Cascade boys and girls golfers have eyes on a league title

The Cascade boys and girls golf teams might be the most talented in the league this season. There are 16 kids turning out, seven with experience, three boys and four girls.
“I feel pretty good about the girls side. We have district champion, Maddie Hontou, coming back. State tournament golfer. Jacelyn Bain was an alternate to state last year,” Head Coach Randy Alexander said. “I have Emma Halseth. She barley missed going to state at the district qualifier. A sophomore. And Natalie Craig. She is an up and coming one. Good athlete. Nice to have athletes to teach golf. It’s a lot easier.”
The senior Hontou had a Cinderella finish to her season last year. She came into the league and district championships at Gamble Sands averaging in the low 100s.  
“She shoots a 94 at the league championship, which is a season’s best. Then came back for the state qualifier at Gamble Sands and shoots an 83. Ten strokes better than her previous round and 20 strokes better than her average. That is rising to the occasion,” Alexander said.
Alexander said he thinks it just happened to be her day. In the qualifier, she shot 44 on the front nine and 39 on the back.
“That score was the second best district score in the state, besides the defending state champion. Maddie was teamed up with the defending state champion in the first group at state,” he said.
Will Hontou pick up from where she left off last season?
“We’re going to have to wait and see. Maddie is a go getter. She’s here everyday. I have high expectations for the girls,” Alexander said.
Alexander said he would be disappointed if the girls didn’t win league. He said they have the most experienced team coming back.
The other girls on the team include Mykel Wilms, Anlyn Flake, Taylor Burris and Emma Neilson.
“I’m hoping, by season’s end, a couple of these girls will give a little support at districts. My two girls last year, Natalie and Emma, it took them a whole season to get ready for nine holes, 18 holes, in a timely fashion, know the rules, the etiquette,” Alexander said. “They took it on and did well. They both lettered.”
Chelan won league last year, but Alexander feels his team is bringing back more experience.
“Chelan only has four girls total and 11 girls with no experience. I feel good if I have the four boys and four girls in every match, we’ll do well. We don’t have the depth,” he said.
The boys team will be led by senior Tim Wells, who tied for the district championship last year, but lost in a playoff.
“He’s my number one. I think he and the kid who tied last year to be the front runners in the league. He should be medalist wherever he goes until he meets up with the Okanogan kid. I have Stefan Zucktreigel, another senior. Stefan played districts last year and lettered. He was the number six guy. Started coming on strong late last year. It’s fun watching kids grow and get better,” he said.
Leland Funk is another one with experience.
“He doesn’t have too much varsity but he has a couple years of golf under his belt. Isaac Cortes is my grandson. He has a family history of golf. He’ll be a good one. Just needs to keep it in the fairway,” Alexander said.
The other boys are Gavin Dwyer, Ledger Parrish, Michael Whitehead and Austin Curry.  
“These guys are all new to golf but I’m seeing great improvement. Now, it’s just a matter of getting out, learning the game, the pace, the etiquette. All that stuff that goes along with golf,” Alexander said. “I have four with experience. We need to get some more boys developed. I will throw Isaac in the mix right away. If we have a guy sick and there’s only three, we don’t score for our match.”
Alexander said he downplays the first part of the season, because it take awhile to get the dust off.
Cascade opens the season on Thursday with a non-league match at Quincy. They open their league schedule at Okanogan on Tuesday, March 27.   
Ian Dunn can be reached at 548-5286 or editor@leavenworthecho.com.