Bobcat golfers stride forward despite weather

If the weather doesn't start improving, Seth Kuhl said that he and the students might be dawning raincoats to go outside and practice as divisionals are coming up on Monday, May 10 in Missoula. They lost two tournaments over the week because of weather. They were supposed to play at Deer Lodge last Saturday, but that didn't happen. They were also supposed to play at Seeley on Tuesday, May 4, but on Monday, Kuhl had already gotten a phone call from the course letting him know that the greens were in no conditions to be played on.

"With divisionals coming up, it's (not being able to play) obviously going to affect things," Kuhl said. "But that's spring golf. You do what you got to do. I think that's why many of the class A and class AA schools moved golf to the fall."

Kuhl said it was so nice back in February and March when they went out and started playing and so he wonders if they're paying for it now. However, Kuhl said that they can't imagine them cancelling divisionals and so that's why he's planning to start playing in the rain if necessary, so the kids can be prepared. Kuhl said that playing in bad weather could likely turn out to be to the advantage of some golfers.

"(When you're playing in the weather) it becomes more of a head game. If you're worried about the weather you won't score as well," Kuhl said. "It can be an opportunity for mediocre players to pick up their game and play well against better players who might not be used to it."

Superior golfers Tamara Rennick and Trevor Bailey have been two of the team's best golfers, landing in the top ten standings at tournaments this season. In Thompson Falls on April 24, Bailey took sixth place with a 92 and Rennick took a second in the girl's top ten with a 99.

"For Tamara, her short game is her savior," Kuhl said. "She's been able to score real well and inside of 100 yards, she's deadly. I think I'd like to see her hit the ball a little further, but that will come with time and adjustments."

Kuhl said Bailey's got a "swing like his dad."

"It's not the prettiest swing, but it works for him so you don't want to mess with things like that. He's one of those who have been playing golf the longest. His dad's an avid golfer and Trevor started at a young age, so that's def innately helped," Kuhl said.

Kuhl doesn't know what's going to happen at divisionals. He said that only time will tell, but he's hoping that they can get a couple more boys to qualify and "squeak by" into the state competition. He said they take the top 15 individuals and the four best teams.

Overall, he feels the team has done pretty well this season. Kuhl noted that they'd been fighting some things, students missing practices or meets for various reasons, but he thinks it's been good.

If all holds out, Kuhl is hoping they'll get to play inside the county this week on Thursday at Trestle Creek in St. Regis. The St. Regis tournament is the last scheduled competition before divisionals. State will be held on May 18-19.