CFHS golfers kick off golf season
By JOE SOVA
Hungry Horse News
With the graduation of Wildcat golfer Bobby Pearce, the 2007 Columbia Falls High School season starts without at least one returning state competitor for the first time in several years. However, that doesn’t mean the Cats will be without some firepower on the links.
Seniors Micah Jam and Zane Ridings — along with sophomore Tanner Lineberry — are tournament-tested varsity golfers and should give CFHS a decent chance to be competitive in the Northwestern “A” Conference.
“Mika, Zane and Tanner are great kids who really enjoy the challenge of golf, and I’m confident we’re in for a good season with their dedication and leadership,” said head coach Gene Marcille, who begins his 19th season coaching in the golf program. “We’ll need a few of our younger kids to fill in the varsity spots, but I like what I’m seeing already from a big group of freshmen who are out.”
On the girls’ side of the team, sophomore Kelsey DeWit returns for her second season while several freshman and sophomore girls are joining the team for their first shot at the sport.
“I’m excited about the turn-out of girls this year,” Marcille said. “Coach [Dan] Frankino and I will have our work cut out teaching them the game from scratch, but they are all athletes in other sports and could be the base of building a stronger girls team for the future. We still have room for a few more girls, so spread the word.”
The first varsity competition for the CFHS golf team is at the Mission Mountain Country Club in Ronan on Aug. 23 with a 12-team invitational, including all of the conference competitors. The first home tournament for CFHS is on Tuesday, Aug. 28 at Meadow Lake Resort, beginning at 2 p.m. That will feature CFHS, Bigfork, Polson and Ronan.
The 2007 CFHS golf schedule (all varsity unless otherwise noted; home tour- naments at Meadow Lake):
Aug. 23, at Ronan, 9:30 a.m.; Aug. 28, home, 2 p.m.; Sept. 4, home, 2 p.m.; Sept. 8, at Libby, 10 a.m.; Sept. 13, JV at West Glacier; Sept. 20, at Bigfork, 10 a.m.; Sept. 21, at Polson, 10 a.m.; Sept. 28-29, divisional tournament at Whitefish/Kalispell; Oct. 2-4, state tournament at Anaconda.