Weather won't be an issue this time at state golf

Not only was it a good move, but it was a smart one as well.

Coaches voted to have the 2010 golf season moved up a week, the athletic directors also voted in favor of it and the Montana High School Association approved the recommendation.

The main issue for starting earlier is weather related.

Last year's Class A state golf tournament, held the middle of October, was not only delayed, but shortened to 27 holes and also changed venues because of December-like temperatures.

"This year, the weather looks great, but we'll see," Whitefish coach Terry Nelson said.

"If we get through on time, and there are no changes, it will be the second time it's happened in eight years."

The Class A state tournament is scheduled for Friday and Saturday at the Laurel Golf Club.

Class AA is set for the same days, but at Buffalo Hill Golf Club and Big Mountain Golf Club.

Both tournaments begin 9 a.m. each day.

The forecast is for ideal conditions.

The Whitefish boys will be shooting for their third-straight state championship and ninth overall under Nelson.

The Whitefish girls have won 15 state titles with Nelson.

Whitefish junior Reed Platke is back to defend his title, while WHS senior Kiley McConnell is a favorite on the girls side.

McConnell has been the medalist at every tournament she's competed in this fall except for one.

"Both have good shots at it," Nelson said.

Nelson has never had both teams win state and have both medalists the same year.

"Been close," Nelson said.

Nelson said Hamilton is the team to beat on the boys side.

"They've beaten us a couple times," he said.

"They shot a real good divisional score. I think they're the favorite going in."

Nelson said Billings Central, last year's girls champ, has everyone back and will again be favored. Laurel and Sidney will also be tough.

"Eastern A took all three top spots (at state) last year," he said.

Just like Class A, AA has two dominating teams looking to repeat - the Billings West boys and Bozeman girls.

West has won state five titles in the last six years, while Bozeman has won two of the last three.

The Glacier boys were runners-up a year ago, and have finished either first or second in the program's first three years. The Wolfpack will be in the hunt for another trophy, along with Missoula Hellgate.

Hellgate has one of the top golfers in the state in Colin Gunstream.

C.M. Russell, Helena Capital, Missoula Big Sky and Glacier will all challege for spots in the top three in girls team play.

Flathead has shown steady improvement throughout the season. Coach Lacy Kersten is hoping the finale, at home, will be the team's best showing of the fall.

"All five of my boys are capable of breaking 80," Kersten said.

"We're on our home turf, I expect to see some decent results come out of them.

"All five of my girls are capable of breaking 100," she said.

"We'll see what they do this week. We're looking for season bests."

Junior Michael Lavin and sophomore Max Applegate have been the leaders for the Braves.

For the girls, Andrea Battello has had the most success.

"We're looking for some good things out of him this week," Kersten said of Lavin.

"He's been steady, he's dropped his score. He's worked hard."

Glacier's tuned-up for state last week by winning the Butte Invitational. The Wolfpack had four boys place - Logan Iverson, Ryan Porch, Tyson Howe and Andy Boyer - in the top 10 of that eight-team meet.

The Glacier girls placed fourth and were led by Mallory Skinn, who finished ninth.

Shea Stevens, the team's lone player with state experience, and Shelby Ballard have been the Wolfpack's other leading scorers this season.

"It felt good to win the invitational last weekend at Butte," Glacier coach Rob Logsdon said.

"It was our first invitational win of the season. They feel pretty good about that. To have four in the top 10 is pretty good. They're looking to play better this week and capitalize on their home course."

Logsdon said his girls have a "realistic, outside shot," of placing third. If that would happen, it would be the team's first state trophy.

"They're young, we don't have a lot of state experience," Logsdon said of his girls.

"They've all improved a lot, have gotten better each week. We'll see what happens."