Girls make big gainsPowell High School's golfers took advantage of playing on their home course in great weather to have one of their best days in recent history.This weekend's split-locale Cody-Powell Invitational sent golfers to Cody's Olive Glenn Country Club on Friday and to the Powell Golf Course the following morning.After a ho-hum 356-stroke total in Cody, the Panthers took advantage of their home digs on Saturday. They dropped 21 shots for a 335 — the lowest one-day total for the squad in the last four seasons.Their 691 stroke total was good for fifth place in the 13-team field and third among 3A teams.“It was nice to see us continue our solid play. The teams were able to enjoy absolutely perfect weather and two very nice courses over the two days,” said head Coach Troy Hildebrand.The Broncs from Sheridan certainly took advantage of the conditions — winning with the event with an impressive 309-305 — 614 total. Gillette (647) took second, Cody (653) third, and Buffalo (664) fourth.With just two players, the Lady Panthers were again ineligible to place, but they nonetheless shaved a whopping 43 shots from their season-opening performance in Riverton.A healthy chunk of those came from senior Saige Smith, who cut 35 shots from her Riverton card to shoot 103-101 — both career-best rounds.“She has really settled in quickly and is playing her best golf,” said Coach Hildebrand.Freshman Alyssa Hildebrand joined in with a 113-105.“She has done a nice job in her first two tournaments and I look for her to keep improving,” said the coach.For the guys individually, senior Bryan Borcher led the Panthers, and finished just one stroke out of the top ten. Borcher opened on Friday with an 85, then followed up with a four-over 76 at his home course.“He is really playing well and has a lot of confidence in what he is doing,” said the coach.The good news continued as junior Zane Bushnell shot a career-best 82 in Cody, and kept it right there with an 83 in Powell.“Zane's solid play and consistency so far are a real bright spot for us so far,” said Coach Hildebrand.Sophomore Brian Morse rebounded from a disappointing 91 in Cody to shoot a career-low 84 on Saturday; behind him, Bowen Prestwich came in with 98-93.“Bowen continues to be a pleasant surprise as a freshman. He seems to be getting more comfortable with each round and has a perfect demeanor to continue being successful,” said the coach.Senior AJ Anderson had a tough 103 at Olive Glenn, but came back to shoot his best tournament score ever — a 92 — in Powell.“His continued improvement will be very important for us over the next four weeks. He is playing with more confidence this year than he has at any other point in his career,” said Hildebrand.On the JV squad, freshman Jeremy Paul led the way in his first-ever tournament, shooting 104-112.“He just picked up golf at the beginning of this summer and has shown both tremendous growth and potential so far,” said Hildebrand.Freshman Cameron Nielson had what his coach termed a “great showing” in his first tourney, too, shooting 108-111.Sophomore Colter Adolph weathered a 123 in Cody with a solid 103 on Saturday, showing the kind of improvement the coach wants to see this week.At noon on Thursday and 9 a.m. Friday, the golfers will tee it up at the Green Hills Golf Course in Worland for another two-day tourney.

Girls make big gains

Powell High School's golfers took advantage of playing on their home course in great weather to have one of their best days in recent history.

This weekend's split-locale Cody-Powell Invitational sent golfers to Cody's Olive Glenn Country Club on Friday and to the Powell Golf Course the following morning.

After a ho-hum 356-stroke total in Cody, the Panthers took advantage of their home digs on Saturday. They dropped 21 shots for a 335 — the lowest one-day total for the squad in the last four seasons.

Their 691 stroke total was good for fifth place in the 13-team field and third among 3A teams.

“It was nice to see us continue our solid play. The teams were able to enjoy absolutely perfect weather and two very nice courses over the two days,” said head Coach Troy Hildebrand.

The Broncs from Sheridan certainly took advantage of the conditions — winning with the event with an impressive 309-305 — 614 total. Gillette (647) took second, Cody (653) third, and Buffalo (664) fourth.

With just two players, the Lady Panthers were again ineligible to place, but they nonetheless shaved a whopping 43 shots from their season-opening performance in Riverton.

A healthy chunk of those came from senior Saige Smith, who cut 35 shots from her Riverton card to shoot 103-101 — both career-best rounds.

“She has really settled in quickly and is playing her best golf,” said Coach Hildebrand.

Freshman Alyssa Hildebrand joined in with a 113-105.

“She has done a nice job in her first two tournaments and I look for her to keep improving,” said the coach.

For the guys individually, senior Bryan Borcher led the Panthers, and finished just one stroke out of the top ten.

Borcher opened on Friday with an 85, then followed up with a four-over 76 at his home course.

“He is really playing well and has a lot of confidence in what he is doing,” said the coach.

The good news continued as junior Zane Bushnell shot a career-best 82 in Cody, and kept it right there with an 83 in Powell.

“Zane's solid play and consistency so far are a real bright spot for us so far,” said Coach Hildebrand.

Sophomore Brian Morse rebounded from a disappointing 91 in Cody to shoot a career-low 84 on Saturday; behind him, Bowen Prestwich came in with 98-93.

“Bowen continues to be a pleasant surprise as a freshman. He seems to be getting more comfortable with each round and has a perfect demeanor to continue being successful,” said the coach.

Senior AJ Anderson had a tough 103 at Olive Glenn, but came back to shoot his best tournament score ever — a 92 — in Powell.

“His continued improvement will be very important for us over the next four weeks. He is playing with more confidence this year than he has at any other point in his career,” said Hildebrand.

On the JV squad, freshman Jeremy Paul led the way in his first-ever tournament, shooting 104-112.

“He just picked up golf at the beginning of this summer and has shown both tremendous growth and potential so far,” said Hildebrand.

Freshman Cameron Nielson had what his coach termed a “great showing” in his first tourney, too, shooting 108-111.

Sophomore Colter Adolph weathered a 123 in Cody with a solid 103 on Saturday, showing the kind of improvement the coach wants to see this week.

At noon on Thursday and 9 a.m. Friday, the golfers will tee it up at the Green Hills Golf Course in Worland for another two-day tourney.