Rangers ride behind Eagles at Philip
By:
Leslie Silverman
Despite rain in the Black Hills, the Hill City Rangers golf team teed off on the prairie at the Lake Waggoner Golf Course for a tournament hosted by Philip.
Hill City came in just behind the Eagles of Wall, placing second overall with a total of 252. Leo Daiss placed fourth with an 80 and Zane Messick tied for sixth firing an 84.
Breylon Rahn tied for 12th with 88 while Adolph Tyler tied for 15th scoring an 89 and Max Rupert placed 34th with 103. The team had two birdies and 30 pars.
The Rangers and Eagles have a friendly rivalry of sorts.
“I think we both push each other to get better,” said head coach Josh Daiss.
The two teams are good friends, Daiss said.
“They are usually sitting together at the same table in the clubhouse after a tournament or joking around before. A number of them have been playing together in junior golf events since they were 8-9 years old so those relationships have developed over the years,” Daiss said.
Daiss said golf is unique when compared to other team sports.
“That is one of the great things about golf that may be different from other sports. You can’t do anything to defend what the other kid/team is doing. You just go and do the best you can, and everyone seems truly happy when someone makes a nice shot, he said.
Despite the comraderie, however, the Rangers are always looking to defeat the Eagles. That competitive spirit of the teams likely works to the benefit of all the players.
“We, of course, are looking to beat them every time we step on the course and I’m sure they feel the same way, but I believe it has elevated both our performances over the years,” said Daiss. “With no seniors on either roster, we are looking forward to competing with them at a high level for at least the next couple years and hope to elevate both our play.”
The Rangers travel to Martin for the Bennett County Invitational April 29, then to the Stanley County Invitational in Ft. Pierre Friday, May 3.
On May 4 you can find the golf team at the Hill City Cafe. The boys will be waiting tables from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. with all tips going to the golf team.
The tip jar takeover fundraiser is another great way to show support for the Rangers golf team as well as meet the players behind the pars.