Toenjes fires a 74 for Bulldogs in Pullman

PULLMAN — Freshman Max Toenjes continues to drop strokes, carding a season-low 74 to lead Sandpoint to an eighth place finish among 28 teams on Thursday at the Palouse Ridge Invitational in Pullman.

It was a strong pack finish for the Bulldogs, as Dylan Dufenhorst, Noah Faude and Jared Presnell were all in the low 80’s, posting a 322, the best team score Sandpoint has seen in recent memory.

“The boys played extremely well. I’m really proud of them. It poured down rain most of the day, but they hung in there,” said Bulldogs head coach Tom Tharp, whose team shaved more than 20 strokes off their last outing but still trails Lakeland in the bid to go to state. “They’re the team to beat, but we’re nipping at their heels. Things are looking pretty positive for us.”

Derek Bayley of Lakeland shot a 6-under-par 66 to earn medalist honors and lead the Hawks to a second-place finish. Bayley, who has signed to play next year at Washington State — whose home course is Palouse Ridge — strung together five straight birdies, on holes 8-12.

With Toenjes and Dufenhorst playing well, the Bulldogs could become even more dangerous once David Currie returns from an injury for districts.

Next up for the Bulldog golf team is the Kraus Invitational on Monday at Avondale Golf Club in Hayden Lake.

BOYS — 1, Ferris 289. 2, Lakeland 302. 3, Lewiston 305. 4, Post Falls 311. 5, Ephrata 316. 6, Clarkston 317. 7, Lake City 321. 8, Sandpoint 323. 9, Coeur d’Alene 325. 10, Central Valley 329. 11, J.L. Crowe 331. 12, Mead 332. 13, Cascade 334. 14, University 349. 15, East Valley 351. 16, Moscow 352. 17, Othello 355. 18, Pullman 360. 19, North Central 361. 20, Prosser 370. 21, Lakeside 375. 22 (tie), Freeman, Humphries 377. 24, Deer Park 390. 25, Cheney 404. 26, West Valley 425. Southridge, Wapato incomplete teams.

MEDALIST — Derek Bayley, Lakeland 66.

LAKELAND — Derek Bayley 66, Preston Roth 76, Andrew Knight 78, Hayden Nosworthy 82, Clayton Anderson 90.

SANDPOINT — Max Tonjes 74, Dylan Dufenhorst 83, Noah Faude 83, Jarred Presnell 83, Lewis Dunton 116.