Idaho state golf: Rocky girls earn five-peat, Boise boys go back-to-back, BK sweeps
Golf teams outside the Treasure Valley haven’t had much luck hoisting a championship trophy in Idaho’s largest classification in recent years.
Since 2018, Boise-area schools have swept the boys and girls team championships at the 6A level. And that trend continued Saturday.
The Boise boys and Rocky Mountain girls won team titles at Highland Golf Club in Pocatello, while Bishop Kelly swept the team and individual championships for the second year in a row at River’s Edge Golf Club in Burley.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN FIVE-PEAT
After wrapping up the first day of competition with a 15-stroke lead over Coeur d’Alene, the Rocky Mountain girls went back to the hotel and “chilled out” for a bit.
But then it was back to the course for a little more practice.
The Grizzlies’ dedication to their craft resulted in a fifth consecutive 6A team championship, shooting a two-day score of 647 (+39). They finished 11 strokes ahead of Coeur d’Alene (658, +50) in second place.
“They’re just really steady. They know what they’re doing,” Rocky Mountain coach Jonathan Gibbs said. “I always challenge them to play the golf course the best they can and get them to just relax and play golf, and they were able to do that yesterday really well. Today was a little bit more of a struggle, but they were able to still pull it out.”
Coeur d’Alene shot four strokes better than Rocky Mountain on Saturday, but the Grizzlies built enough of a lead Friday that it didn’t matter.
“Some of us had some bad holes today, and we didn’t post the scores that we all wanted to,” Rocky Mountain junior Maggie Urian said. “So it was a relief and excitement knowing that even on our bad days we could still pull through.”
Urian led the Grizzlies with a fourth-place finish at 156 (+4), but all five of Rocky’s golfers placed among the Top 15. Junior Natalie Nichenko was seventh at 161 (+9), freshman Zoe Moore tied for ninth at 163 (+11), sophomore Adel Peterson took 12th at 169 (+17), and sophomore Elianna Hoopes came in 15th at 174 (+22).
Coeur d’Alene’s Ella Wilson won the individual title with a 150 (-2), besting defending state champion Ella Arnzen of Timberline in a playoff.
Other Top 10 individuals from the Treasure Valley included Boise’s Anna Li in fifth place and Eagle’s Indie Taylor in a tie for ninth.
BOISE DEFENDS TITLE
Boise coach Jeff Ulrickson likes to joke that the Brave’s second straight 6A state team championship — and third in the last four seasons — doesn’t have a lot to do with actual coaching.
“These kids put in hours and hours and hours of work, and it pays off,” Ulrickson said. “I think it’s that age-old story of hard work counts, character counts and teamwork counts.”
The Brave’s four scoring golfers all finished among the Top 11 for a two-day score of 592 (+16), coming in 15 strokes ahead of second-place Rocky Mountain (607, +31).
Boise sophomore Jack Bureau earned a runner-up showing, carding an even 144. Senior Reid Piron, who won state as a freshman, tied for fourth at 147 (+3), junior Reid Hoppock tied for eighth at 150 (+6), junior Noah Meltzer tied for 11th at 151 (+7), and junior Luke Soltau rounded out the scoring for the Brave in a tie for 26th with a 161 (+17).
“After districts, I realized what I was failing on, and that was my putting,” Bureau said. “So I got back to the practice green and I kept on practicing hours after hours, and it paid off when I got here. My putting kind of saved me.”
Justin Anderson of Thunder Ridge won the boys individual title with a 5-under 139.
Other Top 10 individuals from the Treasure Valley included Rocky Mountain’s Chad Gibbs in third, Timberline’s Andy Metzler tied for fourth, Mountain View’s Kaden Gempler was sixth, Rocky Mountain’s Jacob McFarland was seventh, and Eagle’s Beau Sahr and Meridian’s Brayden Johnson tied for eighth.
BISHOP KELLY SWEEPS AGAIN
Bishop Kelly boys golf coach Taylor Judy won a state team championship as a player with the Knights in 2010, and he was an individual state champion in 2011.
But nothing is quite as sweet as winning alongside your mom.
Taylor helped the Knights win their fourth consecutive 5A team championship on the boys’ side, while his mom, Michelle Judy, guided the BK girls to back-to-back team titles. The Knights also won the individual titles, sweeping all four championship trophies for the second year in a row.
“It honestly makes it that much more special to be able to share that moment with your mom,” Taylor said.
The BK boys dominated play with a two-day score of 581 (+5), a whopping 44 strokes clear of Twin Falls (625, +49) in second place. The Knights placed all five of their golfers among the Top 12, headlined by senior Will Comstock’s 4-under 140 for medalist honors.
Comstock carded a 63 in Friday’s first round, but faced some adversity Saturday with a 77.
“A lot of thanks to Coach Judy. I went up to him a couple times today, and I was kind of freaking out, to be honest,” Comstock said. “Starting with the eight-shot lead and then I had a big whoopsie on hole five. I kind of felt the kids behind me and that pressure there.
“But it was just a time to take a lot of deep breaths and slow everything down and keep focusing on what I can control. And it worked out.”
Bishop Kelly sophomore Aidan Szentanai placed third, sophomore Charlie Hilvers was fourth, sophomore Dan Moodie tied for eighth, and senior Nic Bischoff-Jones tied for 12th.
The Bishop Kelly girls made it two in a row behind the stellar play of junior Cara Carter.
Carter finished a stroke shy of tying the course record on Friday, carding a 68, and added a 79 on Saturday for a two-day total of 3-under 147 to collect her second straight individual title.
“I’m really happy about it,” Carter said. “I’m proud of myself, especially after the difficulties I faced today. I think it’s really good that I was able to stay in the lead.”
All five of BK’s golfers placed among the Top 15: Senior Jessi Moodie in sixth, senior Maeve Fitzgerald in seventh, senior Sally DeFranco in 12th, and senior Gwen Parker tied for 15th.
“They’re really, really focused,” Michelle Judy said. “They had a team goal. They knew what they wanted to do, and they just had great confidence going in.”
Vallivue’s Claire Hall was the only other local golfer to finish in the Top 10, placing fourth.
6A State Tournament
Friday-Saturday
At Highland Golf Course, Pocatello
Par 72 boys, 76 girls
Boys team scores
1, Boise 298-294—592 (+16)
2, Rocky Mountain 311-296—607 (+31)
3, Mountain View 319-303—622 (+46)
4, Madison 315-313—628 (+52)
5, Coeur d’Alene 319-316—635 (+59)
6, Highland 320-321—641 (+65)
7, Eagle 324-336—660 (+84)
Boys individual scores
1, Justin Anderson, Thunder Ridge, 72-67—139 (-5)
2, Jack Bureau, Boise, 73-71—144 (+E)
3, Chad Gibbs, Rocky Mountain, 74-72—146 (+2)
t4, Andy Metzler, Timberline, 69-78—147 (+3)
t4, Reid Piron, Boise, 75-72—147 (+3)
6, Kaden Gempler, Mountain View, 76-72—148 (+4)
7, Jacob McFarland, Rocky Mountain, 78-71—149 (+5)
t8, Beau Sahr, Eagle, 75-75—150 (+6)
t8, Brayden Johnson, Meridian, 71-79—150 (+6)
t8, Reid Hoppock, Boise, 74-76—150 (+6)
t11, Mason McGee, Mountain View, 74-77—151 (+7)
t11, Noah Meltzer, Boise, 76-75—151 (+7)
t11, Ben Focke, Coeur d’Alene, 76-75—151 (+7)
t14, Hunter Paquin, Coeur d’Alene, 77-76—153 (+9)
t14, Trey Parkinson, Madison, 76-77—153 (+9)
16, Rigdon Porter, Madison, 79-75—154 (+10)
17, Grant Potter, Coeur d’Alene, 79-78—157 (+13)
18, Gavin Mlynarik, Mountain View, 82-76—158 (+14)
t19, Jacob Goodson, Timberline, 78-81—159 (+15)
t19, Carter Lerwill, Madison, 78-81—159 (+15)
t19, Aiden Meyer, Rocky Mountain, 84-75—159 (+15)
t22, Tanner Borgholthaus, Highland, 84-76—160 (+16)
t22, Preston Foltz, Highland, 79-81—160 (+16)
t22, James Astin, Highland, 80-80—160 (+16)
t22, Taig Brar, Rocky Mountain, 82-78—160 (+16)
t26, Sam Massie, Eagle, 79-82—161 (+17)
t26, Luke Soltau, Boise, 82-79—161 (+17)
t28, Madden Bishop, Centennial, 83-79—162 (+18)
t28, Tyler Frost, Highland, 77-85—162 (+18)
30, Grant Routson, Madison, 82-81—163 (+19)
31, Miles McFarland, Rocky Mountain, 77-87—164 (+20)
32, Porter Bickford, Mountain View, 87-78—165 (+21)
33, Eric Martin, Madison, 86-80—166 (+22)
34, Jacob Tjosvold, Eagle, 81-86—167 (+23)
35, IaKona Manuia, Mountain View, 89-79—168 (+24)
t36, Braxton Miller, Rigby, 88-82—170 (+26)
t36, Toby Harris, Meridian, 80-90—170 (+26)
38, Chace Gallegos, Centennial, 86-85—171 (+27)
t39, Landon Hazelbush, Highland, 91-84—175 (+31)
t39, Dylan Cook, Coeur d’Alene, 87-88—175 (+31)
41, Brady Rubert, Coeur d’Alene, 90-87—177 (+33)
42, Brittin Battisti, Meridian, 90-88—178 (+34)
43, Liam Osterburg, Eagle, 89-93—182 (+38)
44, Aiden Webb, Centennial, 95-92—187 (+43)
45, Trevor Kadlec, Eagle, 97-110—207 (+63)
Girls team scores
1, Rocky Mountain 317-330—647 (+39)
2, Coeur d’Alene 332-326—658 (+50)
3, Mountain View 365-356—721 (+113)
4, Boise 363-367—730 (+122)
5, Highland 363-377—740 (+132)
t6, Canyon Ridge 382-368—750 (+142)
t6, Eagle 371-379—750 (+142)
Girls individual scores
1, Ella Wilson, Coeur d’Alene, 73-77—150 (-2) (won playoff)
2, Ella Arnzen, Timberline, 78-72—150 (-2)
3, Danika Humphries, Canyon Ridge, 78-76—154 (+2)
4, Maggie Urian, Rocky Mountain, 80-76—156 (+4)
5, Anna Li, Boise, 79-78—157 (+5)
6, Jossetta Williams, Coeur d’Alene 82-78—160 (+8)
7, Natalie Nichenko, Rocky Mountain, 78-83—161 (+9)
8, Megan Merrill, Highland, 78-84—162 (+10)
t9, Indie Taylor, Eagle, 83-80—163 (+11)
t9, Zoe Moore, Rocky Mountain, 79-84—163 (+11)
11, Alexandra Jensen, Centennial, 84-83—167 (+15)
12, Adel Peterson, Rocky Mountain, 80-89—169 (+17)
13, Mady Riley, Coeur d’Alene 82-88—170 (+18)
14, Jada Nguyen, Mountain View, 91-81—172 (+20)
15, Elianna Hoopes, Rocky Mountain, 87-87—174 (+22)
t16, Haleigh Thompson, Meridian, 92-84—176 (+24)
t16, Alli Churchman, Boise, 87-89—176 (+24)
t18, Maci Sutton, Mountain View, 90-88—178 (+26)
t18, Rebekah Maughan, Highland, 89-89—178 (+26)
20, Leah Heavener, Coeur d’Alene 95-86—181 (+29)
t21, Kassidy Schneider, Eagle, 87-95—182 (+30)
t21, Sophia Vignale, Coeur d’Alene 97-85—182 (+30)
t23, Avery McBride, Canyon Ridge, 93-92—185 (+33)
t23, Makena McDaniel, Rigby, 89-96—185 (+33)
25, Zoey Nguyen, Mountain View, 90-96—186 (+34)
26, Madelyn Stephani, Mountain View, 96-91—187 (+35)
27, Anne Taylor, Rigby, 95-94—189 (+37)
28, Maryn Ross, Mountain View, 94-96—190 (+38)
29, Makaya Satterfield, Highland, 94-98—192 (+40)
30, Gina Berger, Boise, 97-101—198 (+46)
t31, Emeri Ennis, Eagle, 100-99—199 (+47)
t31, Paige Chrisman, Boise, 100-99—199 (+47)
t33, Carlie Sklavos, Canyon Ridge, 105-99—204 (+52)
t33, Karina Bjorkman, Boise, 101-103—204 (+52)
35, Annika Howse, Eagle, 101-105—206 (+54)
36, Elizabeth Gonzalez, Canyon Ridge, 106-101—207 (+55)
37, Charlotte Quick, Highland, 102-106—208 (+56)
38, Reese Ward, Highland, 109-106—215 (+63)
39, Nadiya Aspeytia, Canyon Ridge 117-114—231 (+79)
WD, Lacee Barrieau, Eagle, 113-WD—WD
5A State Tournament
Friday-Saturday
At River’s Edge Golf Club, Burley
Par 72 boys, 75 girls
Boys team scores
1, Bishop Kelly 282-299—581 (+5)
2, Twin Falls 314-311—625 (+49)
3, Mountain Home 324-325—649 (+73)
4, Moscow 322-328—650 (+74)
5, Preston 331-328—659 (+83)
6, Skyline 331-331—662 (+86)
t7, Middleton 328-337—665 (+89)
t7, Skyview 326-339—665 (+89)
9, Jerome 316-356—672 (+96)
10, Blackfoot 347-338—685 (+109)
11, Sandpoint 346-350—696 (+120)
Boys individual scores
1, Will Comstock, Bishop Kelly, 63-77—140 (-4)
2, Brody Payne, Twin Falls, 69-74—143 (-1)
3, Aidan Szentanai, Bishop Kelly, 71-73—144 (E)
4, Charlie Hilvers, Bishop Kelly, 72-73—145 (+1)
5, Chad Stevenson, Mountain Home, 73-73—146 (+2)
6, Chase Lovell, Moscow, 75-73—148 (+4)
7, Tyler Zachary, Lakeland, 70-79—149 (+5)
8, Ike Redder, Burley, 79-73—152 (+8)
9, Dan Moodie, Bishop Kelly, 76-76—152 (+8)
10, Kyler Barker, Jerome, 74-79—153 (+9)
11, Noah Salem, Idaho Falls, 73-81—154 (+10)
t12, Logan Billings, Hillcrest, 78-81—159 (+15)
t12, Matthew Lockhead, Middleton, 74-85—159 (+15)
t12, Nic Bischoff-Jones, Bishop Kelly, 77-82—159 (+15)
t12, James Dunn, Twin Falls, 79-80—159 (+15)
t16, Jake Taylor, Skyline, 79-81—160 (+16)
t16, Braden Scott, Twin Falls, 82-78—160 (+16)
t18, Max Wheeler, Skyview, 78-84—162 (+18)
t18, Alex Hunsaker, Shelley, 78-84—162 (+18)
t18, Nic Ward, Skyview, 76-86—162 (+18)
t18, Morgan Harper, Jerome, 78-84—162 (+18)
t22, Tanner Cole, Skyline, 84-79—163 (+19)
t22, Kyle Steidley, Blackfoot, 83-80—163 (+19)
t22, Noah Radford, Middleton, 83-80—163 (+19)
25, Pierce Arrillaga, Mountain Home, 81-83—164 (+20)
t26, Kasen Bryce, Preston, 84-81—165 (+21)
t26, Burke Brown, Moscow, 86-79—165 (+21)
t28, Tripton Beckstead, Preston, 82-84—166 (+22)
t28, Thayne Broadhead, Preston, 79-87—166 (+22)
t28, Beau Ramsey, Middleton, 79-87—166 (+22)
t28, Trey Billings, Twin Falls, 87-79—166 (+22)
t32, Jaxon Lopez, Preston, 88-79—167 (+23)
t32, Jhett Morledge, Skyview, 84-83—167 (+23)
t32, Jake Thompson, Twin Falls, 84-83—167 (+23)
t35, Ridge Seamons, Blackfoot, 86-83—169 (+25)
t35, Keaton Clark, Moscow, 79-90—169 (+25)
t37, Landon Keener, Mountain Home, 88-82—170 (+26)
t37, Boston Jardine, Bonneville, 86-84—170 (+26)
t37, Landon Kelly, Preston, 86-84—170 (+26)
t40, Jimmer Dalton, Skyline, 88-83—171 (+27)
t40, Logan Roos, Sandpoint, 85-86—171 (+27)
t40, Tyce Feenstra, Mountain Home, 84-87—171 (+27)
t40, Trayton Jensen, Skyline, 83-88—171 (+27)
t40, Cooper Trout, Moscow, 83-88—171 (+27)
45, Cohen Miller, Moscow, 85-88—173 (+29)
t46, Everett Gilman, Sandpoint, 88-86—174 (+30)
t46, Joe Bernal, Skyview, 88-86—174 (+30)
t46, Anders Sheffield, Jerome, 80-94—174 (+30)
t49, Zaven Fairchild, Blackfoot, 89-86—175 (+31)
t49, Micah Young, Sandpoint, 86-89—175 (+31)
t49, Jaden Brady, Pocatello, 85-90—175 (+31)
t52, Carter Lin, Skyview, 90-86—176 (+32)
t52, Kayden Orton, Lewiston, 87-89—176 (+32)
t52, Bode Eacret, Sandpoint, 87-89—176 (+32)
t52, Ryan Tocheri, Skyline, 85-91—176 (+32)
56, Cade Dean, Middleton, 92-85—177 (+33)
t57, Peyton Taylor, Blackfoot, 89-91—180 (+36)
t57, Sam Vogt, Mountain Home, 86-94—180 (+36)
t59, Cooper Zimmerman, Sandpoint, 94-89—183 (+39)
t59, Daniel Kofoed, Middleton, 92-91—183 (+39)
t59, Andrew Wilson, Jerome, 84-99—183 (+39)
62, Seth McNeel, Blackfoot, 97-89—186 (+42)
63, Brett Harrison, Jerome, 128-117—245 (+101)
Girls team scores
1, Bishop Kelly 314-326—640 (+40)
2, Twin Falls 334-327—661 (+61)
3, Sandpoint 353-354—707 (+107)
4, Middleton 395-371—766 (+166)
5, Idaho Falls 386-394—780 (+180)
6, Century 409-396—805 (+205)
7, Shelley 405-402—807 (+207)
8, Jerome 404-408—812 (+212)
9, Lewiston 443-442—885 (+285)
Girls individual scores
1, Cara Carter, Bishop Kelly 68-79—147 (-3)
2, Gracee Payne, Twin Falls, 75-76—151 (+1)
3, Allison Shockey, Minico, 79-76—155 (+5)
4, Claire Hall, Vallivue, 82-76—158 (+8)
5, Mallory Higham, Shelley, 81-78—159 (+9)
6, Jessi Moodie, Bishop Kelly 80-80—160 (+10)
7, Maeve Fitzgerald, Bishop Kelly 82-80—162 (+12)
8, Taylor Mire, Sandpoint, 79-84—163 (+13)
9, Kate Miller, Twin Falls, 81-83—164 (+14)
10, Julie Klefforth, Mountain Home, 83-87—170 (+20)
11, Alayna Lekkerkerk, Twin Falls, 89-81—170 (+20)
12, Sally DeFranco, Bishop Kelly 84-87—171 (+21)
13, Lexi Tuinstra, Sandpoint, 92-82—174 (+24)
14, Kolette Jenkins, Twin Falls, 89-87—176 (+26)
t15, Ava Smith, Middleton, 89-89—178 (+28)
t15, Gwen Parker, Bishop Kelly 84-94—178 (+28)
t17, Kambell Richards, Century, 89-91—180 (+30)
t17, Cami Rohrbaugh, Idaho Falls, 87-93—180 (+30)
19, Mae Lickley, Twin Falls, 94-88—182 (+32)
20, Demi Driggs, Sandpoint, 90-93—183 (+33)
21, Claire Loutzenhiser, Sandpoint, 92-96—188 (+38)
22, Abby Mann, Middleton, 95-95—190 (+40)
23, Mia Williams, Shelley, 96-96—192 (+42)
24, Raegan Samuels, Sandpoint, 99-95—194 (+44)
25, Julia McCord, Idaho Falls, 95-100—195 (+45)
t26, EJ Elquist, Century, 103-94—197 (+47)
t26, Saylor Soloaga, Middleton, 100-97—197 (+47)
t28, Addyson Peterson, Jerome, 104-94—198 (+48)
t28, Cameron Burton, Jerome, 91-107—198 (+48)
t30, Shelby Arellano, Lewiston, 99-100—199 (+49)
t30, Emma Woodfin, Century, 98-101—199 (+49)
t32, Cora Lott, Lewiston, 99-102—201 (+51)
t32, Emma Nelson, Bonneville, 99-102—201 (+51)
34, Erika Romrell, Idaho Falls, 101-101—202 (+52)
t35, Capreece Beilke, Jerome, 108-97—205 (+55)
t35, Kate Norton, Idaho Falls, 105-100—205 (+55)
37, Dempsey Smith, Jerome, 102-110—212 (+62)
38, Hallie Burton, Idaho Falls, 103-110—213 (+63)
39, Pyper Lammey, Middleton, 111-103—214 (+64)
40, Sarah Mitchell, Shelley, 110-108—218 (+68)
41, Evelynn Brown, Jerome, 107-116—223 (+73)
42, Ava Gunter, Century, 119-110—229 (+79)
43, Josey Hemphill, Lewiston, 124-116—240 (+90)
44, Sydney Hardee, Shelley, 118-126—244 (+94)
45, Keely McGeehan, Century, 119-127—246 (+96)
t46, Londyn Williams, Shelley, 135-120—255 (+105)
t46, Destiny Ellenwood, Lewiston, 121-134—255 (+105)
48, Kalen Kelly, Lewiston, 132-124—256 (+106)
NS, Lily Wagoner, Middleton, NS-90—NS
WD, Emme Mickelsen, Skyline, 84-WD—WD
This story was originally published October 12, 2024 at 8:17 PM.
