Baker golfers expected to battle for crown

Baker returns four members of the district champion girls golf team from a year ago, and five members of the third-place boys team.

Baker coach Scott Warner sees some possible good things come post season this year too.

“The girls setup has completely changed. The league now is all in one pool. All Eastern Oregon teams are in the same pool,” he said.

Kindra Smith, Tayler Wood, Morgan Ward and Hallie Borgen return from last year’s championship team. Wood finished fourth in the individual standings, and Smith fifth.

Newcomers whom Warner is looking at to provide depth on the girls team are Maggie Harlow, Emily Smith, Mackenzie Warner, Dallas Defrees and Aly Ogan.

Dru Simonski-Davis and Pat Vaughan return for the boys after qualifying for the state meet a year ago.

Adam Lehman, Parker Warner and Zach Thatcher also return from last year’s squad.

Adding depth will be Chris Sells, Dillon DeLong, Kyle Hite and Powder Valley’s Anthony Massingale.

“We have 20 boys out for the program,” Warner said. “We have five returning golfers and we’ll get a couple more challenging for a varsity spot out of the other guys.

“We’ll be right there in the pack again,” Warner said. “La Grande will be better. Ontario lost several seniors. And, Mac-Hi was young last year but will be better.”

As usual weather has kept the Bulldogs off Quail Ridge Golf Course. Most practices have been in the gymnasium at Baker High School.

The Baker girls opened their season at Weiser, Idaho, Tuesday. The boys traveled to Ontario Wednesday to open their season.