Badger golf still building team after last year's state win

BONNERS FERRY —- Badger golf teams are busy swinging into practice for the season, many for their first season.

Girls golf won the 3A state championships last year and graduated senior Lily Blackmore. The Bayer twins Braylyn and Avery, Mai Blackmore and Cali Iacolucci will be returning to play golf for the Badgers.

Both teams are still firming up their top five players, which are needed for varsity matches. Currently there are four girls and eight boys on the teams.

The Badgers did not compete at the Lewiston meet on March 14, because they were not ready, head coach Ralph Lotspeich said.

Many of the boys have just started playing golf and are learning the rules and etiquette. The boys team has no returning varsity players. Lotspiech said that he is still at work establishing a team.

“For some of the boys their first match will be the first 18 holes they ever played,” he said.

Lotspeich said that the team has been out on the course the past two weeks and are mostly walking through the first three holes of the Mirror Lake Golf Course as they learn the fundamentals.

Students provide their own clubs, but Lotspeich said that they have had many sets donated by golf course members.

The golf march against Kellogg scheduled for March 25, has been rescheduled to the week of April 11. Lotspiech is also the PGA Head Golf Professional at Mirror Lake Golf Course and has said that the greens condition of the course will not be suitable for play until March 26.

With weather permitting, the team will be out of the golf course after school.