Golf team gets season started

MILTON-FREEWATER–Dayton Bulldog Golf has been busy hitting the links and has been serious about working hard in practices, according the Mike McGhan, D.H.S. Golf Coach.

The team, with cooperative golfer William Daves from Waitsburg High School, shot nine holes at the Milton-Freewater course on March 30, and the team's fourth match in nine days, plus the different, shorter course pushed golfers to adjust.

"The kids seemed tired today as it was their fourth match nine days," McGhan commented. "Milton Freewater is quite a bit shorter that the other courses we have played and it was a challenge for them to make adjustments. We had a short squad due to illness and schedule conflicts."

Cayle Davis shot a 49 on the par 30, nine-hole match. Sawyer Brenner and Noa Tasker came in at 52, and Daves finished with 59.

Davis also came out ahead of team members on the nine-hole, par 36 match at Veterans Memorial in Walla Walla on March 18, shooting a 47. Tasker finished with 61, Brenner 69, Monte Richie 72, Dillon Lewis and Opal Hair-Moris both at 74 and Daves carded a 59.

"Every one of our golfers today shot the best scores of their high school careers," McGhan said. "They are taking practice serious and are working hard to improve their strategy and shot-making."

The team hosted a match at the Touchet Valley Golf Course on March 14.

"As I expected, I saw quite a bit of improvement in our golfers' play," the coach commented. "With a match under their belts, our beginners knew what to expect. The shot making and putting are improving."

On the nine-hole, par 36 course, Carson Potter had the best score of the team with 61. Davis was three strokes behind Potter and Brenner carded a 72. Tasker finished with 75 and Lewis, Hair-Morin and Hunter Griffen all came in at 77. Richie had a 79 and Daves' score was 64.

The team's first match on March 12 was tough, McGhan said. "This was the first match ever for everyone but Carson," he said. "Quail Ridge is a tough course to play your first match and for the most part, we struggled. This is a great group of kids and we undoubtedly will improve as the season goes on."

On the 18 hole, par 72 course, Potter finished with 120, Tasker 124, Lewis 141, Brenner 150, Griffen 160 and Richie 160.

-Loyal Baker