Busy time on links for area schools

Start with divisional, invitational, then state

For golfers from three of the six Northwestern A teams, it will be 54 holes in three days.

Not a bad way to spend your time in the Flathead Valley with fall winding down.

Columbia Falls, Polson and Whitefish will compete in the Northwestern A divisional today at Eagle Bend Golf Club, and follow that up by playing in the Flatfish Invitational on Friday and Saturday in Whitefish and Kalispell.

"They like it," Whitefish coach Terry Nelson said of his players.

"Monday, next week, we don't have school. So we'll go down and play Polson Bay Golf Course."

Even more course time before the Class A state tournament, which starts Oct. 10 in Polson.

But first things first.

Bigfork hosts the divisional tournament at Eagle Bend. Also competing are Libby and Ronan.

Play begins today at 10 a.m. with Polson and Whitefish having the players, and teams, to beat once again.

The Whitefish girls have won divisional every year but two. For the Whitefish boys, they have won it every time but one.

"The girls side, I think, it's pretty even," Nelson said.

"Either one (Polson or Whitefish) could win. They have five good girls, and so do we. It's just a matter of who has the best day."

Individually, six girls will contend for the title - Julia DiGiallonardo and Natalie Arlint of Polson, BreAnna Cameron, Quinn Mickelwright and Kiley McConnell of Whitefish, and Jackie Mee of Libby.

In divisional boys play, Whitefish is not a heavy favorite, but still the team to beat.

"Based on what's happened (in tournaments) this year," Nelson said.

Tyler Engebretson of Polson is favored in medalist play, along with Reed Platke, Joel Mallams, Ryan Zalucky and Daniel Markus of Whitefish, and Steven Schuster of Bigfork.

Engebretson, Platke and Mallams have been the most consistent players in that elite group.

The top three teams and top 15 individuals advance from divisional play to state.

The Flatfish Invitational will have its smallest field in years. Only 10 teams are entered, which is well down from a high of 22.

Competing this year are Columbia Falls, Polson, Whitefish, all three Missoula schools (Big Sky, Hellgate and Sentinel), two from Great Falls (Great Falls High and C.M. Russell) along with Glacier and Flathead.

"It just conflicts with other tournaments," Nelson said of the Flatfish's small turnout.

"In Class AA, Bozeman has one (this weekend). Butte and Helena (Helena High and Capital) are there. Butte and Helena often come here."

Frenchtown, Hamilton and Stevensville are passing on the Flatfish because of their divisional tournament this weekend.

The Flatfish begins at 11 a.m. today with girls at Village Greens Golf Course and boys at Whitefish Lake Golf Club.

"No, the more the merrier," Nelson said of having a large field.

"I like to bring everyone in and get good competition going. It's one of better tournaments (Flatfish) with the number of teams, the courses. It's a great opportunity for all the kids to play a tournament before state."

Action resumes Saturday at 9 a.m. with the girls at Whitefish Lake and the boys at Buffalo Hill Golf Club.

The top five girls return in Morgan Lee of Great Falls, McConnell, DiGiallonardo, Natalie Beard of CMR, and Alexa Bell, also of CMR.

Lee won by seven shots a year ago, while Whitefish took the girls title. CMR was second.

Glacier's Larry Iverson is the top returner in the boys field. He finished second, one shot off the pace.

Colin Gunstream of Hellgate, who finished third, also returns.

Missoula Sentinel was the boys team champion in 2007, edging Glacier by seven shots.

Whitefish finished third.

"It's been a good fall," Nelson said. "We've had good success, we've gotten better - that's all you can ask."

The AA state tournament starts Oct. 9 in Helena.