Course proves difficult for LHS golfers

The Thermopolis golf course was described as deceptive regarding its difficultly level by Lovell High School head golf coach Dane Robertson after the Bulldogs competed at the Bobcat Invitational last Thursday and Friday.

“It is quite tough for high schoolers,” he said. “Like Foster Gulch, many people think it’s a short, nine hole course, so it should be easy. But it most decidedly is not.”

A strong short game is required to score well on such a course, and while some succeeded in that area, it caused some participants to have higher than normal marks.

“Overall, our short game came up short,” Robertson noted. “But we did have some players that did well in their chipping and putting portions.”

In girls action, Madalyn McCollam was the highest finisher for the Lady Bulldogs after shooting 112 in the opening round, followed by 96 for a total of 208, while Kenley Wilson combined for 211 with scores of 108 and 103.

For the boys, Matthew Allen ended with 89 and 84 strokes for a 173 total as Lovell’s top shooter.

Kaeson Anderson finished at 181 after shooting 89 and 92, and James Blau improved from 96 to 88 for a total of 184, with Kellan Jackson right behind at 185.

Jacob Thomas cut nine strokes from day one to day two and ended with a 203.

The boys team finished in seventh overall with an overall total of 723 as a squad.

Jaxen Hayes also competed in the junior varsity boys division and shot 112 and 117 on the course for a 229.

“It was a good experience and strong test for our players to prepare us for conference in Cody,” Robertson said.

Lovell JV girls and boys members traveled to Powell on Tuesday for a JV scramble tournament, but no scores were reported.

The conference golf tournament will be held in Cody this Thursday and Friday, and Coach Robertson believes his teams are ready.

“I think we are prepared to play our best rounds yet,” he said.