He's a 'rock'

COEUR d'ALENE - After carding a two-under par on the front nine of the Region 1 golf tournament last week, the back nine wasn't as kind to Coeur d'Alene High senior Alex Pounds.

Shooting six strokes higher and falling out of medalist contention, Pounds, the Vikings' No. 1 golfer, didn't pout after his high score. He signed his card, went back out to the course to support his teammates, going as far as to carry the bag of the No. 5 player back to the clubhouse after the Vikings had wrapped up the regional title.

"Alex has been a rock in the program," Coeur d'Alene coach Bryan Duncan said. "I really hope to have many more golfers just like him."

Pounds hopes to lead the Vikings to the 5A state title starting today at Avondale Golf Course in Hayden Lake. The state tournament concludes Tuesday.

No matter where he finishes this week, Pounds knows exactly where his destiny will take him following his final shots as a Viking.

Pounds has signed a letter of intent to golf at Community Colleges of Spokane, joining

the likes of Kyler Gable, Tyler Johnson and Taylor Porter, all former Vikings who were seniors when Pounds was a sophomore on the varsity.

"I've met with the coach and really like him," Pounds said. "All of my teammates from my sophomore year all went there and really like it."

Of those seasons with the former Viking trio, Pounds said he learned plenty about the game of golf.

"I've learned a lot from them more about to play the game," Pounds said. "More of how to play the shots and the little things like how to play certain situations. More of the mental side of things."

Duncan also believes that CC Spokane is a great place for him to continue his golfing career.

"I think a community college is perfect for him at this stage of his career," Duncan said. "It allows him to take the next step to play at another level."

Pounds is wrapping up his third varsity season starting today, hoping to improve on his individual best of 11th place in each of his past two state tournaments.

With the state tournament in his own backyard this season at Avondale, the Vikings' home course, he believes he can improve on his previous state finishes.

"Definitely," Pounds said. "I know this course really well. I've been playing it the past five years."

Pounds estimates he spends anywhere from 2 to 3 hours a day during the summer practicing at Avondale.

"During the school year, I'm here anywhere from 10 to 15 hours practicing or playing in tournaments," Pounds said. "In the summer, I'm here almost every day at the range or playing a couple hours a day."

Since the conclusion of last year's 5A state tournament, Pounds added his game has gone through a couple changes.

"It has came a little way I guess," Pounds said. "There has been a lot of change, between my swing and my approach to the game from the high school season last year to the summer to this year's season."

What Pounds wants more than anything is a chance to close out the season with the school's first state title in six years.

"Our goal is definitely a state title," Pounds said. "We really want to bring it home as a team. We haven't done that for a while and that's our most important goal. It's what we've been working on for the past five years and this is our last chance to do it."

Pounds has held the No. 1 spot for the Vikings the entire season, and thrives on playing with other No. 1 golfers in matches and tournaments.

"It gives you confidence to be playing with the best of the best," Pounds said. "Andrew (Roller), Brennan (Stillinger) and I all put in the hours to play better. Any one of us could have been the No. 1, because it was the same way last year."

Since the Vikings won state in 2004, their best finishes since have been second in 2007 and fourth in '08.

"The last five years have been building towards a state title," Pounds said. "If we don't finish it, we've failed."

Roller echoed those statements.

"We've had a (winning) streak going for the last three weeks," Roller said. "We can't wait."