Evanston gears up for state golf

Josh Hall, Herald Sports Editor
Posted 9/14/17

Evanston to host state golf tourney

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Evanston gears up for state golf

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Brady Hurd played some recreational golf growing up. But by the Evanston High School junior’s own admission, he didn’t have a clue what he was doing when he’d go play a round. However, he did have a knack for the sport. 

After his rounds, friends would ask, “how many over did you shoot?”

“What are you talking about?” Hurd remembers asking in response with a puzzled face. “People would ask me if I’d hit a draw or fade. I didn’t know what that was. I just got up there and swung as hard as I could at the ball.”

Hurd, who also plays basketball, started taking the sport more seriously his freshman year. He became a student of the game, soaking up all the knowledge he could from coaches, instructors and older teammates. Hurd would usually shoot in the low to mid 90s back then. As a sophomore last spring, he lowered his average to the high 80s.

Now the Red Devils’ No. 1 player has a stroke average of 81. And he just so happens to be one of the best high-school golfers in the state.

Hurd will get the chance to prove where he stacks up among golfers in Wyoming on Monday and Tuesday when Evanston hosts the Class 4A boys and girls state championship at Purple Sage Golf Course. 

The meet was originally scheduled for Friday and Saturday, but was postponed by the Wyoming High School Activities Association on Tuesday due to concerns for inclement weather entering the weekend. Evanston had planned to play its practice round Thursday and be set to compete at the state level the following day.

“I thought we were right where we needed to be,” Evanston golf coach Jerry Carroll said.

Carroll, now in his 32nd season coaching golf, has seen a state tournament postponed three times in his career.

“Hopefully we get to go out (on the course) a little bit (Thursday),” Carroll said. “My concern is Friday, Saturday, Sunday. We may get three days without practicing before we play in a state tournament. That’s the only concern I have.”

It might not be as big of a concern for some of the participants, and Hurd might be one of them.

“Come Monday-Tuesday, I’m just really focusing on going out, hitting the ball and taking the thinking out of it,” Hurd said. “I’ve spent my fair share of time practicing. My main thing is, I overthink everything. Coach really talks about courage and conviction – have enough courage to stand behind the ball, pick the line that is going to win instead of not to lose.”

Lexi Cornell is another Evanston golfer who has winning on her mind. She is not shy to share it.

After finishing ninth at the Class 4A girls state golf tournament last season, the Evanston High School senior wants to bring home a first-place trophy in 2017. 

“I want to be a state champion, ” Cornell said calmly and directly while hitting range balls on a windy Wednesday afternoon.

Carroll has high expectations for both teams during tournament play. 

“We feel like we have an advantage,” he said. “We’re on our home course. We want our girls, we expect our girls, to be top three in the state. We hope two of them can move up into the top 10 and be all-state. That’s the goals we have for them.”

Kyra Sponenburgh, a junior, is Evanston’s No. 2 lady golfer and is hoping to place between tenth and fifth place. 

“There’s been a lot of ups and downs, but I’ve had a couple really good scores this season,” she said.

Allie Hansen is also expected to make an impact for the Lady Red Devils.

The Evanston boys team also has potential to score well. But the Red Devils also know they will be competing against Riverton, which will be attempting to win its fifth-straight state title. 

“We’re looking for top five, and we’re looking to make sure we play the best we have all year,” Carroll said.

That’s also the plan for junior Dominic D’Anzi, Evanston’s No. 2 boys golfer. He will be joined by Braxton Lind, Mason Smith  and Mason Ellingford as the Red Devils’ top-five golfers. 

“My goal is to just improve – shoot my lowest two scores of the year,” D’Anzi said.