Lovell golfers strong in Cody but look for improvement

The Lovell High School hit their mid-season stride at the Cody Invitational Thursday and Friday as they look toward post-season tournaments that begin next week.

The Lovell boys placed sixth in the 11-team field with a two-day score of 716, edging Thermopolis by one point and Powell by two. The Bulldogs shot 359 on Thursday and 357 Friday.

Riverton, Lander and Douglas topped the field.

“Cody was once again a mixed bag for the Bulldogs,” coach Dane Robertson said. “Olive Glenn Golf Course is always in immaculate condition, and the greens roll true and fast. Even if we hit greens in regulation, we were still blowing putts past the hole and making bogey.

“Sometimes it was like watching a drama unfold in real time. The kids would hit what seemed to be a decent putt that would roll up to the cup, and the ball would act like it wanted to go in and was well on its way to a happy ending, but then it would run away like the lead in a Hallmark movie.”

Meanwhile, Lovell’s lone competitor in the girls division, senior Kenley Wilson, placed in the top 10 for the third consecutive tournament, tying for ninth place with Worland’s Briley Trautvein in the field of 34 golfers at 201. Wilson shot 98 the first day and 103 the second.

The top finisher for the boys was senior Kaeson Anderson, who shot an 88 Thursday and improved to 84 Friday for a two-day score of 172, tying for 25th out of 78 golfers.

Rocky Mountain senior Kellan Jackson finished in a tie for 29th at 93-81=174, followed by Lovell senior Rocco Rael 32nd at 86-93=179.

“Kellan shot very, very well in the second round and hit a tournament PR. He was locked in all day in all facets of the game,” Robertson said. “He was living up to his nickname of Smiles Magoo all day with how pleased he was with his play.  Kaeson is Mr. Steady. He shot well on both days to lead the boys team with a total of 172 over the two days.

“We will hopefully get everyone clicking together as we head toward the end of the season. I would like to see us with a team score of around 330.”

Other Lovell golfers were:

Hudson Miller, 45th, 92-99=191; Brock Butler tie-50th, 94-103=197; Gage Bair tie-53rd, 104-97=201; Madden Cooley 57th, 99-105=204; Jaxon Hayes 59th, 100-106=206; Mason Leithead 119-112=231.

The LHS golfers will wrap up the regular season at the Lander Invitational Thursday and Friday, then travel to Evanston for the 3A West Conference Tournament next Tuesday and Wednesday, Sept. 8-9. The Class 3A State Tournament is September 18-19 in Torrington.

Tee times in Lander this week are 10 a.m. Thursday and 9 a.m. Friday.