Gsl Golf Teams Ready To Tee Off
GSL golf
A fter finishing among the lower four teams in the nine-team Greater Spokane League, things are looking up for the Central Valley and University High girls golf teams.
The CV boys golf team tied for third in the GSL last year and is expected to finish at least as high this year. Like CV, University returns most of its boys lineup, but coach Dale Bouge is thinking longer term.
Gonzaga Prep expects to be strong in both boys and girls competition.
GSL play begins April 14.
CV boys have improved depth
Four golfers return from the team which, with six additions, has more depth than in seasons past.
Two state qualifiers, juniors Brandon Smith and Kyle Schwahn, are back for their third seasons.
Junior Jason Woolf and senior Shawn Patterson also return to the lineup.
“I’ve been waiting for so long for these kids to grow,” said coach Barry Poffenroth.
Joining the returnees are seniors David Stone, Ben McMaster and Josh Gallion. Juniors are James Homer and Jason Robisch. Sophomores are Ben Asmundson and Stuart Ward.
“We’re young,” said coach Barry Poffenroth. “We’ll have strong teams for the next couple of years.”
Titans look to future
U-Hi coach Dale Bouge is looking to the future.
“Next year, if we progress like I expect, they should be right there,” he said.
Last year, junior Chad Waddle, sophomores Jeremy Lust, Jeremy Decker and sophomore Brandon Ware were among the team’s top five golfers on a co-fifth place team.
Senior Garth Overman, freshmen Adam Lindeblad, Cary Stemm and James Numata and sophomore Rob Carter are battling for varsity berths.
Prep top four as good as any
Gonzaga Prep has four boys who can play with anybody in the league, said coach Phil Kuder.
Three seniors lead the G-Prep boys, including Mike Ray, Matt Brajcich and Valley resident Joe Jordan.
Junior Mark Van Gemert and sophomore Adrian Herdner are joined by freshman newcomer Dan Potter.
“I think our seniors have really improved. With the addition of Potter, we should be better,” Kuder saids.
Top seven return for U-Hi girls
U-Hi’s Bouge said his young team is ready to improve on last year’s 5-11 record.
His top seven golfers have all come back and five of those are juniors.
“I’m really excited about the girls team,” he said. “All are already golfing in the mid-to-high 40s.”
Leading the way is junior Crystal Conant, who was not many strokes away from a state berth last year.
Juniors Tanya Burroughs, Megan Johnson, senior Cheryl Bierwagen and junior Lisa Stong were within a few strokes of each other.
Also back are junior Alyssa Woods, senior Emily Tyson, and newcomer Carrie Numata has joined in.
“This year the playoff courses, Liberty Lake and MeadowWood, are good for us,” said Bouge of the girls playoff chances.
CV girls mirror boys team
A year ago the 3-13 Bears forfeited matches because at times they couldn’t field a full lineup.
Like the boys, this year’s group has a complete roster and won’t suffer a similar indignity.
“Both the girls and boys teams are the best I’ve had,” said coach Barry Poffenroth. “They are good players with a good work ethic at practice.”
Seniors Sandy Hughes, Kim Allen and sophomore Kimi Hendrickson are back.
Joining them are sophomores Michelle Grafos and Amy Bragdon, and senior Katie Carpenter.
Completing the varsity roster are junior Shanna Smith, sophomores Angie Woolf and Natalie Arnold.
“We’ll be .500 (in league) with these kids, easy,” said Poffenroth.
G-Prep girls in upper division
Gonzaga Prep’s girls team expects to be an upper division finisher in the Greater Spokane League.
“I’m not sure if they could go head to head with Ferris or Mead, but we shouldn’t do worse than third,” said coach Phil Kuder. “Then again, we could surprise someone.”
The G-Prep girls are led by senior Jennifer Murphy, who qualified for state a year ago.
Other seniors on the team include Lisa Zimmer, Heather Wallace, and North Side resident Stephanie Warn.
Emily Brajcich, Esme Carson and Melissa Murphy round out a Bullpup team.
, DataTimes