Badgers’ Power Trio Rocks State Field
As Bonners Ferry golf coach Dan Butler thought about his girls winning the State B championship, it dawned on him that it must have been meant to be.
Too many things had to converge at the same point for it not to be fate, he explained.
The road to destiny, for example, included the following:
The Badgers opened the season with just two girls. To field a team in tournaments, they needed a minimum of three players (the three lowest scores of four players are scored at meets).
Saying they would have a chance to qualify for state, Sarah Walters and Dana Robertson coaxed Brianne Hill to turn out three weeks into the season.
The Badgers finished 30 strokes behind first-place Priest River at the district tournament. Had they finished third or lower, they wouldn’t have qualified for state because they shot 10 strokes above the state-qualifying standard.
The day before state, the Badgers each found lucky pennies (one at the golf course, one at Dairy Queen, one at the motel).
In the first round at state, the trio shot personal bests.
The Badgers became one of the youngest teams to win the state title (Walter and Hill are sophomores, Robertson a freshman).
“I thought if they played up to what I’d seen them play, we’d be in the medal round, that we’d make the cut,” Butler said.
Win state? Butler, realistically, didn’t think it was possible.
Bonners Ferry built a 9-stroke lead after the first round Friday at Clear Lakes Golf Course in Buhl. Walter shot 82, finishing third in medalist play (80 was the winning score). Six teams were within 15 strokes of the Badgers.
They used all of the cushion to finish in a tie Saturday after regulation play.
“I stayed in the background (Saturday) and was watching them with binoculars,” Butler said, laughing. “And from what I saw in the binoculars, we were missing a lot of short putts. When they were adding up scores at the clubhouse I was just hoping we were in for a medal.”
It was playoff time.
“It’s like there’s no time on the clock and you’ve got to hit two free throws,” Butler said, trying to explain the pressure.
It was the Bonners Ferry threesome vs. the Weiser foursome. It didn’t start well, as Hill suffered a triple bogey.
But Weiser’s No. 1 and 2 golfers each had double bogeys, opening the door for Walter and Robertson. They both got up and down for pars, and the celebration ensued.
“Going to state, I thought we could place if we played our best,” Walter said. “When you only have three players it puts more pressure on you. We’re advertising for a fourth person now.”
The Badgers should be flooded with applicants. After all, they should have a good shot at winning another state title before they graduate.
“We’re going to have to improve,” Walter said. “Most of the same teams will be back. We’ll have to knock some strokes off our scores.”
All-Star game set
The annual District I-II All-Star football game, featuring graduating seniors, will be played June 1 at Coeur d’Alene High School. Kickoff time is 3 p.m.
The District I roster was finalized Tuesday. Intermountain League champion St. Maries placed the most players on the team (eight), led by quarterback Jason Holdahl and linebacker/running back Jason Hall.
Inland Empire League champion Post Falls is represented by five players. Most notable are wide receiver Brett Hollenbeck, quarterback Travis O’Briant and lineman Jeremy Wallace.
A complete roster can be found in the Stat Sheet.
St. Maries coach Curt Carr will serve as head coach. His all-star staff will include Tom Wofford of Bonners Ferry, Jerry Lee, Jeff Hinz and Troy Mattox of Post Falls, Dave Rounds and Dave Herndon of Wallace, Shawn Amos of Kellogg and Bill Anderson and Todd Limoges of Coeur d’Alene.
This ‘n that
Kudos to athletic directors Larry Schwenke (Coeur d’Alene) and Ron Adams (Lake City) and numerous volunteers for their tireless work in preparing and maintaining the fields for the State A-1 softball tournament last week. Without them, the tournament wouldn’t have been completed.
Construction began this week on the new tennis courts at CdA High. The courts should be completed and ready for play next spring.
, DataTimes