Priest River boys golf punches ticket to state; Butler places third
Luke Butler taps in a putt during an Intermountain League match at the Ranch Club Golf Course last year.
(File photo by DYLAN GREENE)
RATHDRUM — The Priest River boys golf team is headed back to state.
The Spartans clinched their spot in the state tourney by finishing second as a team at the 3A District 1 championships on Monday at the Twin Lakes Village Golf Club.
Head coach Dan Buttrey said these boys are a coaches dream.
"I'm proud of all the kids," he said. "This is a very good, blue chip group of boys."
The Priest River boys finished 65 strokes ahead of third place Bonners Ferry and 47 strokes behind first place Kellogg.
Sophomore Luke Butler led the way, carding an 84 to place third overall as an individual. Kameron Salesky shot a 96, Bowen Fegert had a 97, Jace Yount posted a 108 and Hayden Stockton finished with a 110.
The boys will compete at state for the third time in the last five years.
"The boys did make it to state, but some of them can and need to golf much better, and I believe they will," Buttrey said.
The girls finished fourth at districts, missing out on a berth to state. Senior Olivia Hoepfer led the squad with a 108 and Sarah Storro shot a 120.
Buttrey said the future is bright with the girls.
"Our girls didn't make it, but all of them except for one had never golfed before this year," he said. "They all worked hard and improved every week. They are all young and I look forward to next year."
The Spartans head back to the Twin Lakes Village Golf Club next Monday and Tuesday for the 3A state tournament.
BOYS
TEAM SCORES (top two to state) — 1, Kellogg 338. 2, Priest River 385. 3, Bonners Ferry 450. 4, Timberlake 465.
MEDALIST — Stephan Paul, Kellogg, 73.
INDIVIDUAL STATE QUALIFIERS (top four to state) — 4, Colton Mendenhall, Timberlake, 89.
KELLOGG — Stephan Paul 73, Archie Rauenhorst 78, Griffey Doerschel 91, Robbie Bublitz 98, Jaeger Hall 96.
PRIEST RIVER — Kameron Salesky 96, Luke Butler 84, Bowen Fegert 97, Jace Yount 108. Hayden Stockton 110.
BONNERS FERRY — Wyatt Iacolucci 92, Trent Freeze 126, Evan Nesbitt 105, Zane Carver 127, Tyson Tadlock 131.
TIMBERLAKE — Colton Mendenhall 89, Chris Conrath 114, Gavin Antone 131, Taylor Menti 131, Zach Paslay 136.
GIRLS
TEAM SCORES (top two to state) — 1, Bonners Ferry 391. 2, Kellogg 435. 3, Timberlake 478. 4, Priest River 508.
MEDALIST — Braylyn Bayer, Bonners Ferry, 87.
INDIVIDUAL STATE QUALIFIERS (top four to state) — 3, Izzy Hilliard, Timberlake, 88.
BONNERS FERRY — Braylyn Bayer 87, Avery Bayer 87, Cali Iacolucci 108, Mia Blackmore 109, Lily Blackmore 130.
KELLOGG — Alyssa Milliron 99, Gracie Miller 111, Elliott Hei 116, Jezzy Hall 109.
TIMBERLAKE — Izzy Hilliard 88, Emma Torr 148, Avery VanGundy 115, Madeline Hunter 136, Kirstyn Edelblute 139.
PRIEST RIVER — Olivia Hoepfer 108, Sarah Storro 120, Brooklyn Best 133, Maria Hass 160, Kaylea Rantala 147.