Whitefish boys, girls claim more golf glory
HELENA - It was a different setting, but the results were still the same, at least for the golfers from Whitefish.
The Whitefish boys and girls snapped up team titles once again, this time at the Helena High Invitational on Tuesday.
The WHS girls posted a 722 total, 13 shots better than runner-up Helena, 735.
The WHS boys were just as impressive, totaling 600, which was 18 shots better than second-place Missoula Sentinel.
The WHS girls were led by two top five performers, Maresa Jensen, 170, and Alex Micklewright, 174. They finished third and fourth, respectively.
Helena's Darah Newell took top honors, 151, with Flathead's Tess Stevenson second, 168.
Matt Krause of Whitefish tied for medalist honors on the boys side with Brady Kirkeby of Helena. Both shot 149 for the two days.
It was Krause's first medalist honors of the fall. He had rounds of 76-73.
Derek Denning, both of Whitefish, tied for third with 150s.
The Whitefish boys have now finished first in every tournament to date while the girls have won all but one, placing second to Bozeman at Missoula.
"I was really happy to see how the kids played on the second day," said WHS coach Terry Nelson. "The conditions were less than desireable because of the aerated greens."
Nelson said his top five boys have all placed in the top five at one tournament or another.
Nelson said Jenson shot an 88 on the final day, which included a 10 on the par 5 eighth hole.
"Knocked it out-of-bounds and in the water," he said.
"One tough hole."
Nelson said he was pleased with Micklewright, who shot an 88 for the final 18.
The Flathead girls came through with an improved showing, placing third, 793.
In addition to Stevenson, Emily Betthauser shot 198 and Emily Tutvedt 206.
"We have to have three players breaking 100 every day," said FHS coach Alice Ritzman.
"Emily Tutvedt almost did today. She had 102."
Ritzman said it was tough putting on both courses both days at the invitational because of work being done on the greens.
"The ball was bouncing around like a basketball," she said.
"I don't think anyone putted particularly well."
The Flathead boys came in sixth, led by John Engle, 160.
"He was playing well, but had an unfortunate thing happen," said Ritzman.
Engle picked his ball up by mistake, thinking it was the provisional shot by a member of his foursome.
"He intended to do a nice thing for someone else," said Ritzman. "Two shot penalty. He got a little down on himself and couldn't bounce back. That was costly. He was still (our) low for two days."
Brian Hensleigh shot a 79 for a 163 total. That was second best on the Braves' team.
Kyle Dunfee shot 83 Tuesday and finished with a 164.
Flathead and Whitefish will compete in the Butte Invitational on Monday and Tuesday.
Helena High Invitational
Girls
Team Totals
Whitefish 722, Helena, 735, Flathead 793, Capital 815, Missoula Sentinel 828, Havre 852, Missoula Hellgate 858, Butte 928.
Top Five
1, Darah Newell, Helena, 151; 2, Tess Stevenson, Flathead 168; 3, Maresa Jensen, Whitefish 170, Alex Micklewright, Whitefish 174; Alyssa Biskupiak, Capital, 182.
By Team
Whitefish (722) - 1, Maressa Jensen 170, Alex Micklewright, 174, Chelsea Ray 188, Porsche Erekson 190, Mary McFadden 245.
Helena High (735) - Darah Newell 151, Natasha Kearney 209, Lindsay Erickson 183, Katie Cordingley 192, Sami Andrew 222.
Flathead (793) - Tess Stevenson 793, Emily Tutvedt 206, Betsy Engle 221, Emily Betthauser 198, Lindsay Filler 234.
Capital (815) - Alyssa Biskupiak 182, Whitney McLaughlin 194, Megan Hughes 225, Kindsay Ktenhjem.
Sentinel (828) - Vanessa Roy 193, Kelly Lawson 185, Kayla Schumacher 227, Leslie Hughes 221, Rachelle Stone 231.
Havre (852) - Brittany Job 199, Ali Ward 188, Stacey Sheppard 223, Cathy Beecher 245, Hailey McLain 258.
Missoula Hellgate (858) - Kristin Carey 199, Whitney Lamb 186, Emily Anderson 228, Haniah Sweeney 254, Ellen Wilson 259.
Butte (928) - Andrea Tomc 254, Brianna DeWitt 228, Shelby Schraffes 208, Abby Fawcett 238, Dannielle Hall 268.
Big Sky (No team score) - Bre Roy 230, Kylee 235, Madison Morris 243.
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Boys
Team Totals
Whitefish 600, Missoula Sentinel 618, Helena 628, Havre 641, Butte 651, Flathead 652, Capital 654, Hellgate 661, Missoula Big Sky 667.
Top 5
Brady Kirkeby, Helena, 149, Matt Krause, Whitefish, 149, Derek Denning, Whitefish, 150, Spencer Hughes, Whitefish, 150, Logan Ward, Sentinel, 152.
By Team
Whitefish (600) - Tyler Holtet 154, Carl Deiterich 155, Spencer Highes 151, Derek Denning 150, Matt Krause 149.
Missoula Sentinel (618) - Adam Rouns 155, Joe Balsam 156, Logan Ward 152, Mike Halligan 155, Clay Mahn 179.
Helena High (628) - Garrett Fink 163, Brady Kirkeby 149, Ben Gardiner 159, Kyle Poore 158, Jeff Weber 164.
Havre (641) - Ben Erickson 152, Brandon Job 169, Matt Hedstrom 159, Anthony Wirtzberger 162, Sean Strand 179.
Butte (651) - Luke Schulte 155, Danny Kane 163, Jake Amerman 181, Justin Sullivan 160, Brady Bentley 173.
Flathead (652) - Kyle Dunfee 164, Taylor Garner 169, John Engle 160, Michael Boreson 170, Brian Hensleigh 163.
Capital (654) - Bobby Biskupiak 158, Garrett Gunett 165, Eric Varnado 167, Pat Rivers 172, Rick Peel 169.
Missoula Hellgate (661) - Tyler Lamb 157, Kyle Shafer 168, Connor Hardy 178, Sam Brown 158, Charlie Gale 194.
Missoula Big Sky (667) - Kyle Terrell 167, Kevin Cotner 162, Josh Anderson 168, Marcus Paske 183, Jason Johnson 170.