LUSK – The Tiger golf team began their last week to tune up for the Class 2A State Tournament by playing Monday at the beautiful Golf Club at Devil’s Tower. 

“It’s really a unique opportunity for the team to play one of the most elite golf courses in Wyoming,” NCHS coach Deb Murray said.

Micah Shaner led the Tiger boys with a very average 94 finishing in second place. Ben Eiden finished third with a 96, while Ryan Bruegger finished fourth with a 102. Jayce Cummins shot 130 and Dalton Larson a 137 to place eighth and 10th, respectively. 

“The course was difficult and along with the wind contributed to the higher scores, but the Tigers won by a large margin over Sundance, Moorcroft and Upton,” Murray said.

For the girls, Joz Potter shot a 115 finishing third, while Abby Kottwitz shot a 124 which was good for fifth. Sierra Eaton just missed the top 10 with a 138.  In the team scoring they finished third behind Sundance and Upton. 

On Friday, they traveled to Glenrock for an 18-hole tournament that hosted every 2A team except Kemmerer. 

For the girls, Potter shot another 115 which was good for fifth place. Kottwitz slipped to a 130 and Eaton shot a 143.  Those scores were good for a fourth-place finish overall behind Tongue River, Upton and Sundance. 

For the boys, Micah Shaner shot a nice 80 which was good for a tie for fourth place, while Ryan Bruegger placed ninth with a 91. Ben Eiden shot a 109, Jace Cummins a 111, and Dalton Larson a 114. 

“Jayce and Dalton shot very good scores which should make this weekend exciting,” Murray said. “Ben is capable to score anywhere from 85 to 110 so it should be interesting to see how that comes out as well.”

The boys’ team score put them in fourth place, just a few strokes out of third. 

On Saturday, all of the same teams met at the Lusk Municipal Golf Course for another 18-hole event. The course was in fantastic condition and the players really enjoyed the tune-up for this weekend’s state tournament. 

For the girls, Potter again led the way for the Lady Tigers shooting a 112 good for seventh place.  Right behind shooting her career-low of 113 was Kottwitz and that earned her an eighth-place medal. 

Eaton continues to improve and shot a 134. Freshman Sheridan Schubarth from Sundance was the champion shooting 101, and freshman Brooklyn Materi from Upton finished second with a 102. The Lady Tigers finished in fourth place as a team just three strokes behind Upton. 

For the boys, Micah Shaner had another good day shooting an 80, good for second place behind last year’s state champion Hardy Johnson of Thermopolis. Ryan Bruegger and Ben Eiden had a tough day, shooting 104 and 113, respectively, but should be expected to bounce back this weekend. 

Jayce Cummins had his best round of the year with a 106 and is playing his best golf at the right time. Dalton Larson shot a 129 but he has played better and better as the season has progressed. The boys team division was won by Thermopolis with a 353. The Tigers finished in fifth place with a team score of 403. 

The Lusk Municipal Golf Course is the site for the 2019 Class 2A State Tournament this weekend and anything could happen team wise over the two-day event.  Teams have been jockeying for position all season long and there aren’t any clear-cut favorites as this weekend approaches.