Prep golf: Gonzaga Prep boys close in on second consecutive Greater Spokane League title

Gonzaga Prep is right where most expected the Bullpups would be in the Greater Spokane League boys golf standings.

The Bullpups, who returned a loaded roster from last year’s State 4A runner-up team, are on the verge of repeating as GSL champions entering the final regular-season match Wednesday at Deer Park.

Still, it hasn’t been a cakewalk, thanks to a spirited challenge from second-place Central Valley. G-Prep has won three of four GSL events and has 39 points. CV won the opener at Esmeralda and has 37 points.

“It’s a different deal when that expectation is there,” Bullpups co-coach Dennis Dougherty said. “I’ve had lot of conversations with (G-Prep boys basketball) coach (Matt) McIntyre. When you’re expected to win every game, it’s a different kind of pressure.”

The basketball team went 26-0 and had several close calls en route to winning a state championship. The golf team, led by Plaster brothers Nathan (70.3 scoring average) and Jack (73.75) and standout freshman Tommy Kimmel (71.5), have been tested with districts and regionals approaching.

The Bullpups fired a 3-under-par 352 – under-par team scores are rare in prep golf – at Indian Canyon last week to win by 33 strokes over CV. Nathan Plaster carded a 4-under 67, older brother Jack shot a 69.

“We’ve come on pretty strong since the first match,” Dougherty said.

CV has been on G-Prep’s heels most of the season. The Bears won the Inland Empire tournament Monday at Indian Canyon with Zach Stocker firing a 69 and Riley Hadley shooting 72. Mt. Spokane junior Gunnar Knutson was medalist with a 68.

“It’s been surprisingly fun, simply because we saw Gonzaga Prep coming in with all these plus handicaps, lots of horsepower and we said, ‘OK, let’s just see what we’ve got,’ ” CV coach Steve Rasmussen said. “We’ve held our own.”

The Bears have stalwarts in Hadley (72 scoring average) and Stocker (73), the lone senior. The future is bright, with junior Luke Sukut and freshmen Brayden Miles and Garrett Packebush all averaging in the upper 70s.

Knutson (69.75), whose worst score in four GSL events was a 72 at Downriver, leads the race for player of the year. He’s being chased by Nathan Plaster, Kimmel, Hadley, Stocker, Jack Plaster and Mead’s Zane Mularski (74).

Players are allowed to drop their worst score if they’ve competed in all five GSL tournaments.

“Gunnar has played incredibly consistent golf,” Dougherty said.

Twenty GSL players, including 15 underclassmen, carry sub-80 scoring averages.

Tigers hold lead among GSL girls

Lewis and Clark’s girls are comfortably in front entering the final match with 39 points, five points clear of Mead and CV. The Tigers have won three GSL events with Mead claiming the other.

LC has done it with depth and balance.

“We’ve been really focused on trying to continue to build, not that we weren’t before, but this year we have some youngsters that are really excited about playing and returners that have really come on strong,” Tigers coach Michelle Grafos said.

The latter category is led by sophomore Darby Rickel, who fired a season-low 80 at Indian Canyon last week, dropping her scoring average to 84.25, second in the GSL.

“She loves the game,” Grafos said. “I’m excited for her. She’s working so hard.”

Four LC freshmen, led by Marina Lopez (89.25), and two sophomores are in the league’s top 24, but three have posted only one score in league play.

CV freshman Kami Twining has won three of the four GSL tourneys. Her 78.5 scoring average gives her nearly a six-shot edge over Rickel, who won last week’s event at Indian Canyon.

Twining’s dad, John, is the golf coach at East Valley. Rickel’s dad, Brad, coaches the Gonzaga women’s golf team.

The Bears have a strong one-two punch with Courtney Jackson (85.5) tied for third with Mead’s Camryn Culp in the scoring race.