Polson girls best Whitefish
Jen Orchard of Polson High School hits out of a sand trap on the fifth hole Thursday during the Bigfork Invitational at Eagle Bend Golf Club in Bigfork. Orchard tied with teammate Kristine Samsel for medalist honors. Both shot 82 in leading Polson past Whitefish in the team standings. Chris Jordan/Daily Inter Lake
The Daily Inter Lake
The Whitefish girls suffered their first loss of the golf season while the Whitefish boys cruised to another easy victory Thursday.
Polson knocked off Whitefish at the Bigfork Invitational, besting the Bulldogs by 11 shots at Eagle Bend Golf Club.
The Pirates were led by Jen Orchard and Kristine Samsel, who both turned in scores of 82 to tie for medalist honors.
Whitefish followed with Maresa Jenson and Chelsea Ray both shooting 85.
The Polson girls had four players in the top 10 in fashioning a 346 total. Whitefish, with three in the top 10, totaled 357.
"We've known all along Polson has a real good team," said WHS coach Terry Nelson. "They have everyone back from last year."
Polson and Whitefish went head-to-head to open the season at Libby and Whitefish won that battle.
"Not bad," said Nelson of the 346 team total. "It's good enough to win most tournaments."
Bigfork's Delbie Wilkens cracked the top 10, shooting a 96. That was good for 10th place.
Sam Krause turned in a 4-under-par round of 68 to lead individual play and pace the Whitefish boys to a 21-shot victory over runner-up Bigfork.
Krause also earned medalist honors earlier this season at Great Falls.
"Krause finished with two birdies, that says a lot," said Nelson. "It means you can hold it together, don't panic."
Joining Krause in the top 10 were teammates Zac Wooten, fourth with a 74, and Chris Conners and Tyler Holtet, tied for seventh with 76s.
Bigfork had two top 10 scorers, Chris Richter was sixth, 75, and Nathan Roessmann tied Conner Tanberg of the Flathead JV for ninth. Both players shot 77.
Libby's Jim Mee had the third best individual score, an even par round of 72.
Up next for the majority of the schools competing at Eagle Bend is the Whitefish Invitational on Monday at Whitefish Lake Golf Club. Sixteen teams are entered and play begins at 9 a.m. with the boys on the North Course and the girls on the South Course.
Bigfork Invitational
Thursday
At Eagle Bend Golf Club
Par is 72
Girls
Team Totals
Polson 346, Whitefish 357, Browning 417, Bigfork 419, Frenchtown 436, Libby 439, Flathead JV 450
Top 10 Individuals
Jen Orchard, Polson 82
Kristine Samsel, Polson 82
Maresa Jenson, Whitefish 85
Chelsea Ray, Whitefish 85
Alex Micklewright, Whitefish 87
Sami Beaver, Polson 90
Amy Noren, Hamilton 91
Whitney Pitts, Polson 92
Jessica Youngblood, Hamilton 94
Jessie Scott, Hamilton 94
Delbie Wilkens, Bigfork 96
Boys
Team Totals
Whitefish 294, Bigfork 315, Libby 323, Ronan 324, Flathead JV 339, Polson 342, Hamilton 356, Stevensville 368, Frenchtown 375, Columbia Falls 392, Browning 417
Top 10 Individuals
Sam Krause, Whitefish 68
Josh Grenier, Ronan 71
Jim Mee, Libby 72
William Foust, Ronan 74
Zac Wooten, Whitefish 74
Chris Richter, Bigfork 75
Chris Conners, Whitefish 76
Tyler Holtet, Whitefish 76
Nathan Roessmann, Bigfork 77
Conner Tanberg, Flathead JV 77
Tyler Kuhn, Frenchtown 78