Huskie boys capture District III golf title

Article and photograph by Joe Sova

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Emmett’s boys’ golf team won the 4A District III Tournament title and qualified for the state tournament this week in Moscow. Pictured, from left, are coach Gus Crank, Zerin Beattie, Josh Bork, James Taylor, Jordan Taylor and Robert Holmes.

If football is a game of inches then golf is a game of millimeters. A millimeter or two can often make the difference between a par and birdie.

It takes only a single stroke to win a golf tournament and the Emmett High School boys did just that — taking top honors in the 4A District III Tournament on May 7 at a familiar facility, Purple Sage Golf Course. With three players recording scores in the 70s, the Huskies emerged as the champions with a 320 total score for 18 holes. That was one stroke better than runner-up Skyview. The third and final qualifying team for the 4A state tournament in Moscow was Middleton, which had a 334 total. Following were Kuna with 343, Bishop Kelly 347, Nampa 360, Mountain Home 363 and Columbia 385.

Senior Josh Bork and junior Jordan Taylor led EHS at the district meet, tying for third place with Clayson Spackman of Kuna — each with a 78. Bork recorded a par-4 on the first playoff hole while Taylor and Spackman had bogeys. That gave Bork the third-place bronze medal.

James Taylor was sixth, carding a 79. Robert Holmes shot 85 and Zerin Beattie 93.

Down to the wire

Before the final group of players came to the clubhouse after finishing their round, Skyview led EHS by five shots, according to Huskies coach Gus Crank. But Bork’s 78 was six strokes better than group-mate Tanner Markus of Skyview. That meant EHS had a one-stroke victory.

“When we made the turn after the first nine holes, I knew it was going to be close,” Crank said. “The kids put it together on the back-9. That’s probably what won it for us.”

EHS had finished ahead of Skyview in most of the tournaments this season and having three players in the 70s was the key at district.

“It was a good time to do it,” Crank said.

EHS girls finish seventh

Emmett finished seventh in the girls’ division of the District III Meet with a 556 total. Bishop Kelly remained unbeaten, claiming district honors with a 328. Columbia was second (446), followed by Middleton (461), Skyview (471), Nampa (473), Mountain Home (495), Emmett and Kuna (600).

Bishop Kelly’s Maddie Sheils and Katie Skinner shared medalist honors, each shooting 77.

It was only the second time this season that the EHS girls played an 18-hole round in a tournament.

“They handled it real well,” Crank said.

Brandi Bork led the Huskie girls with a 105. Sarah Fast carded a 117, Kacie Crays 158 and Jessica Sedlacek 176. Of those four, Crays is the lone senior.

The EHS boys were scheduled to compete in the state tournament Monday and Tuesday at the challenging par-72 University of Idaho Golf Course.

Last year, EHS finished ninth at state. Bork, James Taylor and Jordan Taylor were on that team.