Host Lewiston likes Vikings’ state chances

Lewiston High boys golf coach Shawn Nilsson knows his team will benefit from home-course knowledge when the State 5A tournament is held Monday and Tuesday at the Lewiston Country Club.

Nilsson also believes he knows which team could win the state championship.

“Coming into the year, I thought Coeur d’Alene was the team to beat because they returned everybody,” Nilsson said. “They’re good.”

Coeur d’Alene finished sixth at state last year, two spots out of a trophy. The Vikings thought they should have finished higher.

“They had a bad first day at state last year,” Nilsson said.

Nilsson likes his team’s chances, too.

“We’re undefeated at home,” he said.

To challenge for a state title, though, CdA and Lewiston will have to play much better than they did Wednesday at the Region I tournament at the Prairie Falls Golf Club in Post Falls. CdA captured its fourth straight regional title and Lewiston finished runner-up, but both teams struggled.

“If we shoot like we did (at regionals), we won’t have a shot,” CdA coach Bryan Duncan said.

Nilsson figures two rounds around 290 (580) will easily be in the hunt for the state title.

“It might not take something that low,” Nilsson said. “It might be more like 590 to 600.”

CdA junior Tyler Johnson, who earned medalist honors at regionals with a 1-over-par 71, expects the Vikings to be in the mix.

“I feel like we’ve got a good chance of winning the state title,” Johnson said. “We’ve got to work on finishing strong. That’s hurt the team a little bit before.”

The Lewiston, CdA and Post Falls girls all qualified for state. They can challenge for a trophy, but not a state title.

Post Falls sophomore Genna Dodge certainly will be contention for a medal. Dodge shot an 85 in a match at the Lewiston Country Club this season and had a career-best even-par 72 in a practice round at the state course.

Dodge qualified for the 4A state tourney last year in Post Falls’ final year in that classification. She said her scoring average has improved eight strokes since last season.

“I feel like I’ve come a long ways from last year,” Dodge said. “My consistency last year wasn’t as good as it is now.”

The sport has come naturally to Dodge, 15, who started playing with her grandmother four years ago.

“I’ve worked really hard,” she said.

Dodge thought her regional round could have been lower, but she suffered from a balky putter.

“I’m going to spend some extra time putting before state,” she said.

Dodge’s goal is to finish in the top five.

“I wouldn’t be disappointed to be in the top 10, but top five is my goal,” she said.