Last fall brought a season of marked improvement for the Powell High School boys' golf team. This season looks to be even better.At the season-opening Riverton Invitational on Thursday and Friday, the boys took fourth place among 12 squads — their best performance in the five years they've competed at the tourney.“Riverton is one of the most challenging courses that we will see this year,” said head coach Troy Hildebrand. “And to play well there right out of the gate is a very positive sign.”With a day one total of 344 and a day two score of 348, the boys, at 692, were second among 3A schools — and 41 shots better than their performance at the same course last year.Host 4A Riverton emerged victorious at 607, followed by Evanston at 629 and Cody at 632.Boys teams play with five-man squads, counting the four lowest scores and dropping the fifth.Leading the way for the Panthers — much as he did last year — was senior Bryan Borcher, who shot 78-79. That was the best weekend of his high school career, and good for a tie for seventh place individually.“Bryan (Borcher) has shown tremendous growth throughout his career with this tournament being a perfect example. As a freshman he was over 100 both days,” said Hildebrand. “To place in the top 10 this year is a great accomplishment in this very tough field.”Borcher wasn't the only one to put up a career-best tourney — junior Zane Bushnell entered the clubhouse at 83-86, in what Hildebrand called “a great starting point for this season.”Sophomore Brian Morse continued the streak of career tourneys with an 85-87 showing. That, said the coach, “showed a lot of what we will be looking for from him this season.”At 99-96 was senior AJ Anderson (also a career best), and at 98-101 was freshman Bowen Prestwich.The lone junior varsity squad member, sophomore Colter Adolph, also set a personal best, shooting 108-104.On the girls' side, PHS took two competitors to Riverton — freshman Alyssa Hildebrand and senior Saige Smith. As it takes three players to qualify for a team score in girls high school, the Lady Panthers were unable to place.Individually, Alyssa Hildebrand shot 107-119. Coach Hildebrand called the effort a solid first tourney.“She should be able to look at some things this week that will help her consistency in the weeks to come,” the coach said.Smith opened this season with a 123, then bettered that with a 116 on Friday. The coach predicted that Smith's scores will continue to drop as the squad heads to more familiar courses.Overall, Coach Hildebrand called the Riverton tourney a great starting point.“I was very pleased with the performance of all eight players, and I think that our performance will give us a lot of confidence for future tournaments,” Hildebrand said. “Our goal over the next few weeks is to see if we can get a couple more boys ready for tournament play and possibly one more girl so that we could have a girls' team score as well.”The golfers will next play co-host for the Powell/Cody Invitational. The Panthers and their competitors will tee off at noon on Friday at Cody's Olive Glenn Country Club and again at noon at the Powell County Club on Saturday.

Last fall brought a season of marked improvement for the Powell High School boys' golf team. This season looks to be even better.

At the season-opening Riverton Invitational on Thursday and Friday, the boys took fourth place among 12 squads — their best performance in the five years they've competed at the tourney.

“Riverton is one of the most challenging courses that we will see this year,” said head coach Troy Hildebrand. “And to play well there right out of the gate is a very positive sign.”

With a day one total of 344 and a day two score of 348, the boys, at 692, were second among 3A schools — and 41 shots better than their performance at the same course last year.

Host 4A Riverton emerged victorious at 607, followed by Evanston at 629 and Cody at 632.

Boys teams play with five-man squads, counting the four lowest scores and dropping the fifth.

Leading the way for the Panthers — much as he did last year — was senior Bryan Borcher, who shot 78-79. That was the best weekend of his high school career, and good for a tie for seventh place individually.

“Bryan (Borcher) has shown tremendous growth throughout his career with this tournament being a perfect example. As a freshman he was over 100 both days,” said Hildebrand. “To place in the top 10 this year is a great accomplishment in this very tough field.”

Borcher wasn't the only one to put up a career-best tourney — junior Zane Bushnell entered the clubhouse at 83-86, in what Hildebrand called “a great starting point for this season.”

Sophomore Brian Morse continued the streak of career tourneys with an 85-87 showing. That, said the coach, “showed a lot of what we will be looking for from him this season.”

At 99-96 was senior AJ Anderson (also a career best), and at 98-101 was freshman Bowen Prestwich.

The lone junior varsity squad member, sophomore Colter Adolph, also set a personal best, shooting 108-104.

On the girls' side, PHS took two competitors to Riverton — freshman Alyssa Hildebrand and senior Saige Smith.

As it takes three players to qualify for a team score in girls high school, the Lady Panthers were unable to place.

Individually, Alyssa Hildebrand shot 107-119. Coach Hildebrand called the effort a solid first tourney.

“She should be able to look at some things this week that will help her consistency in the weeks to come,” the coach said.

Smith opened this season with a 123, then bettered that with a 116 on Friday. The coach predicted that Smith's scores will continue to drop as the squad heads to more familiar courses.

Overall, Coach Hildebrand called the Riverton tourney a great starting point.

“I was very pleased with the performance of all eight players, and I think that our performance will give us a lot of confidence for future tournaments,” Hildebrand said. “Our goal over the next few weeks is to see if we can get a couple more boys ready for tournament play and possibly one more girl so that we could have a girls' team score as well.”

The golfers will next play co-host for the Powell/Cody Invitational. The Panthers and their competitors will tee off at noon on Friday at Cody's Olive Glenn Country Club and again at noon at the Powell County Club on Saturday.