Bulldogs hit the course for the first time this spring

LEWISTON — Just over a year ago, the Sandpoint golf team took part in the North Idaho Challenge at Quail Ridge Golf Course to open the 2020 season.

At the time, the Bulldogs had no clue that the COVID-19 pandemic would engulf the country and that would be their only event in 2020.

Well after a long hiatus from high school competition, the squad finally returned to action Monday when Sandpoint participated in the Lewiston Invite. The event was a warmup for the season and the tournament was played with a unique two-person scramble format.

Seven schools competed and the boys played at Lewiston Golf and Country Club while the girls took the course at Bryden Canyon Golf Course.

On the boys side, the Bulldogs' first pairing made up of their top two players — Harley Wilks and Dawson Owens — posted a 75, tied for 10th best at the tourney.

In their first varsity event, Sandpoint's second twosome of Darren Bailey and Connor Bird finished with a 78. Will Hurst and Jacob Gove shot an 82, and Merek Bauck and Andrew Hernandez had an 86.

With each school's top three pairs counting toward team scores, Sandpoint captured fourth with a 235. They finished one stroke ahead of Lake City and Lakeland. Moscow finished last with a 270 and Coeur d'Alene grabbed first with a 214.

Despite the different format, head coach Mike Deprez said it was nice to see how the boys stacked up against district rivals Lakeland and Moscow. In years past, the Bulldogs have struggled keeping pace with both teams, but this season things are looking different.

"I'm extremely content and happy with how they played," he said. "They clearly showed the others teams, primarily those in 4A, that it's no longer a given ... The adrenaline is flowing and they are seeing a light at the end of a tunnel as far as the ability to maybe not necessarily be a window dressing in a competition to qualify for state."

Camille Neuder and Annaby Kanning led the way for the girls, tying with two other pairings for the best scramble score with an 80. CeCe Deprez and Anna Auld posted an 82, the fifth best. Hattie Larson and Karsen Granier shot a 96.

As a team, the girls finished second with a 258, 14 strokes behind first-place Coeur d'Alene (244).

"I'm very happy," Deprez said about the girls' performance. "Everybody is feeling optimistic."

Most of the teams that competed at the tournament have had a chance to practice on an actual golf course this spring, but not the Bulldogs. Sandpoint is still swinging off mats in a barn, so Deprez said it was really nice to get outside.

"More than anything, all the players were enthusiastic," he said.

The Bulldogs head to Red Wolf Golf Club in Clarkston, Washington, next Monday for a match against Moscow and a handful of other teams.

Lewiston Invite

BOYS

TEAM SCORES: 1. Coeur d'Alene 214, 2. Lewiston 215, 3. Post Falls 226, 4. Sandpoint 235, 5. (tie) Lake City and Lakeland, 236, 7. Moscow 270.

MEDALISTS: Jack Scibly and Carson King, Lewiston, 65.

COEUR d'ALENE (214): Cole Jaworski-Parker Freeman 67, Trey Nipp-Rylan Crawford 75, Quinton Sampsel-Luke West 72, Trace Goucher-Wyatt Williams 71, Adam Bruns-Jameson Dale 71.

LEWISTON (215): Jack Scibly-Carson King 65, Dylan Braden-Justin Sandvick 73, Noah Accord-Christian Lyber 77, Landon Teem-Gavin Grisalwa 90, Christian Reed-Cornac Laybourn 89.

POST FALLS (226): Dominic Mosby-Cameron Rotchford 72, Boen Torgerson-Trevor Bennett 74, Connor Patterson-Blake Gleaves 80.

SANDPOINT (235): Harley Wilks-Dawson Owens 75, Darren Bailey-Connor Bird 78, Will Hurst-Jacob Gove 82, Merek Bauck-Andrew Hernandez 86.

LAKE CITY (236): Seth Hartley-Jack Kiesbuy 77, Wyatt Johnson-Max Hosfeld 78, Cole Kimball-Jacob Stephenson 81, Sean Hecomovich-Rylan Judd 91.

LAKELAND (236): Aden Sandlin-Kyler Gordon 72, Richie Thomas-Mason Burcham 77, Brady Hanna-Grant Roth 87.

MOSCOW (270): Bryden Brown-Benny Kitchel 75, Taylor Strong-Logan Swanson 95, Alex Lee-Caleb Matson 100, Matt Veder-Dylan Taylor 108, Alex Sanford-Isaac Harmon 100.

GIRLS

TEAM SCORES: 1. Coeur d'Alene 244, 2. Sandpoint 258, 3. Lake City 265, 4. Lewiston 266, 5. Post Falls 272, 6. Lakeland 305.

MEDALISTS: Paige Crabb-Taylor Potter, Coeur d'Alene, 80; Camille Neuder-Annaby Kanning, Sandpoint, 80; JoJo Dodge-Ashlynn Shanley, Lake City, 80.

COEUR d'ALENE (244): Paige Crabb-Taylor Potter 80, Holly Hudson-Cassandra Lee 81, Brianna Priest-Marin Rowley 83.

SANDPOINT (258): Camille Neuder-Annaby Kanning 80, CeCe Deprez-Anna Auld 82, Hattie Larson-Karsen Granier 96.

LAKE CITY (265): JoJo Dodge-Ashlynn Shanley 80, Lily Kimmel-Lindsey Angelo 84, Dorie Kiesbuy-Hannah Hall 101, Chloe Hanna-Joey Heick 102.

LEWISTON (266): Tellez-Siebly 83, McCarthy-Kramasz 90, Samuels-Halstead 93, Brume-White 99.

POST FALLS (272): Hanna Christensen-Keaton Delaney 88, Payton Blair-Laraina SiJohn 89, Catherine Gordon-Hannah Conjiov 95.

LAKELAND (305): Madison Wiedenhoff-Kylie Kime 97, Jessica Thompson-Heather Thompson 101, Karsyn Miller-Hannah Peterson 107, Gabi O'Neal-Natalie Herold 108.