Two panthers make All-StateWrapping up their 2010 fall season, the Powell High School boys golf team took fifth place at the Class 3A tournament in Evanston over the weekend.

Senior Zane Bushnell and junior Brian Morse each earned All-State honors, finishing in a tie for fourth place individually.

“It was a good weekend for us on a very challenging Evanston course,” said PHS head coach Troy Hildebrand. He said the greens at Purple Sage Golf Course were “extremely fast,” with tough, windy conditions on Friday but perfect Saturday weather.

The Panthers took fifth in the 14-team field, with a two-day total of 714. Cody won the tournament with a 337-326=663 score, followed by Lander (341-332=673), Jackson (354-335=689) and Douglas (348-343=691).

With a 350-stroke team score on day one, the Panthers found themselves just two shots out of third, and 13 strokes out of first. However, a tough second day total of 364 kept them from making up ground on the teams ahead of them.

Bushnell shot a 78 on Friday that put him in second place individually, then shot a Saturday 85.

“He battled throughout Saturday for the lead and was right in there until the final four holes,” said Hildebrand. “I was extremely proud of his performance throughout the season and was very happy to see him in the top five this year. To see where Zane has come from his first state tournament four years ago in Jackson to now is a true testament to the work that he has put into his game.”

Morse “continued his solid play of the last few weeks” and shot 79-84, Hildebrand said. The coach praised Morse's efforts to fight through a tough second day where he wasn't hitting the ball too well.

“He showed a lot of maturity in managing his game and we will certainly be looking to that leadership next fall,” Hildebrand said.

Bowen Prestwich shot 96-94.

“Bowen didn't score as well as he would have liked this weekend, but he did have a very successful sophomore season,” said Hildebrand, saying Prestwich would again be a key player for the team in 2011.

Fellow sophomore Cameron Nielson shot 97-101.

“His 97 in that wind on Friday really helped keep our team in the battle for a top three finish,” said Hildebrand, calling Nielson's performance “a fine showing in his first-ever state tournament experience.”

Junior Colter Adolph shot 106-111.

“Colter had some struggles in his first state tournament but to his credit he kept a great attitude and did everything that he could to work on his game while we were in Evanston,” said Hildebrand.

PHS' lone competing girl, Alyssa Hildebrand, finished in 14th place with a 119-108 showing; only three girls in Class 3A were able to break 100 in both days of the tournament on the tough Evanston course.

“I was very happy to see her scratch out All-Conference honors last week and then put together a solid performance this week to wrap up her sophomore season,” said Coach Hildebrand. “I think she can look forward to a great 2011 if she puts in a solid summer of work.”

The coach said he's continuing to look for a couple more girls to form a Lady Panther team; a minimum of three players are needed. PHS should have at least two girls next year, Coach Hildebrand said, with Savannah Triplett ready for the 2011 season's tournament competition.

The coach said the boys are losing two key players with Bushnell's pending graduation and the departure of Swedish exchange student Vilhelm Sandberg.

“However, I am blessed to have six returning players with tournament experience and some incoming freshmen next year that have already played quite a bit of tournament golf,” said Hildebrand.

The coach thanked the parent community and the Powell Golf Club for their continuing support of the PHS golf program and said it was a pleasure to work with the PHS golfers.

“This was a great group of players for me this year and they represented Powell High School and our community very well throughout the season,” Hildebrand said.