You had to look at visiting teams to find most of the leaders here Monday in the 5A state high school golf tournament. With a couple of exceptions, pars and birdies were hard to come by in the boys’ and girls’ competition on Highland’s rolling layout.

    The Eagle Mustangs were out in front after 18 holes in the boys’ division, with another 18 set for Tuesday. Every player on the Eagle roster shot in the 70s, with Chris Carew leading the way with 72. Grayson Huff carded a one-over par 73, and Colby Dean and Josh Gliege were at 75 for a team score of 295.

    Trailing in the team standings were Boise, with 300; Lewiston, 307; Hillcrest, 316, Rocky Mountain with 317, Skyline with 318, Timberline with 329, Highland with 339 and Coeur d’Alene with 347.

    Guillermo Fairbairn paced Boise with a two-under par 70, abetted by Charlie Hughes with 75. But you had to go to the girls’ ranks to find the individual tournament leader. Gabbie Barker turned in a scintillating 68, eight-under ladies’ par. The Vallivue High School senior scored eight birdies, four on each side, while going bogey-free.

    It was no fluke for Barker, who qualified for state with a round of 72 on Boise’s Warm Springs course. Who is her coach? “My dad, ... he taught me everything.”

    What would she like to shoot Tuesday? “I would take the same score as today,” she smiled.

    Unfortunately, the rest of the Vallivue team did not enjoy the same success, posting a 349 total, still good enough to post the best team score.

    Highland’s hometown boys had their troubles on a windy day, with No. 1 player Alec Johnson, a scratch handicapper, coming home with a team-best 79, including a triple-bogey seven on the second hole and a double-bogey five on No. 15.

   “My three wood cost me five strokes today,” he lamented. Tommy Jewell had 83, Brandon Harding 85 and Hayden Huff 92 for the Rams, who totaled 339. Highland’s girls finished the day at 371, with Aly Mabey at 86. Aubree Thomson, 87; Juliann Hollingsworth, 99, and Kisley Lattin 99.