SHS golf not afraid of quick turnaround

All fall sports have had a year to disgust and accept the fate of what happened a year ago and start to rebound from the effects.

However, that's not the case for the Sandpoint High School golf team.

Both the 4A and 5A classifications in the state of Idaho have moved the sport of golf to fall. However, that hasn't affected the Bulldogs.

"Spring was so hard because it was so cold," Sandpoint girls golfer Alexa Tuinstra said. "Now that we get to play in the heat and go straight into season after the summer season, it's a good advantage."

Mike Deprez, Sandpoint's head golf coach, consistently has his players hitting the links at the Elks Golf Course year-round.

This has translated into many of Sandpoint's golfers competing in the Idaho Junior Golf League, which has also helped them get ready for such a quick turnaround.

"We golf every Monday and Tuesday and (Alexa) and I went out one day and played 18 holes at the Idaho Club," Sandpoint girls golfer Taylor Mire said. "We've been out a lot and playing the Idaho Junior Golf League."

The team was also prepared for the switch, having known it was coming almost a year in advance.

"Things haven't really changed from what we do in the summer," Deprez said. "The strong emphasis has been for the young girls and the freshman to play Idaho Junior League golf during the summer to get as many competitive rounds as they can."

Deprez has also formed a mentor program. Pairing some of the best golfers around the city of Sandpoint with younger golfers to improve their game.

"Each of the players have kind of adopted a kid and played nine holes with them once a month," Deprez said. "They work on some of those shots that you need to have on the course along with decision making. We're trying to be innovative along those lines and give them something new."

The Sandpoint girls golf team qualified for the state tournament after finishing first at the Class 4A Region 1 golf tournament.

Even more impressive, the Bulldogs accomplished this feat with three freshmen and a sophomore in their starting lineup.

While in Meridian, the young team finished in seventh place with a score of 850.

Following a successful spring season, the Bulldogs seem anxious to get back on the course this fall.

"It was a really valuable experience to go down to state," Tuinstra said. "We played pretty well for how young we are, and we're really close to being where we want to be."

Going to state as a group of freshman and sophomores, isn't something that happens without hard work and dedication, which is something the girls have come to figure out throughout their training this offseason.

"We're playing against a lot of juniors and seniors so years to come those players will graduate," Mire said. "We're a young group competing at a high level, so when we're competing as juniors and seniors at state, that will give us an advantage to practice in that atmosphere."

Deprez noted that the girls have done an excellent job throughout the summer cleaning up some fundamental issues that they had during the spring.

"They're doing a great job addressing those last few fundamental issues," Deprez said. "I'm expecting 2022 to be a trophy year for the girls."

The boys' team didn't make it to the state tournament last year; however, Joey Aexel made it as an individual.

"I think I realized it would've been a lot better if the whole team went," Aexel said. "I felt pretty lonely for four days. I didn't have the best showing down there and having the whole team there would've helped."

Deprez expects him and fellow senior Jacob Gove to take a step into a leadership position during the fall.

"They've lived and breathed golf their whole lives and I want them to transfer that mindset to the younger kids," Deprez said. "I'm hoping those guys nfuse that love to these incoming freshmen multiple times a week."

The boys were two strokes away from earning a spot at the state tournament and, according to Deprez, the only thing that will get them over the hump is playing more golf.

"All golf coaches are all the same where all of your shots are as important as your last," he said. "The guys gave everything they had on the last day of districts. I just want them to go out and play competitive golf. I want them to get comfortable playing all 18 holes."