Bigfork golfers disqualified at state tourney

What seemed like an innocent practice round Sunday en route to the Class B state golf tournament in Huntley Project resulted in Bigfork’s disqualification from that event on Tuesday.

Bigfork, which qualified a boys team and Sara Keenan in girls play for the two-day event, stopped to play the Old Works Golf Course in Anaconda on their way to state.

“They were driving, probably thought let’s go hit the ball around without thinking about it,” Bigfork activities director Matt Porrovecchio said.

“They weren’t trying to hide it. They didn’t know it was a big deal.”

All teams competing at state had practice rounds on the two courses on Monday. The boys are playing Pryor Creek Golf Club and the girls are at Eaglerock Golf Course.

After Tuesday’s opening round at state, the Montana High School Association informed Bigfork of its disqualification.

 MHSA contacted Porrovecchio Tuesday afternoon. He said the MHSA has a rule against organized Sunday practices.

“Somebody called them to let them know Bigfork had practiced,” he said. “It (practice) was done unintentionally. In fact, Coach (Steve) Hullett told another coach about it.

“Coach (Hullett) is disappointed,” Porrovecchio said.

 “They have those rules for a reason. It’s so rare you are traveling on Sunday. It is too bad.”

The Bigfork boys, led by Kyle Parker and Steven Schuster, had aspirations of a top three finish in the team race.

Parker, Schuster and Keenan

were also expected to battle for medalist honors.

Missoula Loyola’s boys and the Three Forks girls topped the team standings after the opening day.

Tournament action winds up today.

State Class B Golf

Boys

At Pryor Creek Golf Club

Johnny Walker Course, Par 71

Team Totals

 Missoula Loyola 298, Shepherd 307, Huntley Project 315, Conrad 317, Columbus 318, Manhattan Christian 321, Fairfield 330, Malta 331, Colstrip 334, Glasgow 337, Three Forks 339.

Top 10 — Taylor Feddes, Manhattan Christian, 69; Daniel Cloninger, Loyola, 70; Tim Swanson, Loyola, 70; Taylor Ratliff, Fairfield, 71; Dan Krautter, Deer Lodge, 72; Austin Harper, Shepherd, 72; Tayler Noble, Columbus, 73; Nate Gage, Conrad, 74; A.J. Nelson, Huntley Project, 74; D.J. Kunst, Forsyth, 75.

By Team

Missoula Loyola (298) — Daniel Cloninger 70, Tom Swanson 70, Carter Bermingham 75, Jesse Whiddon 83, Preston Peterson 93.

Shepherd (307) — Austin Harper 72, Jake Elison 76, Andrew Miller 77, Evan Erickson 82, Dane Martinson 82.

Huntley Project (315) — A.J. Nelson 74, Austin Zopfi 77, Tyrell Frieling 82, Zach Tallon 82, Kris Castro 86.

Conrad (317) — Nate Gage 74, Rhett Orcutt 76, Kyle Ellis 80, Joe O’Brien 87, Wyeld Converse 91.

Columbus (318) — Tayler Noble 73, Patrick Blenker 78, Tim Yeager 82, Trevor Achenbach 85, Isaac McNally 91.

Manhattan Christian (321) — Taylor Feddes 69, Ryan Ovenell 83, Austin VanDyken 84, Kendal Asher 85, Skyler Dyksterhouse 91.

Fairfield (330) — Taylor Ratliff 71, Ryan McInerney 79, Tate Pearson 88, Tryg Brosten 92, Taylor Johnson 93.

Malta (331) — Teaguean Knudsen 78, Blake Beuchler 81, Spencer VanWichen 86, Baxter Waters 86, Lance Hender-son 92.

Colstrip (334) — Chad May 79, Sam Fedje 82, Jamie Soiseth 85, Danny Noel 88, Kevin Mason 97.

Glasgow (337) — Kevin Hill 76, Peter Breigenzer 82, Braden Hallock 88, Chaz Gordon 91, Casey Riggin 96.

Three Forks (339) — Avery Stout 78, Quaid Denman 85, Jake Colberg 87, Ryan Malmquist 89, Brady Jensen 91.

Deer Lodge — Dan Krautter 72.

Forsyth — D.J. Kunst 75.

Manhattan — Lee Paulson 78.

Red Lodge — Matt Mullaney 82, Dusty Downing 91.

Cut Bank — Justin VandenBos 83.

Choteau — Nate Durocher 91, Tucker Rogers 94.

Harlem — Colton Dirden 92.

Thompson Falls — A.J. Pavlik 92.

Shelby — Robby Miller 94.

Girls

At Eaglerock Golf Course

Par 72

Team Totals

 Three Forks 340, Missoula Loyola 366, Red Lodge 366, Malta 371, Townsend 378, Huntley Project 389, Columbus 402, Shepherd 421, Shelby 437, Big Timber 439, Cut Bank 463, Plentywood 478.

Top 10 — Haylee Folkvord, Three Forks, 74; Maggie Crippen, Loyola, 76; Kelsie Crippen, Loyola, 78; Tia Roller, Red Lodge 79; Laura Kohlmaier, Townsend, 81; Jenny Silvernale, Conrad, 83; Allie Sauvageau, Three Forks, 84; Lauren Buechler, Malta, 85; Angie Spooner, Huntley Project, 87; Taylor Galiher, Loyola, 88.

By Team

Three Forks (340) — Haylee Folkvord 74, Allie Sauvageau 84, Cierra Myers 90, Cassie Darlinton 92, Eden Ford 110.

Missoula Loyola (366) — Maggie Crippen 76, Kelsie Crippen 78, Taylor Galiher 88, Sara Opitz 124, Katie Ermatinger 127.

Red Lodge (366) — Tia Roller 79, Lauren Mullaney 88, Kaitlyn Weierman 97, Keeley Bremer 102, Brooke Roseland 103.

Malta (371) — Lauren Buechler 85, McKenna Levesque 93, Shannon Salsbery 93, Kori Kindle 100, Jayla Graham 108.

Townsend (378) — Laura Kohlmaier 81, Alexa Robischon 96, Rachel Cordova 99, Megan Watson 102, Sam Sroczyk 108.

Huntley Project (389) — Angie Spooner 87, Mikal Forseth 93, Kaitlin Albrecht 103, Annie Olsen 106, Rochelle Botch 115.

Columbus (402) — Sarah Witt 89, Morgan Scott 90, Jade Uhrich 106, Matracia Edeler 117, Heather Gauthier 141.

Shepherd (421) — Kaylee Lilleberg 97, Kelsey Lilleberg 101, Stacey Emerich 108, Cori Phillips 115, Shelby Skauge 135.

Shelby (437) — Morgan Stevens 88, Claire Hooper 102, Katie Brown 113, Maggie Fretheim 134, Hayley Fretheim 139.

Big Timber (439) — Carlan Campbell 93, Kristyn Arlian 109, Sojin Josephson 111, Angie Fuller 126, Holly Galen 145.

Cut Bank (463) — Jordan Johnson 102, Heather Edwards 112, Mariah McCormick 116, Jaelin Augare 133, Josie Ray 136.

Plentywood (478) — Alanna Stadstad 107, Shelby Vogel 108, Jacey O’Neill 118, Brooke Domonoske 145, Karissa Torgerson 153.

Colstrip — Molly Fedje 101, Gillian Miller 101.

Conrad — Jenny Silvernale 83.

Fairfield — Dallas Shortman 105, Randi McInerney 113.

Forsyth — Margo Salsbery 102.

Glasgow — Kirsten Bense 98, Kaycee Markle 101.

Manhattan — Lexie Oldenburger 99.

Broadus — Kaylin Hessman 126, Lauren Clark 140.

Deer Lodge — Morgan Close 91.