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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Golf notes: Behind Eric Ansett and Tanner Comes, deep Ferris Saxons team on track for GSL repeat

Clarence Hough has been coaching the Ferris boys golf team for 15 years. He knows a good team when he sees one.

He sees one.

“I might have had a stronger team, we had four guys (Corey Prugh, Ryan Camp, Reid Hatley and Michael Hastings) play in college and that’s hard to beat,” Hough said. “But this is a very quality team. We have two college players and four others that can break 80.”

Ferris, led by player of the year Eric Ansett and district champion Tanner Comes, won the 2013 Greater Spokane League title. The Saxons are off to a fast start with victories in the first two GSL tournaments as they pursue consecutive titles for the first time since 2004-05.

“Things have gone good,” Hough said. “They should be going good, I have those three kids coming back that went to state last year. I only graduated one of our top seven. I’ve got a more mature lineup than the rest of the league.”

Ansett shot a 68 at Wandermere as the Saxons won the first of five GSL tournaments. Comes was next with a 71. Parker Ruehl, who joined Ansett and Comes at State 4A last year, shot a 73, tied with Gonzaga Prep’s Michael Brutocao and Central Valley’s Michael Stansberry and Jake Dringle.

Ferris’ Adam Martin added a 75 and Mike Almquist shot a 77.

Comes was the medalist with a 73 earlier this week at MeadowWood. Ansett, who has signed with Division I Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tenn., was second with a 75. Lewis and Clark’s Isaac Hall and Mt. Spokane’s Sam Stiles shared third with 76s.

Ansett and Comes “are in the hunt in every tournament we’re in,” Hough said.

The race for second is wide open. Gonzaga Prep and Mt. Spokane have had one second-place finish and Central Valley has been in the top five in both tournaments.

Wildcats take charge

Mt. Spokane, coming off the first GSL girls title in school history, are well on their way to repeating. The Wildcats won the first two GSL matches by 12- and 15-stroke margins. Lewis and Clark placed second in both events.

Senior Sierra Bezdicek, the State 3A champion in 2012 and runner-up in 2011 and 2013, anchors a deep squad. She shot a 76 at Wandermere and a 73 at MeadowWood.

“She’s doing her usual steady as a rock, scoring in the low 70s,” coach Eleen Northcutt said.

Six Wildcats placed in the top 16 at both tournaments. Freshman Megan Billeter has contributed scores of 88 and 92.

“It’s a thing of beauty,” Northcutt said. “To see those scores and all of them are under 100 and five under 90 in that first match (at Wandermere), I just stood there and had this grin on my face.”

Bezdicek, who will play collegiately at Northern Arizona with older sister Savana, is third in combined scoring behind LC junior Sierra Kersten and Mead junior Lydia Kim.

“They’re a dream to be around,” Northcutt said. “Happy, funny and silly, and they get to work, too. I really enjoy them. It’ll be a sad awards dinner with our (four) seniors.”

Kersten, the State 4A champion last year, has fired rounds of 71 and 73. Kim has scores of 74 and 71, the latter claiming medalist honors at MeadowWood earlier this week. Kersten (72.75) edged Bezdicek (73.5) for 2013 player of the year honors.

Gonzaga Prep, led by Kelly Hooper’s 75 and 79, has placed third in both tourneys.

Tap-ins

Joseph Glenn shot a 3-under 69 at Coeur d’Alene Golf Club to help Post Falls win the Lake City Invite. The Trojans finished with a score of 300. Lewiston was second at 306, followed by Coeur d’Alene at 316. Lakeland senior Derek Bayley finished three strokes behind Glenn. … Allison Duffin (83) and Emily Callahan (85) led Coeur d’Alene to a 20-stroke victory over Lewiston in the girls’ event. Lewiston’s Sammi Jo Spring was medalist with an 81. Lake City’s Emily Dodge was third with an 84. … Bayley (66), who has signed with Washington State, and Comes (67) finished one-two at the Palouse Ridge Invitational on Thursday. Palouse Ridge is WSU’s home course. Ferris won the team title.