PREP GOLF: Kellogg's Paul wins again; St. Maries' Swallows fourth ... Wildcat boys third, Genesis Prep boys fourth in 2A

• 2A

IDAHO FALLS — As Kellogg coach Simon Miller described, it was a best-case scenario.

Stressful, but good.

Kellogg, which was tied with Sun Valley Community School for fourth after Monday's first round, lost a tiebreaker and started with the early group on Tuesday at the state 2A golf tournament.

“We got a chance to post our scores early, and just sit back and watch,” Miller said.

As it happened, the Wildcats wound up tied with Genesis Prep and Sun Valley for third at 658.

The three teams trekked back out for a playoff to determine places 3-5. All five players from each team played the par-5 10th hole together, with each team counting its best four of five scores.

Kellogg won the playoff for third place by three strokes. Genesis Prep was second to earn fourth and bring home a trophy, and Sun Valley Community School third to finish fifth.

“Genesis Prep was in the pole position off the tee,” Miller said. “They just play smart golf and only had one in the penalty area. Brodie (Robinson) nuked a drive and had a putt for eagle and Easton (Towne) ripped a drive that went to the right of the green. Both had birdies, and they really sealed it for us.”

Kellogg junior Stephen Paul, who shot an 8-under 62 on Monday, followed with an even par 70 on Tuesday to win the 2A boys title with a 132, capturing his second individual title by a whopping 10 strokes. Paul also won as a freshman in 2021 at Twin Lakes Village Golf Club, then attended a golf academy in the south last year.

“He had a couple of three-putts and a hazard, which was pretty rare for him,” said Miller of Paul, who was on the 2021 team that won the state 3A title. “He’s just a great ball striker and had an amazing tournament.”

It took some extra swings, but Genesis Prep earned its first trophy at state in program history, finishing fourth.

“They did a great job all season,” first-year Genesis Prep coach Tom Tucker said. “I’m so proud of each and every one of them. We’ve got one senior (Carson Rubert), two juniors (C.J. Elliott and Gabe Missamore) and two freshmen (Byron Hammett and Brady Rubert). They improved a lot over the season and had a great tournament.”

Tucker, an assistant professional at The Links, took over as coach on Feb. 20 when he got a call from Darrell Hull, the professional at The Links.

“He said these kids needed some help and asked if I’d be willing to sacrifice my time to help them,” Tucker said. “I said yes, and it was the most satisfying experience I’ve had in my life.”

St. Maries junior Seth Swallows finished tied for third with a 146. It was his second straight year finishing third.

“For the second straight year, Seth proved he’s one of the top players in the state,” St. Maries coach Bryan Chase said. “He didn’t make too many putts today, but he just kept grinding.”

Lakeside’s Beau Jones shot a 155 to finish seventh.

Katrina von Behren shot a 4-over 144 to win the girls title for Ambrose of Boise, which beat Cole Valley Christian by 13 strokes for the team title.

Kellogg’s Kendra Korasick earned a medal for a top-10 finish, finishing ninth with a 187.

2A

At Sage Lakes Golf Course

Par 70

BOYS

TEAM SCORES — 1, Declo 318-329—647. 2, Grace 325-332—657. 3, Kellogg 323-335—658 (won in playoff). 4, Genesis Prep 321-337—658 (finished second in playoff). 5, Sun Valley Community School 323-335—658 (finished third in playoff). 6, St. Maries 320-349—669. 7, Compass Charter 334-356—690. 8, Bear Lake 347-358—705. 9, Ambrose 360-356—716. 10, Nampa Christian 355-363—718. 11, Ririe 365-382—747. 12, North Fremont 384-392—776. 13, Salmon 410-414—824.

STATE MEDALISTS (Top 10) — 1, Stephen Paul, Kellogg, 62-70—132. 2, David Chacon, Ambrose, 72-70—142. 3 (tie), Jaxon Smyer, Declo, 68-78—146; Seth Swallows, St. Maries, 69-77—146. 5, JT Slivinski, Bear Lake, 73-74—147. 6, Alex Gailey, Declo, 76-78—154. 7, Beau Jones, Lakeside, 77-78—155. 8 (tie), Karsen LeMoyne, Wendell, 79-77—156; Brock Hill, Grace, 77-79—156; Jack Verhaeghe, Sun Valley Community School, 75-81—156.

KELLOGG — 1, Stephen Paul 62-70—132, t-28, Brodie Robinson 86-86—172, 32, Jaeger Hall 84-89—173, t-40, Blake Coburn 91-90—181, t-54, Easton Towne 92-101—193.

GENESIS PREP — t-13, Byron Hammett 78-80—158, t-20, CJ Elliott 78-86—164, t-22, Carson Rubert 83-83—166, 27, Gabe Missamore 82-88—170, t-28, Brady Rubert 83-89—172.

ST. MARIES — t-3, Seth Swallows 69-77—146, t-13, Lance Hamblin 78-80—158, t-33, Greyson Sands 80-94—174, t-58, Deacon Machado 98-98—196, 61, Landon Warren 93-107—200.

LAKESIDE — 7, Beau Jones 77-78—155.

PRIEST RIVER — t-11, Luke Butler 78-79—157, t-13, William Stockton 78-80—158, t-40, Jace Yount 91-90—181.

GIRLS

TEAM SCORES — 1, Ambrose 352-353—705. 2, Cole Valley Christian 360-358—718. 3, Grace 379-379—758. 4, Challis 408-404—812. 5, Kellogg 411-408—619. 6, Valley 442-388—830. 7, Bear Lake 410-431—841. 8, St. Maries 407-447—854. 9, Lighthouse Christian 441-416—857. 10, Ririe 452-471—923.

STATE MEDALISTS (Top 10) — 1, Katrina von Behren, Ambrose, 71-73—144. 2, Chloe Singpraseuth, Cole Valley Christian, 72-76—148. 3, Ashley von Behren, Ambrose, 76-77—153. 4, Kamryn Mansfield, Grace, 79-76—155. 5, Caroline Caven, Cole Valley Christian, 80-76—156. 6, Tanli LeMoyne, Wendell, 77-81—158. 7, Addison Slivinski, Bear Lake, 80-87—167. 8, Karlie Christensen, Grace, 91-90—181. 9, Kendra Korasick, Kellogg, 95-92—187. 10 (tie), Julia Grimaldo, Orofino, 94-95—189; Oakley Peck, Soda Springs, 92-97—189.

KELLOGG — 9, Kendra Korasick 95-92—187, 20, Izzy Groves 96-101—197, 31, Kadimay Hart 110-103—213, 35, Kaci Finlay 110-112—222, t-41, Elliott Hei 118-112—230.

ST. MARIES — 18, Sami Sindt 88-105—193, 23, Keianna Olson 95-105—200, 40, Addison Crane 114-115—229, t-44, Jaelyn Barden 110-122—232, 55, Kylie Boutiller 134-128—262.

GENESIS PREP — t-14, Chiara Lehman 94-97—191.

• 3A

Braylyn Bayer, Bonners girls

claim state 3A championship

BLACKFOOT — Braylyn Bayer of Bonners Ferry shot a 9-over 153 to win the 3A girls individual title at Blackfoot Golf Course.

Braylyn Bayer was runner-up at state in 2022.

Avery Bayer was third with a 162 and Mia Blackmore 10th with a 194 for Bonners Ferry, which won its second title in the last three years, also winning in 2021. Bonners was runner-up in 2022.

Timberlake senior Colton Mendenhall finished 10th in the boys tourney with a 166.

Kimberly’s boys won for the second straight year, finishing with a 635.

3A

At Blackfoot Golf Course

Par 70

BOYS

TEAM SCORES — 1, Kimberly 323-312—635. 2, Homedale 343-359—702. 3, Snake River 351-366—717. 4, McCall-Donnelly 365-361—726. 5, Buhl 376-384—760. 6, Teton 384-385—769. 7, Bonners Ferry 390-382—772.

STATE MEDALISTS (Top 10) — 1, Toby Heider, Kimberly, 73-71—144. 2, Carter Williams, Weiser, 74-73—147. 3, Kyler Kelly, Buhl, 74-75—149. 4 (tie), Luke Henry, Homedale, 75-81—156; Tate Ova, McCall-Donnelly, 77-79—156. 6, Jameson Harper, Kimberly, 76-82—158. 7, Joe Hopkins, Kimberly, 87-75—162. 8, Treyson Katseanes, Snake River, 83-80—163. 9, Jimmy Kendall, American Falls, 85-81—166. 10, Colton Mendenhall, Timberlake, 77-89—166.

BONNERS FERRY — 13, Eli Blackmore 89-83—172, 14, Evan Reitz 88-85—173, t-32, Tyson Tadlock 96-103—199, 41, Chago Jimenez 117-112—229, 42, Jacob Bliss 120-111—231.

TIMBERLAKE — 10, Colton Mendenall, 77-89—166.

GIRLS

TEAM SCORES — 1, Bonners Ferry 364-375—739. 2, Kimberly 372-371—743. 3, Teton 404-407—811. 4, McCall-Donnelly 436-426—862. 5, Weiser 451-439—890. 6, Snake River 440-461—901. 7, Filer 459-446—905.

STATE MEDALISTS (Top 10) — 1, Braylyn Bayer, Bonners Ferry, 75-78—153. 2, Ellie Stastny, Kimberly, 78-81—159. 3, Avery Bayer, Bonners Ferry, 79-83—162. 4, Gwen Parker, Homedale, 85-85—170. 5, Alli Stastny, Kimberly, 87-84—171. 6, Lucy Hickey, Weiser, 94-88—182. 7, Piper Lamm, McCall-Donnelly, 91-95—186. 8, Sadie Bagley, Teton, 89-98—187. 9, Ava Harper, Kimberly, 93-98—191. 10, Mia Blackmore, Bonners Ferry, 96-98—194.

BONNERS FERRY — 1, Braylyn Bayer 75-78—153, 3, Avery Bayer 79-83—162, 10, Mia Blackmore 96-98—194, 23, Holly Alexander 114-116—230, 34, Ava Villelli 125-129—254.