-par 72 for boys medalist honors. Asher carded birdies on two par 5s on the back nine en route to the low girls score of 83.

In boys’ team competition, Coeur d’Alene cruised to victory with 311. Surprising Lake City and defending state champion Lewiston tied for second at 324. All three move on to the state tournament next week in Twin Falls.

Lewiston (272) edged Lake City (279) for the girls crown. Both advanced to state - LC because it bettered the qualifying standard of 290.

Latscha was 2 under before lipping out a four-foot par putt on No. 7. He recovered with a bird on the par-five ninth and stayed 2 under until double-bogeying No. 12.

He sputtered on occasion on the closing nine holes, but stayed away from a crushing score. On 14, Latscha’s approach flew the green and he faced a difficult recovery. He chipped 20 feet past the cup, then rammed the putt home.

“That was probably the key hole. If that (putt) missed, it would have gone 4 or 5 feet past,” said Latscha, who is lined up to play collegiately at Grand Canyon in Arizona.

He bogeyed 15, but responded with birdies on two par 5s, 16 and 18.

Latscha credits an attitude adjustment for his improving scores. He admits to temper meltdowns last year.

Coach Steve Cook saw the difference in this season’s first tournament.

“He started off in Lewiston with double, double (bogey),” Cook said, “and came back and shot 75. That set the tone.”

Sandpoint’s Jon Shaver shot 75 for second place, despite playing the par 5s in 1 over. Long-hitting Joe Christensen, Latscha’s teammate, was 1 under on the front, but two back-nine double-bogeys elevated his score to 77.

Lewiston and Lake City needed strong efforts from their fifth and final players to sneak in one shot below the 325 qualifying requirement. Lewiston’s Darren Black had 77 and LC freshman Dave Clark 83.

Clark joined in on the day’s theme by nailing a birdie the par-5 16th, dunking a 25-foot putt.

Asher and Lewiston’s Jacqueline Huff waged a tight girls competition. Tied after the front side, Asher fell a shot behind through through 15.

The swing hole was 16. Asher dribbled her tee shot only 120 yards, but then belted a fairway wood near the green. She chipped close and drained the birdie putt, while Huff bogeyed.

Asher closed with par on 18 for a 2-stroke win.

“I really chipped well,” said Asher, who will likely play at Boise State next year. “Every other part of my game was just OK.”

Asher encountered some nerves on the later holes. “I just took some deep breaths,” said Asher, who gained three shots on the final three holes.

, DataTimes