Sweet Home’s varsity golfers got a taste of what winning is like Tuesday, March 28, with a decisive victory over fellow Val-Co League teams Newport, Taft and Central at Mallard Creek.
It was the Huskies’ first varsity win in a Val-Co match since they joined the league, Coach Tom Horn noted.
“Not only did we win, but we won by a large margin,” he said. “The guys are feeling good about themselves and rightly so. They played very well.”
Sweet Home scored 338 to Taft’s 386 and Newport’s 393. Central did not field a complete team.
Taylor Huschka was low scorer for the Huskies, with a 40-38-78, with Travis Ramoz right behind (39-41-80) and sophomore Jake Riggs third (46-42-88).
“I’m probably most pleased with Jake Riggs,” Horn said. “He played 10 strokes better than last year. He really was the highlight of the tournament for me.”
Rounding out the scoring for Sweet Home were Nick Zahler (43-49-92) and Markus Thedford (54-52-116).
Medalist for the match was Newport’s Ross Martin, who shot 37-34-71. No other Newport players shot under 100. Others who did were Taft’s Ian Hathaway (45-44-89), Justin Boggess (48-43-91) and Jonathan Bohlman (48-49-97) and Central’s Tyler Morgan (40-49-79) and Daniel Reynero (53-45-98).
Horn said that, other than Riggs, the Huskies performed about as he expected.
“We’re just off to a great start,” he said.
The Huskies will be back in action Thursday, March 27, at noon at Bandon Crossing.
In a nine-hole JV match to kick off the season on March 12, the Huskies scored 233 to finish third against Mollala (192), Lebanon (227) and Stayton (235).
Kaleb Lane was low scorer for Sweet Home with a 53, followed by Kyle Moore (56), Cory Ellingboe (60), Eric Holmes (64) and Brandon Basham (74).
Girls Golf
The Husky girls played a nine-hole JV match at Arrowhead Golf Club in Molalla.
Freshman Emily Peabody was low scorer with a 67, followed closely by Tanna Tyler (68).
“She did very well – really good for a freshman with no experience,” Horn said.
Jillian Marvin finished with a 78, Haley Voldbaek with a 79, and Savana McCalister with an 88, as Sweet Home edged Lakeridge 292-298 among teams with a full five players. Other teams were short one or more players.
“I’m real tickled with everyone right now,” Horn said.
The Huskies will play at 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 1, at Tokatee in an 18-hole match, then will play at home April 9 at Mallard Creek.