Fitzpatrick, McDonnell lead Bulldogs at state golf
—Photo by ERIC PLUMMER Damien Fitzpatrick, pictured teeing off earlier this season, led the Bulldogs with an 84 at the first day of state on a long course with lots of water.
KUNA — The nerves of state and playing on an unfamiliar course are but two of the factors that make teeing it up at the state golf tournament extra tough.
Throw in some long holes, a persistent wind and a whole bunch of water, and it was no easy track around Falcon Crest Golf Course on Monday during the first day of the 4A state golf tournament in Kuna.
Damien Fitzpatrick, one of five sophomores on a young Bulldog boys squad, shot 84 and teammate Jack Reeves 85, which put Sandpoint in fourth place among the team standings after the first of two rounds. Bulldogs head coach Tom Tharp called Falcon Crest a beautiful course, and expects his team to drop scores quite a bit the second time around after learning a tough learning curve.
“There is water on just about every other hole, and we had some problems with water. The greens are fast and very sloping, and we had a little trouble with those,” said Tharp after the round. “Things are looking up for us tomorrow. They’re all out on the driving range right now.”
Nina McDonnell led the Bulldog girls with a 94, and Caroline Hawkins carded a 96, helping the team to fifth place.
State wraps up today at Falcon Crest.
At Falcon Crest Golf Club, Kuna, Par 72
4A BOYS
TEAM SCORES — 1, Twin Falls 290. 2, Bishop Kelly 303. 3, Minico 331. 4, Sandpoint 350. 5, Century 352. 6, Middleton 356. 7, Rigby 360.
TOP 10 INDIVIDUALS — 1, Preston Nelson, Twin Falls, 69. 2, Daniel Gaspar, Twin Falls, 72. 3 (tie) Hunter Ostrom, Bishop Kelly; Brady Nelson, Twin Falls, 73. 5, Sam Goodman, Bishop Kelly, 75. 6, Zack Molina, Twin Falls, 76. 7 (tie), Casey Lytle, Twin Falls; Brody Bonfilio, Bishop Kelly, 77. 9, Travis Allumbaugh, Bishop Kelly, 78. 10, Adam Ping, Century, 79.
SANDPOINT — Jack Reeves 85, Nick Crowley 91, Damien Fitzpatrick 84, Lake Wilks 90, Jacob Humrich 110.
4A GIRLS
TEAM SCORES — 1, Twin Falls 349. 2, Canyon Ridge 374. 3, Middleton 376. 4, Bishop Kelly 410. 5, Sandpoint 431.
TOP 10 INDIVIDUALS — 1, Bailey Henley, Canyon Ridge, 77. 2 (tie), Taylorre Ward, Twin Falls; Hannah Holloway, Bishop Kelly, 79. 4, Makena Rauch, Moscow, 82. 5, Leila Ayers, Mountain Home, 85. 6, Tanner Thompson, Twin Falls, 86. 7, Maddie Schlader, Middleton, 88. 8 (tie), Lizzy Godinho, Bishop Kelly; Mackenzie Wagoner, Middleton; Alexi Draper, Burley, 89.
SANDPOINT — Caroline Hawkins 106, Alexis Creighton 112, Nina McDonnell 94, Hannah Hurst 119, Maddie Albertson 152.
LAKELAND — McKenzie Roth 115.