Panther golf team shows improvement in first start

Posted 8/15/17

“I do think our best golf is ahead of us, but this is a very good place to begin from,” said PHS head coach Troy Hildebrand.

Playing at the Powell Golf Club, the Panthers finished as the top 3A team and fifth overall among 11 schools: …

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Panther golf team shows improvement in first start

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The Powell High School boys golf team got off to a strong start for the fall season — posting their best team score in three years at a Thursday-Friday home tournament.

“I do think our best golf is ahead of us, but this is a very good place to begin from,” said PHS head coach Troy Hildebrand.

Playing at the Powell Golf Club, the Panthers finished as the top 3A team and fifth overall among 11 schools: Campbell County, Thunder Basin (the new Gillette school), Sheridan, Buffalo, Kelly Walsh, Natrona County, Thermopolis, Worland, Cody and Lovell.

“While they were a little disappointed with the final results, I really wasn’t,” Hildebrand said. “Oftentimes in golf you can wind up putting too much pressure on yourself and it winds up making it hard to reach your potential — especially when you are playing on your home course.”

Nearly 100 players in all competed; Kelly Walsh swept the team titles, placing all five of their boys and girls in the top 10. Hildebrand said the team enjoyed two incredible days of weather and a Powell course that was in “great shape.”

Panthers

“I know that the boys really wanted to come out in this first tournament and have a great showing since we were at home and many of them were able to really put some effort into their golf games this summer,” Hildebrand said, adding, “overall many of these guys haven’t played a tremendous number of tournament rounds. In many ways, we are learning each week how to get the most out of each round.”

Crandell Sanders shot the best tournament round of his career on Thursday — firing an 82 — “which was a great start to his year and a product of how hard he worked this summer,” Hildebrand said. He followed that with a 96.

“Friday was a little tougher for him, but he battled until the end and he’ll have some things to work on moving into next week,” the coach said.

Reece Hackenberg scored a 91 on Thursday and a 92 on Friday.

“I was very happy with how [Hackenberg] played considering how little he was able to play this summer,” Hildebrand said. “He is settling right back into his game and I look for him to get better each week of the season.”

Bennett Walker shot a 101 on Thursday and improved to shoot a 88 on Friday.

“[Walker] was just the opposite of [Sanders] as he struggled on Thursday but did a great job of bouncing back Friday with his 88. That score is much more in line with what we are expecting from him this season,” said Hildebrand.

Rob Sessions scored a 90 on Thursday and a 99 on Friday.

“[Sessions] definitely had very high expectations coming into the weekend and the way he has been hitting the ball, I expected him to have a great tournament,” explained Hildebrand. “While these scores weren’t exactly what he had in mind, they are the best opening week scores of his three years and we all know what he is capable of moving forward.”

Kacey Creed shot a 110 on Thursday before bouncing back with a 92 Friday — the best round of his career.

“I expected him to be battling for a varsity spot this season and if he stays around that 92 number he will be right in the mix all season,” Hildebrand said. “He has improved his thinking on the course a great deal in the past four years and he is now seeing the benefits from that.”

Varsity player Treven Keeler will return to action this week in Worland.

Lady Panthers

With only two girls out for golf, PHS is one player short of qualifying for a team score, but golfers Mycah Wainscott and Kaitlyn Church are able to compete for individual awards. Hildebrand said he was “very pleased” with both players.

“This was the second and third tournament rounds that each of them have played and they both did a really nice job of getting around the course and gaining valuable experience,” the coach said.

Wainscott shot a 111 on Thursday and a 127 on Friday.

“[Wainscott] had a great first day with her 111 and while her second day wasn’t quite as good, she maintained a great attitude and is ready to get back to work on her game right away for next week in Worland,” said Hildebrand.

Church posted scores of 140 both days.

“[Church] improved a great deal from last spring,” Hildebrand said. “She will really start to take off as we move through this season. She is starting to figure things out more and more each round and her attitude is a huge asset for her.”

Next up for the PHS golf team is a tournament in Worland on Thursday and Friday.

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