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Sports How low can you go?
How low can you go?
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Staring out at the native grass, sand traps and water hazards don’t invoke the same heart pumping fervor as they used to for Heather Bruce. The Enterprise junior carded a 76 at the Buffalo Peak Invitational Friday — her personal best. In her last round, Bruce shot 79 for her first round under 80. “It’s an awesome feeling,” Bruce said. “There’s a feeling, sort of like the pressure is off now. I’ve done it. I know I can do it again.” Starting on back nine, Bruce shot a 1-over-par 37. Her round took a big jump with a chip-in for birdie on 18th-hole. “That was a big momentum swing in the round,” Bruce said. “I was just hoping to get up-and-down for par.” Now Outlaws head coach Mike Crawford set a new goal for Bruce — even par. “I can get there,” Bruce said. “I had a few putts that lipped out. You just have to keep pushing yourself.” Freshman Cole Sajonia one-upped his school mate, with a 1-under-par 71. Sajonia tied for first-place with Peter Foss from Fruitland. The Outlaw golfer played an up-and-down opening front-nine — starting on the second hole. He opened with a birdie on the par-5, but quickly gave the shot back on next hole, a par-3. Sajonia finished even on the front, and stayed steady on the back. Finally, he took advantage of the easiest hole on the course — according to the hole handicap — for a birdie on the par-4 17th. Back-to-back pars gave Sajonia his high school best round. “(Cole) has the ability to shot low scores,” Crawford said. “He’s done it in junior golf. This is a new level, but one he’s capable of handling.” Unlike his teammate, Dakota Hull had to avoid disaster early on. Hull caused a little whip-lash as passerby’s stopped to look at the train wreck — 6-over-par after five holes. It looked like a carry over from Hull’s last round. The senior was cruising at Wildhorse before stumbling to the finish. Hull used break on the 9th-hole to right the ship. On his approach shot to the par-5, Hull hit the flag. Mercifully the ball fell six feet from the hole. He dropped thebirdie putt to lower his front-nine score to 40. He played the final 13-holes at 3-under-par to finish with a 75. “It was good to see (Dakota) get tough,” Crawford said. “That’s an amazing turnaround.” Despite finishing with a team score of 308, the Outlaws finished second. Fruitland took first with a 302. “It’s disappointing to take second,” Crawford said. “But we’re shooting really well, and can take a few more strokes off. That’s the difference this last week of nice weather made.” Wallowa’s Tyler Harshfield finished in a tie for fifth-place with a 77. Union’s Blake Posey lead his team on his home course with an 89. Imbler’s Rex Kanoho finished with a team best 94. All four local schools will head back for another look at the district course at Wildhorse Friday. “It’s another great chance for the kids to see how the match up on the course will be on in the post-season,” Crawford said. “The course should play tough, since the weather is supposed to be pretty ugly.”
Boys team scoresFruitland 302; Enterprise 308; Burns 329, Vale 352; Hermiston 356; Ontario 391; Umatilla 395; Union 410; Imbler 430. Medalists Cole Sajonia, Ent, 71; Peter Foss, Fru, 71; Ty Pena, Fru, 73 Area results Cole Sajonia 71; Dakota Hull, Ent, 75; Tyler Harshfield, Wal, 77; Marcus Anderson, Ent, 79; Tyler Warner, Ent, 83; Nick Januzzi, Ent, 87; Blake Posey, Uni, 89; Rex Kanoho, Imb, 94; Brandon Mahon, Wal, 95; Andrew Wilson, Wal, 96; Jeremy Moore, Uni, 99; Theron Harder, Imb, 104; Scott Kausler 108; Jake Arnzen, Imb, 110; Brandon George, Uni, 114; Jeff Lind, Wal, 118; Jesse Black, Uni, 122; Nick Wagner, Imb, 122; Jake McLean, Imb, 140.
Girls team scoresBurns 371; Ontario 384; Weiser 404; Enterprise 414 Medalists Heather Bruce, Ent, 76; Scottie Jo Hemlick, Ont, 90; Kelsey Edwards, Wei, 96. Area results Heather Bruce, Ent, 76; Kayann Layton, Ent, 101; Anna Michrina, Uni, 115; Kaitlyn Kiesecker, Ent, 118; Miranda McCarthy, Ent, 119. |
