Eli Boyle had one of his best rounds of the year Monday, April 22 at the Running Y Ranch Marshfield Invitational.
Boyle matched his season low 91, featuring a 41 on the back nine, to lead the Buffalo squad to an eighth-place finish among 12 squads. A 20-foot putt for birdie on the 18th highlighted the round.
MHS coach Johnny Wilson said Boyle had two bad holes, 8 and 9, or he would have had a career day.
North Bend won the event, held at the course near Klamath Falls, with a 334. St. Mary’s of Medford was second at 343. The Buffalos finished between Sweet Home (373) and Mazama (380).
Tate Alire, a sophomore, had the second best card for the Buffs with a 93. Freshman Reagan McCabe was third at 95 and Mason Lee had the final counting card with a 98. Senior Maikel Poland had a 96 but he was the team’s sixth-seed entry and therefore ineligible to count as a contributing score. Joshua Gregory shot a 105.
The top four counting scores make up the team’s total.
Mason Lee nearly aced the par 3 No. 12, leaving himself a tap-in for birdie from under a foot away.
“We nearly played that hole under par as a team. All six of our guys played better on the back, and I don’t necessarily think it was playing easier. We’ve played so many tough courses, and this was another one, but it was as if it all finally starting clicking that afternoon,” said Wilson.
La Pine Invitational
Another nice day of weather greeted the Buffs at the Wednesday, April 24 La Pine Invitational, held at Quail Run Golf Course.
The Buffalos finished fifth among the Central Oregon teams that made up the field. Mountain View won with a 328, Redmond was second at 348 and Crook County third at 350; La Pine had 359 and the Buffalos came in at 368. Sisters and Caldera were sixth and seventh with 393 and 446.
“We posted a 368, even with Eli having a tough day, and without Reagan McCabe available. Maikel Poland came in with a career-low 92.
“He has improved so much this year, and it seems like every time he tees it up he is more confident,” said Wilson of Poland.
Lee’s 86 led the way for Madras with Alire on his heels with an 89. Poland’s 92 was the third card and Boyle shot a 101. Gregory finished with a 117.
Again, the Buffs’ sixth seed, this time junior Jacob Turo, shot what would have been a counting score. Turo carded a 99, the fourth best for Madras on the day.
“Jacob played some varsity golf tournaments for us last year, but got passed up this year by some of our newcomers. Credit him for not getting discouraged and continuing to work hard to improve. He finally got his shot to prove he could get it done, and he played great. It’s really encouraging to know that we have some depth in the program, with knowing that we will graduate Mason and Maikel at the end of this year,” said Wilson.
The Buffalos play in the Special District 1 Tournament May 6 and 7 at Quail Valley in Banks. Wilson said the team played a practice round at the course this past weekend.
“The kids are excited to go up there and play our best golf of the year next week,” said the coach.
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