Friday — March 19, 2004

The sweet smell
of swing

Wood River, Community School
duffers break out the bags

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On the day before St. Patrick’s Day, golfers from Wood River and The Community School got their first taste of the greens.

The Community School boys got and up close and personal look at defending 3A state champion Zach Abels in at action at the Pleasant Valley Country Club near Kimberly.

Abels won the individual title with a nine-hole 33. The Bulldogs placed three in the top three and were the top team with a four-man 149, followed by Declo at 183 and The Community School at 188. Valley carded a 203 and finished fourth.

Cutthroat Christian Cairncross placed fourth with a 40, seven strokes off the lead. Bobby Peterson scored 45, Regan O’Reilly 48 and Alex Dembergh 55.

The Cutthroats schedule resumes after spring break with a meet at Twin Falls Municipal on April 8.

Clear Lakes Country Club in Buhl was the site of a five-team tilt Tuesday.

Buhl and Magic Valley Christian tied for first place at 183. Wood River finished third in the team standings with a 197. Glenns Ferry (200) was fourth and Hagerman (209) fifth.

Leading the Wolverine charge was Scott Sanders. Sanders fired a nine-hole 46 and finished tied for fourth place. Jesse Theide carded a 48, Alex Bliss 51 and Brady Bever 52.

"Overall, we have just got to reduce the big numbers on a few holes and we’ll be very competitive," Hailey coach John Braafladt said.

Also part of the seven-man varsity squad are Cooper McCroskey, Tristan Beckman, and Tate Mills. Braafladt said that all his golfers should have enough practices in by spring break to compete.

Five girls are out for the Wood River girls’ team, including Rachel Pace, Britt VanPaepeghem, Lisa Feldhusen, Hayley Stommel and Adriana Maniere.

Pace was the only one to compete on Tuesday and fired a 67.

The meet’s individual champions were Nick Popplewell of Buhl and Jon Jarvis of Magic Valley Christian with 42’s. Buhl’s Jessica Brown was the top girl with a 48.

Wood River is back on the links at Sagehill in Idaho Falls next Tuesday.

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