Greybull-Riverside golf team’s Mowery claims title

Greybull-Riverside’s Makinli Mowery won the girls’ division by 12 shots last Friday, Sept. 11 at Hay Creek Golf Club in Wright.

“What a great performance,” said head coach Logan Burningham. “It was Makinli’s first top 10 finish and she wins it. It was cold and windy. She did an awesome job of staying in the moment and battling through the weather conditions.” 

The coach described the win as turning the tables, “Makinli bounced back and beat the girl who beat her the week before in Buffalo. It shows how well she had to play to do that and she ended up beathing her by 12 strokes. The cool part of it is that she got to compete with her level.”

Mowery, a GHS sophomore, played on Lovell’s 3A golf team last year. 

The invitational saw 2A teams from Big Horn, Hulett, Lusk, Moorcroft, Sundance, Upton, and Wright. All the tournaments so far this season have included 3A and 4A schools. 

The course in Wright features nine-holes set against the rolling prairie of the Thunder Basin Grasslands. The coach described it as a links-style course, think Great Britain, with very few trees. Athletes golfed the course twice in a day to get in 18 holes utilizing a different tee box with each round. 

“When the wind comes up it affects the flight of the ball, with a windy day keeping within five strokes you are doing well,” said the coach. “This was really the first tournament they had wind for a full day. They were freezing.”

G-R boys placed fourth out of eight schools with a team score of 803. Wright won the boys title on their home course with a score of 732. 

Sophomore Tristan Crabtree rose the top for G-R boys placing the highest with a score of 186. 

Freshman Marshall Brown was close behind with a score of 195 – a new personal record. “To see him throw together two great days of golf was awesome for him,” said Burningham.

Freshman William Preator also set a new personal record with a score of 204. “He’s got a great attitude, growing week to week,” said the coach, “I’m excited he joined us from Burlington.” 

Coach Burningham noted an improved performance by junior Aaron Corral, “He made a big jump and played well. His confidence grew as the tournament went on.” 

Rachael Henderson has stepped up to help Burningham coach and will be traveling with the team to the state competition next week in Evanston. 

Hosted by Kemmerer High School, the three-day tournament will be at the Purple Sage Golf Course. G-R will face only 2A teams. “Our goal is a top three or four finish,” said Burningham. 

The team will be able to golf a round on Monday, Sept. 21 with competition set for the following two days. “I’m excited for the practice round,” said the coach. 

Both Mowery and Shelby Hunt will compete for the G-R girls, and the coach is still formulating his team of five boys to take to state. 

“I’m really excited when you look at our team we’re made up of basically freshman and sophomores. The future is pretty bright. We’re going to continue to grow and get better,” added Burningham. “Keep the trend growing and establish the program.”

WRIGHT RESULTS

BOYS

11th – Tristan Crabtree: round one 96, round two 90. Total 186.

15th – Marshall Brown: round one 98, round two 97. Total 195. 

19th – William Preator: round one 100, round two 104. Total 204. 

28th – Aaron Corral: round one 111, round two 107. Total 218.

29th – Brendyn DeShazer: round one 109, round two 117. Total 226. 

32nd – Jose Acuna: round one 124, round two 109. Total 233.

39th – Grey Wipplinger: round one 132, round two 133. Total 265.

41st – Triston Gross: round one 139, round two 137. Total 276. 

GIRLS 

1st – Makinli Mowery: round one 99, round two 102. Total 201. 

8th – Shelby Hunt: round one 138, round two 155. Total 293.