ACH golf prepares for upcoming season

COULEE CITY — Almira/Coulee-Hartline’s golf team more than doubled in size from a year ago, bringing eight golfers into the 2024 season.

The Warriors had three golfers in 2023, with two of them reaching the postseason.

“Almira/Coulee-Hartline doesn’t have a golf program, so last year it was just Jack (Molitor), Naomi (Molitor) and Amara (Doyle),” ACH golf Head Coach Dave Molitor said. “I went and got all the certifications to be a volunteer coach, and we went from there – some other kids found out that we have a program.”

Naomi Molitor won a district title, took fourth at the 1B/2B Girls State Golf Tournament in Tumwater last May and now returns for her sophomore season. As a freshman, Naomi shot a 90 in the first round and an 85 in the second round for a total score of 175 strokes at the Tumwater Valley Golf Club.

“It took us all by surprise because at the beginning and middle of the year, she was playing the higher-score golf, and then she started getting more confidence,” Dave Molitor said. “These kids are practicing every day, trying to play nine holes a day and hit golf balls and putt … it came to a point there in districts where everything was clicking on all cylinders, and she won districts. Then it carried over to state.”

Before matches begin, Dave said two of the eight Warrior golfers have posted qualifying scores; Jack and Naomi. A qualifying score is 58 strokes on a nine-hole course for boys and 63 strokes on a nine-hole course for girls.

“We’ll all play in tournaments as a team if they can get to have a qualifying score,” Dave Molitor said. 

For the remaining six golfers, having two teammates with state experience can go a long way.

“Golf’s an individual sport so it’s on each player to go out there and put in the hard work to get there, but all they’ve got to do is look at Jack and Naomi because that’s what they’ve done – they were both beginner golfers,” Dave Molitor said.

The eight Warrior golfers split time at two different courses for practices, but will all compete for ACH if they reach their respective qualifying scores; Naomi Molitor, Jack Molitor, sophomore Amara Doyle and sophomore Luke Geotz practice at the Lakeview Golf & Country Club in Soap Lake, while Sophomore Emily Peterson, freshman Dylan Peterson, sophomore Adyn Pehna and junior Jeremy Pinar practice at the Big Bend Golf & Country Club in Wilbur. Even with practicing at different sites, ACH has coaches with the golfers at each location.

“All of the kids are doing well and will progress quickly this season,” assistant coach Lyndsey Mitchell said. “They all seem eager to learn and practice.”

ACH opens the year at a league meet at the Quail Ridge Golf Course in Clarkston on March 26.

Ian Bivona may be reached at ibivona@columbiabasinherald.com. 

    Almira/Coulee-Hartline sophomore Naomi Molitor took fourth at last season’s 1B/2B Girls State Golf Tournament in Tumwater.
  

    Almira/Coulee-Hartline sophomore Luke Geotz is one of five new golfers joining the Warrior golf team this season, Head Coach Dave Molitor said.