LRS golfers finally hit the links in Colville

The Lind-Ritzville golf team traveled north to Colville’s Dominion Meadows Golf Course on Tuesday, April 9, for their first match of the season.

Three earlier scheduled matches had been cancelled due to winter’s late snow melt. This match was initially scheduled for a 10 a.m. start, but in the morning, the first tee time was changed to noon, and given the many competitors who showed up, the rounds were changed to nine holes in the interest of time.

Only four of the seven members of the Lind-Ritzville group made the trip; Morgan Brausen, Molly Hane, Maddie Miller and Baylor Moore. At the end of the day, Brausen had carded a 42. Coach Nick Weishaar was pleased with the score, and commented that for Brausen to shoot a decent score right out of the chute is a credit to his experience as the only senior on the team.

Weishaar also discussed the mental element of golf, that in time a consistency develops along with the stable mental approach needed to score well. Brausen has honed that approach over his previous years of competition and practice.

The other three women are much less experienced, and it showed in their scores. Maddie Miller (72) and Baylor Moore (69) are first-year participants; Molly Hane (71) participated last year, and Weishaar said at the beginning of the season that he anticipates good improvement from her.

Coach Weishaar was not discouraged by the scores, and said he understands that there is a long learning curve for young, less experienced golfers. He specifically mentioned two issues: struggling with hitting consistent drives, and consistent putting – noting with a wry smile that those two concerns pretty much complete the game of golf.

Meanwhile he has them hitting “shagbags” – which is pouring out a bunch of golf balls on the ground and hitting one after another until all are gone. One might guess that the team will be seen practicing on the putting greens of the Ritzville course as well. The team’s next competitive opportunity arrives Tuesday, April 16, at a course in Clarkston.