Boys' team competing at State
The Intermountain League held its District Golf Tournament at Mirror Lake Golf Course on Monday, May 9 to determine the League's qualifying teams and individuals to represent the League at the State Tournament. The Bonners Ferry Badgers Boys' team came in second at District, which qualified them to go to State. In first place at District was perennial powerhouse Kellogg, shooting a team total of 318, followed closely by the Badgers with a 341. In third place was Timberlake with a 408, and rounding out the scoring was Priest River at 443.
Individually at the District Tournament, Badger Phil Pollacia had a round of 77, putting him in second place at the District Tournament, and only a single stroke behind Kellogg's Chase Jerome who had a 76 to take first place at the Tournament. Other Badger golfers at District were: Kevin Shea in fourth place with 80, Mitch Kramer with 88, Christopher English with 96, and Drew Foster at 106.
As the District Tournament closed, BFHS Head Golf Coach Ralph Lotspeich was optimistic about the team's chances at State. "It's going to be interesting at State. We keep getting closer and closer to Kellogg, who will be a contender to win State. I like our chances to compete both as a team and individually."
The Badgers' Lady Golfers also performed well at the District Tournament. With their first full team in years, the Girls finished second in the District Tournament, shooting 557. Leading the way for the team was Serenity Winey with a 133, followed by Sydney Chouinard at 139, Kaylee Kramer 141, Alayna Youngwirth 144 and Mariah Roy 171. Winning the District tournament was Kellogg, which shot a team total of 419, while Timberlake came in third behind the Badgers with a 579 total.
"I am really excited for the future of this girls team," Coach Lotspeich said. "This is the first year any of these girls played in any tournament, and for them to come in second at District is amazing. If these girls make golf a priority this summer and play and practice a lot, I know they will give Kellogg a run for their money next year. "
Next, it was on to State for the Badger Boys' team. The State Tournament was held May 16 and 17 at River Birch Golf Course in Star, Idaho. The Boys finished Day 1 of the Tournament in fifth place, but with great play on Day 2 where they trimmed 30 strokes off their Day 1 total team score, they moved up a spot to fourth place, taking the fourth place overall trophy at State with a total two day team score of 702.
Order of finish at the 3A State Golf Tournament for the Boys was:
1. Buhl
2. Gooding
3. Kellogg
4. Bonners Ferry
5. Homedale
6. Snake River
7. Shelley
8. Weiser
Bonners Ferry's Phil Pollacia placed ninth individually out of all golfers at the 3A State Tournament, shooting
78
the first day and 79 the second, for a total two
day score of 157.The Badger Girls did not compete at the State Golf Tournament. The Intermountain League's Kellogg team took first place at State Golf for the Girls' 3A classification.