By Malcolm Butler
The Ruston High Lady Bearcats captured first place at the High School Spring Championships at Black Bear Golf Course in Delhi on Tuesday while the Bearcats finished third.
Cedar Creek’s boys finished fifth.
RHS coach Chris Rathburn’s ladies have been on a tear all spring, winning all but one tournament that they’ve competed in and Tuesday was no different.
“My girls have really played extremely well this season,” said Rathburn. “We are led by senior Landry Nelson, but the rest of the squad is young. Making up the other starting three is freshman Kate Boersma and sophomore Marlee Davis. We should have a really bright future the next few years for RHS girls golf.”
The Lady Bearcats had four of the top six at the tournament led by Landry who finished second with an 18-hole total of 98 — four strokes behind Ouachita Christian’s Hailey Varnell. In addition to Landry’s strong day, Boersma finished third with a 99, Davis third with a 103 and Amaya Morelos sixth at 117.
According to Rathburn, the girls won’t have a district championship tournament due to lack of competing teams but the Lady Cats will compete in regionals on April 25 at Frenchman’s Bend in Monroe.
On the boys side, the Bearcats finished third at +51 behind only Neville (+42) and Ouachita Christian (+50).
“I talked to one of my seniors John Whitaker, and he said the first nine holes played really tough with the wind really whipping,” said Rathburn. “But as the day went on the wind settled some and the course became more score-able. The guys have really been showing improvement as the season has gone on, hopefully peaking at the right part of the season. We haven’t had a tournament yet were all five starters have a good day on the same day, so hopefully that is coming.”
Wes Altic led the Bearcats shooting an 80 to finish seventh followed closely by teammate Grant Madden who fired an 81 to finish eighth. John Whitaker tied for 17th with an 88, and Drew Bowling and Drew Brennan tied for 20th with 90s.
Grey Worthey led Cedar Creek, finishing 10th with a 12-over-par 84. Other Cougars competitors included Jed Stephens (t24th with a 91), Parker Bush (t26th with a 92), Corbin Cooper (t32nd with a 97), Tristan Floyd and Alex Roebuck (t36th with 99s).
The Bearcats will compete in the district championships April 18 at Querbes Park Golf Course in Shreveport. The date and location for regionals on the boys side is still undetermined according to Rathburn.
