MHS golfers gear for district on tough courses

The Madras High School boys golf team had a busy last week, playing two tournaments as they gear up for the Special District 1 District Tournament in early May.

The Buffs traveled to Eugene to play in the State Preview tournament at Emerald Valley Golf Course on Thursday, April 18. They finished ninth out of 17 teams.

As a squad, the Buffs shot 388.

Mason Lee led the squad at Emerald Valley, carding a 93. Reagan McCabe had the next best Buffalo card with a 96. Tate Alire had a 98 and Maikel Poland had the fourth counting card with a 100. Eli Boyle and Josh Gregory shot 106 and 111, respectively.

On Monday, April 15, the Buffalos were at the Bend Golf Club. McCabe, a freshman, led the squad in Bend with a 91. Alire was second with a 94 and Lee carded a 100. Gregory got the fourth score with a 102. Boyle and Poland carded 103 and 108, respectively. Team scores were unavailable.

“We have been on a stretch of tournaments the last two weeks where we are playing really difficult, championship-style tracks ... Langdon Farms, Broken Top, BGC, Emerald Valley,” said coach John Miller. “It’s been a great experience for us, but our team score average has definitely been inflated a bit. The message to the kids is to just keep grinding it out. Golf is different from other sports in a lot of ways but, at least at the 4A level, none of our tournament play means a thing until the district tournament.”

On Monday, April 22, the Buffs were playing on another tough course, the Running Y Golf Course near Klamath Falls, for the Marshfield Invitational.

The Special District 1 District Tournament is May 6-7 at Quail Valley Golf Course in Banks. At district, the top three teams advance to the state tournament.