STATE HIGH SCHOOL GOLF TOURNAMENTS: A good shot at the right time ... Cd'A frosh Wilson nabs state 6A title in playoff as Viking girls finish second for second straight year

• 6A 

POCATELLO — The start of Saturday’s round for Coeur d’Alene High freshman Ella Wilson was something she’ll soon want to forget. 

The end — that’s a different story. 

Wilson, who led the state 6A girls golf tournament by five strokes after Friday’s first round, bogeyed five straight holes and found herself in a playoff with defending champion Ella Arnzen of Timberline High of Boise at the end of the 36-hole event at Highland Golf Course

On the first hole of the playoff, Wilson eagled the par-5, 432-yard 18th hole after Arnzen missed her eagle putt to claim the individual title. 

“I was just going into the playoff thinking whatever happens is going to happen,” Wilson said. “It was going to take something amazing to win it, but if I didn’t, I’ve got the next three years.”

Both Arnzen and Wilson made it to the green in two shots, with Arnzen putting first and missing her first attempt and setting things up for Wilson, who rolled in an eight-footer to become Coeur d'Alene's first state girls golf champion. 

“It didn’t feel real at all,” Wilson said. “I was just trying to put up a decent score. After it was over, it didn’t feel like that really happened. But it’s starting to kick in a little.”

“I just tried to play it one good shot at a time,” Wilson said. “I hit a really good tee shot, then stuck my second shot on the back of the green. We basically had the same shot and she barely missed it. When she did, I had the line and knew in that moment, it needed to go in, and it did.” 

“Ella showed so much grit today battling back,” fourth-year Coeur d’Alene girls golf coach Jeff Lake said. “It’s a lot of pressure, but she really got it back together on the back nine.” 

Coeur d’Alene equaled its best placing ever with a second-place finish for the second straight year with a 658, 11 shots back of Rocky Mountain of Meridian, which claimed a fourth straight team title. 

“Being down 13 shots was a lot to overcome after the first day,” Lake said. “We’re a little disappointed, but we’re already setting our sights on the blue trophy.” 

Freshman Jossetta Williams finished sixth for Coeur d’Alene with an 82-78—160 and earned a medal by finishing in the top 10. Due to illness to junior Stella Deitz, Coeur d’Alene freshman Leah Heavener, the team’s alternate, replaced her for the second round and shot an 86 on Saturday. 

“I’m just so proud of the entire team,” Lake said. “Stella barely finished on Friday and started to get light-headed. Leah stepped in and played great today.” 

Boise won its first boys team title since 1989 with a 592.  

Coeur d’Alene missed a trophy by one place, finishing fifth with a 635. The Vikings were led by freshman Ben Focke, who tied for 11th.

Justin Anderson of Thunder Ridge in Idaho Falls was boys medalist with a 5-under 139. 

• 5A

BURLEY — Lakeland sophomore Tyler Zachary shot a 79 to finish seventh in the state 5A boys tournament at River's Edge Golf Club.

"We are very proud of him," second-year Lakeland coach Colleen Hall said. "We're so glad we get to work with him for the next two years."

Zachary was third after the first round after shooting a 2-under 70 in the first round.

For the third consecutive year, the Sandpoint girls, led by seniors Taylor Mire and Alexa Tuinstra, are headed home with a state trophy, finishing third.

Mire finished eighth with a 163.

"All the girls finished in the upper half of all competitors," Sandpoint coach Mike Deprez said. "While missing claiming a championship, the girls proved to themselves at districts how good they are and can be."

Bishop Kelly of Boise swept team and individual titles, with Will Comstock (boys) and Cara Carter (girls) claiming individual titles.

6A 

At Highland Golf Course, Pocatello 

BOYS 

Par 72 

6,512 yards 

TOP 10 INDIVIDUALS — 1, Justin Anderson, Thunder Ridge, 72-67—139. 2 Jack Bureau, Boise, 73-71—144. 3, Chad Gibbs, Rocky Mountain, 74-72—146. 4, Andy Metzler, Timberline, 69-78—147. 5, Reid Piron, Boise, 75-72—147. 6, Kaden Gempler, Mountain View, 76-72—148. 7, Jacob McFarland, Rocky Mountain, 78-71—149. 8, Beau Suhr, Eagle, 75-75—150. 9, Brayden Johnson, Meridian, 71-79—150. 10, Reid Hoppock, Boise, 74-76—150. 

TEAM SCORES — 1, Boise 298-294—592. 2, Rocky Mountain 311-296—607. 3, Mountain View 319-303—622. 4, Madison 315-313—628. 5, Coeur d’Alene 319-316—635. 6, Highland 320-321—641. 7, Eagle 324-336—660. 

COEUR d’ALENE — t-11, Ben Focke 76-75—151; t-14, Hunter Paquin 77-76—153; 17, Grant Potter 79-78—157; t-39, Dylan Cook 87-88—175; 41, Brady Rubert 90-87—177. 

GIRLS 

Par 76 

6,372 yards 

TOP 10 INDIVIDUALS — 1, Ella Wilson, Coeur d’Alene, 73-77—150 (won in playoff). 2, Ella Arnzen, Timberline, 78-72—150. 3, Danika Humphries, Canyon Ridge, 78-76—154. 4, Maggie Urian, Rocky Mountain, 80-76—156. 5, Anna Li, Boise, 79-78—157. 6, Jossetta Williams, Coeur d’Alene, 82-78—160. 7, Natalie Nichenko, Rocky Mountain, 78-83—161. 8, Megan Merrill, Highland, 78-84—162. 9, Indie Taylor, Eagle, 83-80—163. 10, Zoe Moore, Rocky Mountain, 79-84—163. 

TEAM SCORES — 1, Rocky Mountain 317-330—647. 2, Coeur d’Alene 332-326—658. 3, Mountain View 365-356—721. 4, Boise 363-367—730. 5, Highland 363-377—740. 6 (tie), Canyon Ridge 382-368—750; Eagle 371-379—750. 

COEUR d’ALENE — t-1, Ella Wilson 73-77—150; 6, Jossetta Williams 82-78—160; 13, Mady Riley 82-88—170; 20, Leah Heavener 95-86—181; t-21, Sophia Vignale 97-85—182. 

5A  

At River’s Edge Golf Club, Burley 

BOYS 

Par 72 

6,507 yards 

STATE MEDALISTS (Top 10) — 1, Will Comstock, Bishop Kelly, 63-77—140. 2, Brody Payne, Twin Falls 69-74—143. 3, Aidan Szentanai, Bishop Kelly, 71-73—144. 4, Charlie Hilvers, Bishop Kelly, 72-73—145. 5, Chad Stevenson, Mountain Home, 73-73—146. 6, Chase Lovell, Moscow, 75-73—148. 7, Tyler Zachary, Lakeland, 70-79—149. 8, Ike Redder, Burley, 79-73—152 (won card-off). 9, Dan Moodie, Bishop Kelly, 76-76—152 (lost card-off). 10, Kyler Barker, Jerome, 74-79—153. 

TEAM SCORES —1, Bishop Kelly 282-299—581. 2, Twin Falls 314-311—625. 3, Mountain Home 324-325—649. 4, Moscow 322-328—650. 5, Preston 331-328—659, 6, Skyline, 331-331—662. 7 (tie), Middleton 328-337—665; Skyview 326-339—665. 9, Jerome 316-356—672. 10, Blackfoot 347-338—685. 11, Sandpoint 346-350—696. 

LAKELAND — 7, Tyler Zachary, 70-79—149. 

SANDPOINT — t-40, Logan Roos 85-86—171; t-46, Everett Gilman, 88-86—174; t-49, Micah Young, 86-89—175; t-52, Bode Eacret, 87-89—176; t-59, Cooper Zimmerman, 94-89—183. 

MOSCOW — 6, Chase Lovell 75-73—148; t-26, Burke Brown 86-79—165; t-35, Keaton Clark 79-90—169; t-40, Cooper Trout 83-88—171; 45, Cohen Miller 85-88—173. 

GIRLS 

Par 75 

6,055 yards 

STATE MEDALISTS (Top 10) — 1, Cara Carter, Bishop Kelly, 68-79—147. 2, Gracee Payne, Twin Falls, 75-76—151. 3, Allison Shockey, Minico, 79-76—155. 4, Claire Hall, Vallivue, 82-76—158. 5, Mallory Higham, Shelley, 81-78—159. 6, Jessi Moodie, Bishop Kelly, 80-80—160. 7, Maeve Fitzgerald, Bishop Kelly, 82-80—162. 8, Taylor Mire, Sandpoint, 79-84—163. 9, Kate Miller, Twin Falls, 81-83—164. 10, Julie Klefforth, Mountain Home, 83-87—170 (won card-off). 

TEAM SCORES — 1, Bishop Kelly 314-326—630. 2, Twin Falls 334-327—661. 3, Sandpoint 353-354—707. 4, Middleton 395-371—766. 5, Idaho Falls 386-394—780. 6, Century 409-396—805. 7, Shelley 405-402—807. 8, Jerome 404-408—812. 9, Lewiston 443-442—885. 

SANDPOINT — 8, Taylor Mire 79-84—163; 13, Alexa Tuinstra 92-82—174; 20, Demi Driggs 90-93—183; 21, Claire Loutzenhiser 92-96—188; 24, Raegen Samuels 99-95—194. 

LEWISTON — t-30, Shelby Arellano 99-100—199; t-32, Cora Lott 99-102—201; 43, Josey Hemphill 124-116—240; t-46, Destiny Ellenwood 121-134—255. 48, Kalen Kelly 132-124—256. 

    Courtesy photo Coeur d'Alene freshman Ella Wilson watches a shot during the state 6A golf tournament on Saturday in Pocatello.
  

    Courtesy photo The Coeur d'Alene High girls golf team finished second in the state 6A girls golf tournament on Saturday at Highland Golf Course in Pocatello. From left are coach Jeff Lake, Ella Wilson, Jossetta Williams, Leah Heavener, Sophia Vignale and Mady Riley. Not pictured is Stella Deitz.
  

    Courtesy photo The Coeur d'Alene boys and girls golf team concluded the season at the state 6A golf tournament on Saturday at Highland Golf Course in Pocatello. From left are girls coach Jeff Lake, Leah Heavener, Jossetta Williams, Mady Riley, Ella Wilson, Sophia Vignale, Hunter Paquin, Jake-Ryan Borowski, Grant Potter, Dylan Cook, Brady Rubert, Ben Focke and boys coach Chase Bennett.
  

    Courtesy photo Coeur d'Alene High freshman Ella Wilson rolls in an eagle putt on the first playoff hole Saturday to win the state 6A girls golf championship at Highland Golf Course in Pocatello.
  

    Courtesy photo The Sandpoint High girls golf team finished third in the state 5A golf tournament at River's Edge Golf Club in Burley on Saturday. From left are Raegan Samuels, Claire Loutzenhiser, Taylor Mire, Demi Driggs and Alexa Tunistra.