The Evanston High School golf teams were in Casper Friday and Saturday for the 4A West Conference Qualifier, with the Lady Devils losing a playoff by a stroke to finish second, while the Red Devils battled back from a lackluster Day 1 to finish fourth, and ensure their trip to state.

The two teams combined for five All-Conference golfers, led by Ryker Lind, who earned medalist honors for the Red Devils; Cade Brady finished seventh. For the girls, Hailee Ridenour placed third, Maddie Brown placed fifth and Marlee Torres placed sixth to round out the All-Conference contingent.

“We had some really great things happen, and we had some really terrible things happen,” said EHS head coach Jerry Carroll. “The great thing is, both teams made Top 4, so both are going to state. The girls tied for the conference championship with Kelly Walsh, then had a two-hole, all-team playoff, which our girls lost by a stroke. The boys struggled a bit — Ryker won the tournament, and Cade Brady played well and made All-Conference — but we were really scared after the first day; we really had to make sure we played better on the second day. And we did, and moved back into the pack, made sure we were going to state. That was a really good thing.”

The EHS golf teams now turn their sights to the 4A State Golf Championship this weekend in Afton, a course both teams are very familiar with. Carroll said he thinks there’s some unfinished business for the girls and boys heading to Star Valley.

“Honestly, I do believe we felt a little bit disappointed about our conference showing,” he said. “For the girls, we were leading after the first day, and thought we should be able to hold on. Then we lose in a playoff, so they were a little disappointed. But there is excitement there. For the boys, I think Ryker is excited — there’s a lot of pressure on that kid, but I think he’s excited. Cade’s hitting the ball great, and I think Brandon wants a little redemption for having a tough conference tournament. So we’ll go in with that positive mindset. It’s gonna be tough, but I think the kids are ready.”

Lady Devils

The Lady Devils finished second in the team standings, led by All-Conference performances from Hailee Ridenour  — who finished third with a two-day total of 178 — Maddie Brown, who carded a 181 to finish fifth and Marlee Torres, who finished sixth, with a two-day total of 182.

Kelly Walsh won the team title by a stroke over the Lady Devils, who finished in a tie with the Lady Trojans at 113. A two-hole, all-team playoff was played to decide the winner, with Kelly Walsh winning by a stroke to claim the title.

“A Kelly Walsh golfer made a 20-foot bomb from straight downhill, and boom — we were all happy, and then we were all sad,” Carroll explained.

Jackson (149), Star Valley (156) and Natrona County (293) rounded out the field.

Emme Fessler shot a two-day total of 202 to finish 15th; Lizzie O’Connell rounded out the Lady Devils contingent with a two-day total of 209 to finish 20th.

“We had three All-Conference girls, so that was really good for us,” Carroll said. “All three girls are capable; we just haven’t had all three of them go low on the same day. Hailee and Marlee came through, and Maddie had a really good first day to keep us in the hunt, though she struggled a bit on Day 2.  Emme Fessler came through for us on Day 2, and that was really good to see. We always tell the girls, ‘Hey, every stroke counts — we’ve won conference championships in the past by one stroke.’ I think the girls looked back and thought there were so many strokes they could have saved, but that’s golf.”

Red Devils

Ryker Lind kept his undefeated tournament streak intact at Casper over the weekend, carding a 71-72-143 to earn medalist honors by six strokes over Kelly Walsh’s Issac Schmidt.

Lind and teammate Cade Brady earned All-Conference honors, with Brady finishing seventh with a two-day total of 159. As a team, the Red Devils finished fourth in the eight-team field.

Kelly Walsh won the team title, carding a 621; Natrona County followed with a 650. Riverton was third with a 669; Evanston (670) and Star Valley (682) rounded out the Top 5.

Brandon Blackwell overcame an unforeseen handicap on Day 1 to card a two-day total of 181, landing him in a tie for 25th; he shaved nine strokes off his opening-day score of 95 to shoot an 86 on day two.

“Brandon Blackwell’s putter broke on Day 1, and he had to finish the last nine holes with his wedge,” Carroll explained. “He did a really nice job of rallying on Day 2 to get us back in the hunt.”

Parker Green (T-31st, 93-94-187) and Tyler Petersen (38th, 102-103-205) rounded out the Red Devils contingent.