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Rocky girls, Eagle boys, BK girls win state golf titles [The Idaho Statesman :: ]
[May 14, 2014]

Rocky girls, Eagle boys, BK girls win state golf titles [The Idaho Statesman :: ]


(Idaho Statesman (Boise) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) May 15--State golf tournaments wrapped up Tuesday with three Treasure Valley teams and four individuals finishing atop the podium. Here is how participants fared after 36 holes of competition at four courses in eastern Idaho: 5A GIRLS A narrow six-stroke advantage after the first day didn't spook the defending champions.



"Last night, they were goofy and fun and beyond relaxed," Rocky Mountain coach Mike McCrady said. "I think that had everything to do with what they did today." Rocky Mountain (689) expanded its lead to 24 shots over Vallivue (713) to win its second straight title. Eagle was third (719) and Idaho Falls fourth (725) at Highland Golf Course in Pocatello.

Three Rocky golfers finished in the top 12, led by Hannah Giesbrecht, a junior, in fourth (165) and senior Ryleigh Moore in fifth (166). Senior Carson Pickett (171), freshman Sydni Kobayashi (187) and sophomore Hannah Veloz (201) rounded out the scoring.


"They just put the pedal down and they didn't get overwhelmed with the situation," McCrady said. "They stayed relaxed and loose and that helped them survive some tough greens." Vallivue senior Gabby Barker won the individual title by 23 strokes. Barker, the only golfer to shoot under par in the tournament, recorded rounds of 68 and 70 for a 14-under 138.

"Just for it being my senior year and getting second the last two years, it was just a big moment for me," said Barker, who has signed to play for Texas Tech. "Just trying to win state after my sister (Tyler) winning it two times, it was finally just a big accomplishment for me to win state." Idaho Falls' Yedin Lui finished second (161) and Eagle's Natalie Mullins was third (164).

5A BOYS Eagle (595) collected its fifth championship in a row and sixth in seven seasons with a 15-stroke victory over Boise (610).

The Mustangs landed four golfers in the top 10 as senior Chris Carew (147) was second, junior Graysen Huff (149) sixth, senior Philip Kennedy (150) seventh and sophomore Josh Gliege (151) ninth. Senior Colby Dean, who has been a part of four of Eagle's titles, added rounds of 75 and 79 for a two-day total of 154 to finish just outside the top 10.

Eagle led Boise by five strokes after the first 18 holes Monday.

"It was kind of new territory, honestly, to have somebody be that close to us. It was exciting to have something to really play for," Eagle coach Jeff Dunn said. "We knew that they were going to be in our group and we felt that if we can look somebody in the eye and go compete, we'll come out on top." Vallivue sophomore Connor Johnstone rallied from a one-stroke deficit to a three-shot victory. He carded rounds of 71 and 73 for an even-par 144. First-day leader Guillermo Fairbairn of Boise fell to fourth after his second-round 78.

Johnstone had to wait more than two hours to find out if his score would hold up. "I've never really been in that position before where I was the hunted and not the hunter," he said. "Luckily my score held up." 4A GIRLS Haley Nist won her second straight championship to guide Bishop Kelly to its third straight title.

The Knights (652) finished 111 strokes ahead of Middleton (763), while Nist was the only golfer to come in under par, carding rounds of 69 and 70 for a 1-under 139 at Twin Falls Golf Club.

"Haley has a bad back. She couldn't bend down to pick up the ball, but she still shot a 69 and a 70," Bishop Kelly coach Derek McCormick said. "She just kind of grinded it out." Kinsley Bonfilio (155), Jennifer Wilson (162), Abby Jorgensen (196) and Bella Ludwig (209) helped the Knights win their 12th title in program history. Nist, Wilson and Jorgensen have been a part of the past three wins.

4A BOYS Twin Falls (556) made the most of its home "field" advantage, winning its fourth consecutive state championship by placing its four scoring golfers in the top seven.

Bishop Kelly (584) finished second at Twin Falls Golf Club as sophomore Hunter Ostrom was a stroke shy of winning his second straight individual championship. Ostrom totaled a 3-under 133, behind Lakeland's Derek Bayley (132), who tied for the lowest round of the tournament with a second-day 66.

Skyview (586) was two shots back of Bishop Kelly in third, and Middleton (619) was fifth.

3A GIRLS Marsh Valley (807) upended defending champion Kellogg (821) for the Eagles' first state title in program history. Kellogg's Jesse Gibbons (170) trailed by two strokes after the first day, but carded the lowest round of the tournament (83) to top Fruitland's Abigail McKinney (173) at Clear Lake Country Club in Buhl.

3A BOYS Kade Crossland bested teammate Hayden Eckert in a two-hole playoff as Buhl (607) won both the individual and team championships at Clear Lake. Crossland and Eckert each finished with a two-day total of 144. Weiser (717) led Treasure Valley teams with its fourth-place trophy.

2A GIRLS New Plymouth's Lacy Avera was the only golfer to shoot in the 80s both days, taking home medalist honors at Rupert Country Club with rounds of 88 and 83. Declo (799) held off defending champion Aberdeen (815) for the title; McCall-Donnelly (834) was third.

2A BOYS Salmon (675) won its first title in program history and the Savages' Jade Barney took home individual honors with his 5-over 147. Aberdeen (682) was second and defending champion Nampa Christian (692) took third.

___ (c)2014 The Idaho Statesman (Boise, Idaho) Visit The Idaho Statesman (Boise, Idaho) at www.idahostatesman.com Distributed by MCT Information Services

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