Prep golf notes: Post Falls boys and girls on quite a roll
There are a lot of reasons why Post Falls has emerged as favorites in 5A Inland Empire League boys and girls golf.
Some boys examples: Cameron Flores was medalist with a 72 at Palouse Ridge to help the Trojans win the 22-team Pullman Invitational. Drew Harris carded a 72 for the low round as Post Falls claimed the Lake City Invitational at the Coeur d’Alene Golf Club. Joseph Glenn shot a 70 at the Highlands for medalist honors as the Trojans finished first earlier this week at the Post Falls Invitational.
Harris shot a 73, Tanner Byers and Flores each had 74s and Nic Riorden added a 75 at the Links as the Trojans rolled to the Genesis Prep Invitational title.
In Thursday’s tourney at the Highlands, four Trojans placed in the top seven. At Palouse Ridge, the Trojans had four scores in the 70s, including Byers’ 76 and Chase Bomar’s 79. Post Falls’ team score of 300 was 10 shots ahead of Greater Spokane League-leading Central Valley.
“It’s just a really strong team as far as helping each other,” coach Maria Kostina said.
Post Falls’ girls have strung together several impressive finishes, taking second at the Post Falls Invitational while beating its three IEL rivals, winning the Lake City Invitational behind Savannah Routh’s 88 and winning the Kraus Invitational at Hayden Lake Country Club as Renee Mosby shot a team-low 84.
“It’s amazing the progress over last four years,” Kostina said of the girls team. “This is the first time we’ve won anything.”
Lewiston’s Kylie Ash was medalist at the Post Falls, Lake City and Kraus invitationals.
The 5A boys and girls regional tournaments will be held at the Links on May 9.
Glenn, a senior, finished 11th at state last year, barely missing out on a medal. The Trojans placed fifth, just outside the medals.
There was some concern earlier this spring that Flores, a sophomore, wouldn’t be able to play because of an ankle injury.
“At first he tried to play without an ankle brace and he didn’t do very well,” Kostina said. “The trainer and myself convinced him to wear the brace and he’s playing the best ever played.”
Gonzaga Prep, CV win GSL events
Gonzaga Prep and Lewis and Clark put the brakes on Mt. Spokane’s early domination of the GSL girls season.
Gonzaga Prep senior Kelly Hooper shot a 77 at Liberty Lake on Monday to take medalist honors. Junior Hannah Rieckers added an 85 for third place and Jordan Jaeger’s 88 earned a share of fifth as Gonzaga Prep posted a 457 team score for a 14-stroke win over Lewis and Clark.
Mt. Spokane finished third but still holds first overall with 28 points, followed closely by Gonzaga Prep (27) and LC (26). The Wildcats bounced back to win the Post Falls Invitational on Thursday at the Highlands.
Hooper leads the individual race with a 75.6 scoring average. Mt. Spokane junior Megan Billeter is second at 77.3.
Meanwhile, Central Valley took another big step toward its first GSL boys golf title. Senior Jake Dringle’s 72 and sophomore Zach Stocker’s 77 at Liberty Lake paced the Bears to a first-place finish. Mt. Spokane bunched four players between seventh and 12th to take second, five shots behind CV. Mead, led by senior Dylan Caruso’s 75 and sophomore Nick Muxlow’s 76, was third.
Shadle Park junior Mitchell Weipert (71) shot the day’s lowest score.
Central Valley (30 points) is comfortably in front over Mead (25) and Mt. Spokane (24) awaiting the fourth of five GSL boys and girls tournaments Wednesday at Deer Park.
Dringle (71.3) holds first in the individual standings. Teammates Stocker, Riley Hadley, Cole Howard and Isaac Emerson are averaging in the mid to upper 70s.