Golfers play in season's first tournament

The boys golf team played at Tokatee on Wednesday, March 18, in their first tournament of the season. They walked away with a decent showing.

Eleven teams attended the tourney and Oak Ridge took a first-place finish. Bandon took second, North Marion was third and Cottage Grove finished fourth.

Steen Johnson led the Outlaws with a score of 103. Freshman Austin Lake carded a 107, and Kade Owen was just one stroke back at 108. Ben Saba and Devin Robillard both scored a 115.

Coach Bill Mitchell told The Nugget that he was especially pleased with his youngest players on the team.

"Austin (Lake) is just a freshman and is a great addition to our team. He had good drives and did a great job today. He's going to put some pressure on our kids that are back from last year and hopefully they will play even better. It's great to play a freshman in your varsity start. He's got nowhere to go but up.

"Ben Saba (sophomore) was on the team last year but he didn't get to play in any matches. This was his first-match ever and he finished with a respectable score."

On the girls side, Emily Christen was Sisters lone Outlaw who attended the tournament at Crooked River Ranch on Wednesday.

Christen joined the golf team mid-season last year and according to Mitchell is still a rookie.

Mitchell said, "Emily had five putts for birdies, which is amazing, unfortunately, she didn't make them. Emily's ball-striking is very good, but her putting still needs work."

Brand new to the girls team is Hogan Warner, who Mitchell hopes will be tournament-ready by mid-April.

Both the boys and the girls teams will play at Eagle Crest on Friday, April 3.