Four days after Dakota Hull returned to Enterprise from Las Vegas, the junior golfer tied for first place at the March 14 Echo Invitational – and led the high school team to a season-opening victory.

At Enterprise last year, Hull finished ranked second at the state’s Class 3A-2A-1A championships. He moved to Nevada late in the summer and then came back a week before the first golf meet. “I had to do it fast if I wanted to play golf,” he said. At the Echo Hills’ first nine holes, Hull shot a 39. His 40 in the second half tied Tyler Hawkins of Echo High School for the top spot among individuals.

Without having practiced over the lingering winter, the Enterprise team combined to score 337. During the meet, sprinkles of rain, snow and hail fell on the course. Strong winds gusted. “It was a typical eastern Oregon spring day,” coach Mike Crawford chided. “Uncomfortable, it made us feel right at home.”

In addition to Hull’s 79, junior Tyler Warner trimmed three strokes off his score on the back nine and finished with an 85. Senior Marcus Anderson shot an 86 and senior Lucas Stangel 87. Out of 10 schools, Echo was the closest opponent, 12 strokes back.

The varsity score accounted for the top four individuals. The team also had senior Nick Januzzi, who shot 90, and his brother Seth, a sophomore with 113.

Next, all Enterprise golfers, including the girls, go to John Day for the March 21 Grant Union Invite.

Contact reporter Hector del Castillo at 426-4567, or by e-mail at hdelcastillo@wallowa.com.