NIC golf teams eager to play better at nationals

COEUR d'ALENE - Two separate paths, but the same goal. Play better at the NJCAA golf championships than last year.

North Idaho College women will open at nationals Monday in Daytona Beach, Fla., with the men starting on Tuesday at Huntsville, Ala.

Two of the five players from North Idaho have seen the national stage before as Branden Dalton, a transfer from New Mexico, will lead the Cardinals into the six-day event starting Tuesday in Huntsville, Ala.

"I think we're in a better position than last year," NIC coach Randy Boswell said. "Last year, we had one kid that had been at this stage before. This year, we've got Branden and Dillon (Williams) who transferred from other schools that played on this stage last year."

Williams, who has signed to play at Lewis-Clark State College, also returns to nationals after qualifying last year for New Mexico Community College. Dalton signed a letter of intent recently to join Washington State in the fall.

Rounding out the Cardinal roster will be Ben Johnson, Jeremy Jensen and Kris Brett.

Last year, NIC finished last out of 24 teams.

"In looking at our scores, we're shooting better than last year," Boswell said. "We've yet to play our best golf. With the weather starting to turn nice, our guys can go out and play. Our best golf is ahead of us. I really believe we can score better than the team last year."

"I know people will know both Branden and Dillon," Boswell said. "Last year, we were the last place team, but weren't the worst team there. There were some really good teams that didn't qualify. We've only been in existence five years and are still building."

Boswell attributes last year's performance to inexperience.

"Last year, our guys got a little nervous," Boswell said. "We ended up shooting some high scores. Of our guys that are returning, they've played this course before. Hopefully we'll be a little bit further off the tee."

Boswell added that getting off the tee will be huge, especially with the course playing at 7,300 yards.

"There is water on each hole," Boswell said. "Every green is elevated four to five feet. We need to get off the tee really strong. Some of the par-4 holes are over 450 yards ... it's an extremely tough course."

In its first trip to nationals last year, NIC's women finished 13th out of 15 teams in a rain-shortened event.

"In looking at the scores from last year, we're scoring better at most events," Boswell said. "Three of our girls are very long off the tee. I haven't seen the course personally, but I know there is a lot of water."

Another hazard that the ladies will have to look out for will be the alligators roaming the course.

"If you hit it near the water, there is a lot of alligators," Boswell said. "I'm taking a ball retriever but I really don't know what to do if they come after you. I'm not that experienced with that - but hopefully everyone will come back with some good stories and all their limbs intact."

Ashley Burke from Sandpoint High leads the Cardinals.

"Ashley stepped away from playing competitively a couple of years," Boswell said. "She'll set the tone for what we do. She doesn't seem to get butterflies, but hasn't played on this level."

Also returning to nationals for the Cardinals will be Amanda Wemple from Coeur d'Alene High.

NIC newcomers to nationals include Emily Thorud, Kayla Lloyd and Kelsey Harden of Kellogg.

Along with final exams, many of the NIC players haven't had the chance to practice as much during their month-long layoff between matches.

"Walking these courses for five and six days, we're trying to work on endurance again," Boswell said. "With most taking finals, we haven't been out on the course as much (last) week - so nationals will be a test of their fitness. We've been stressing getting out and walking to prepare."

Boswell also doesn't expect the weather to cause the same problems as last year, when the women's tournament was rained out to the point they could only play 18 holes.

"Last year, we had to move everything to Tampa just to get 18 in," Boswell said. "There is a chance for some lightning, but we'll just go out, come back in and go back out."