Polson girls 3-peat at state A golf
POLSON — Golfing on their home course, the Polson girls wrapped up their third-straight Class A state championship on Saturday, placing all four scoring golfers in the top 10.
The Pirates couldn’t run away from the field like they have in the past, but played steady, solid golf to outpoint Whitefish 715-721. The Bulldogs, who beat Polson last week in the Northwestern A divisional, were able to make up four strokes on the final day but not enough to get past second.
“It’s pretty amazing,” Polson senior Jaylin Kenney said. “It’s always awesome to win. I’m really happy to end my senior year with a win.”
Kenney was the low golfer for the Pirates, finishing in second place with an 85 on Saturday for a two-day total of 175. Nicole Clairmont finished in third place at 175, Peyton Anderson finished in seventh at 185 and Lauren Dupuis in ninth at 187.
This is the fourth state title for the Polson girls, who are the first team to win three straight since Billings Central won from 2008-10. They are the third school to complete the feat in Class A, with both Whitefish and Billings Central doing it twice.
“For a two-day performance, I couldn’t ask for anything more than what they did,” Polson coach Bill Owen said. “This is our fourth state title with girls and we’ve never had anything like this.”
Whitefish’s Erin Tabish ran away with the individual title with a fantastic final round. The Bulldog senior shot an 82, the low round of the day, and not only made up the three shots she trailed entering the round, but won by six strokes. She made up most of her ground on the front nine, shooting 41 to take a two-stroke lead at the turn. Her lead was up to six just four holes later, allowing an easy finish.
Tabish tied for first last season before losing in a playoff.
“I was really surprised coming in to see the scores,” she said.
“I didn’t think it was going to fall out the way it did. Coming in to (hole) 18, it was a crazy feeling. I had butterflies. It was a good feeling to know I wasn’t going to have to go into a playoff.”
Whitefish’s Katie Fyall finished in sixth at 179 and Simone Craft in 10th at 188 to finish all-state.
The boys side was close at the top, where Whitefish’s Art Doorn entered the day with a two-stroke lead. He had a great front nine, shooting 2-under-par to stretch out a four-stroke lead at the turn, but had troubles with his putter.
Doorn missed a birdie put on the 18th hole, the close of his front nine, that would have given him a bigger cushion. Anaconda’s Jackson Wagner, golfing in the second to last group, birdied the final two holes to finish 2-under for his round and into a tie with Doorn at 2-over-par for the tournament with one hole to play for the Bulldog senior.
Staring down the par-3 ninth, Doorn hit to the front of the green, but three-putted for bogey, leaving himself with a 75 for the day and one stroke short of forcing a playoff. It’s the second straight runner-up finish for Doorn.
“A lot went (right) for me today that I don’t usually get,” Wagner said. “Just a lot of stuff happened that doesn’t usually happen. I tried to use that as momentum and it helped.”
The Sidney boys won the team title with a score of 639, edging Whitefish by six strokes. Whitefish’s Cooper Donahue had a strong close to his round, finishing in fifth at 154. Polson’s Alex Killian also finished all-state, with two rounds of 79 to finish in ninth at 158.
State A Golf Tournament
At Polson Bay Golf Course, Par 72
BOYS
Team scores – 1. Sidney 320-319-639, 2. Whitefish 316-329–645, 3. Anaconda 339-327-666, 4. Billings Central 344-328-672, 5. Lewistown 348-335-683, 6. Hamilton 337-352-689, 7. Belgrade 369-347-716, 8. Libby 375-376-751.
Top 15 Individuals - 1. Jackson Wagner, Anaconda, 76-70-146; 2. Art Doorn, Whitefish, 72-75-147; 3. Dylan Meccage, Laurel, 74-76-150; 4. Paul Brannan, Sidney, 72-81-153; 5. Cooper Donahue, Whitefish, 74-80-154; 5. Caleb Stetzner, Anaconda, 76-78-156; 7. Bobby Frank, Sidney, 82-73-155; 8. Jake DuFresne, Laurel, 78-78-156; 9. Alex Killian, Polson, 79-79-158; 9. Connor Frank, Sidney, 79-79-158; 11. Josh Heath, Hamilton, 78-81-159; 11. Gavin McPherson, Glendive, 80-79-159; 13. Tyler Ferguson, Belgrade, 81-79-160; 14. Cam Caraveau, Billings Central, 85-77-162; 14. Troy Wolff, Frenchtown, 87-75-162.
Team Scores
Sidney (639) – Paul Brannan 72-81-153; Bobby Frank 82-73-155, Connor Frank 79-79-158, Luke Beenken 87-86-173, Tristan Potts 108-91-199.
Whitefish (645) – Art Doorn 72-75-147, Cooper Donahue 74-80-154, Mitch Young 88-85-173, Joey Walp 85-89-174, Cody Olson 85-90-175.
Anaconda (666) – Jackson Wagner 76-70-146, Caleb Stetzner 76-78-154, Jordan Noyd 95-87-182, Zach Dauenhauer 92-92-184, Dennis Stanberry 103-93-196.
Billings Central (672) – Cam Caraveau 85-77-162, Dylan Neutgens 86-82-168, Kaiden Caraveau 87-84-171, Jackson Boos 87-85-172, Parker Jones 86-87-173.
Lewistown (683) – Tyrell Walter 83-82-165, Trip Crouse 88-83-171, Kyle Myhre 86-85-171, Preston Kynett 97-85-182, Zach Hould 91-100-191.
Hamilton (689) – Josh Heath 78-81-159, Ky Burch 83-92-175, Bridger Palin 89-87-176, Blaine Wetzsteon 87-92-179, Taylor Dowdy 97-92-189.
Belgrade (716) – Tyler Ferguson 81-79-160, Shiloh Christopher 92-85-177, Sam Hoffman 98-90-188, Elijah Baker 98-93-191.
Libby (751) – Morgan Wilkins 87-80-167, Johnny Cielak 85-84-169, Quinn Sullivan 97-93-190, Luke Adamason 106-119-225.
Browning – Trae Kennerly 88-84-172.
Butte Central – Tryston Frey 95-100-195.
Columbia Falls – Henry Chisholm 109-92-201.
Dillon – Parker Love 93-94-187, Travis Ackerson 96-93-189, Nathaniel Reed 100-91-191, Carson Turner 108-106-214.
Frenchtown – Troy Wolff 87-75-162, Chris Delaney 88-80-168.
Glendive – Gavin McPherson 80-79-159, Haydn Pettersen 86-80-166.
Hardin – Larkin Chandler 81-82-163.
Havre – Jeff Miller 85-86-170, Jerod Boles 89-89-178, Dustin Haas 90-93-183, Kane Gabrielsen 91-90-181.
Laurel – Dylan Meccage 74-76-150, Jake DuFresne 78-78-156, Robbie Nardella 93-97-190.
Livingston – Nick Bragg 93-95-188, Garrett Schweigert 101-92-193, Gunner Bergsing 99-99-198.
Miles City – Jarrett Gunther 86-79-165, William McFarland 86-79-165, Devin Doughty 92-81-173.
Polson – Alex Killian 79-79-158, Reno Lindesmith 94-93-187, Ryan Thurman 94-95-189.
Stevensville – Spencer Grooms 99-90-189.
Girls
Team scores – 1. Polson 356-359-715, 2. Whitefish 366-355-721, 3. Anaconda 414-400-814, 4. Havre 418-398-816, 5. Livingston 412-414-826, 6. Laurel 414-433-847, 7. Dillon 440-450-890, 8. Billings Central 490-451-941.
Top 15 Individuals – 1. Erin Tabish, Whitefish, 83-82-165, 2. Jaylin Kenney, Polson, 86-85-171, 3. Nicole Clairmont 83-92-175, 4. Christal Tokash, Livingston, 80-96-176, 5. Morgan O’Neil, Laurel, 88-90-178, 6. Katie Fyall, Whitefish, 86-93-179, 7. Peyton Anderson, Polson, 94-88-185, 8. Darby McNally, Frenchtown, 97-88-185, 9. Lauren Dupuis, 93-94-187, 10. Simone Craft, Whitefish, 92-96-188, 11. Madi Tucker, Laurel, 97-93-190, 12. Sydni Rose, Hamilton, 92-102-194, 13. Emily Morley, Anaconda, 96-99-195, 14. Taylor Nelson, Dillon, 98-98-196, 14. Nikki Gabrielsen, Havre, 101-95-196.
Team Scores
Polson (715) – Jaylin Kenney 86-85-171, Nicole Clairmont 83-92-175, Peyton Anderson 94-88-182, Lauren Dupuis 93-94-187, Heather Franck 111-99-210.
Whitefish (721) – Erin Tabish 83-82-165, Katie Fyall 86-93-179, Simone Craft 92-96-188, Malia Morris 105-90-195, Georgia Donaldson 113-90-203.
Anaconda (814) – Emily Morley 96-99-195, Julia Peterson 104-93-197, Ali Huber 109-101-210, Brittany Slaughter 105-107-212.
Havre (816) – Nikki Gabrielsen 101-95-196, Katie Beck 104-99-203, Boston Swensen 109-101-210, Payton Howard 104-110, Randi Gabrielsen 114-103-217.
Livingston (826) – Christal Tokash 80-96-176, Kaycee Keegan 102-96-198, Michaela Amunrud 106-102-208, Hunter Rose Goetz 124-120-244.
Laurel (847) – Morgan O’Neil 88-90-178, Madi Tucker 97-93-190, Kallie Linse 110-118-228, April Wheeler 119-132-251.
Dillon (890) – Taylor Nelson 98-98-196, Casawndra Page 107-105-212, Shelby Kluesner 113-125-238, Rachael Nye 122-122-244.
Billings Central (941) – MacKenzie Redman 111-101-212, Sophia Mascarena 121-107, Rachel Wagenaar 120-116, Chloe Michaelson 138-127.
Belgrade – Jessie Hirsch 104-101-205, Sarah Friedrich 115-119-234.
Browning – Summer Kennerly 102-97-199, Cyan Old Chief 105-112-217.
Frenchtown – Darby McNally 97-88-185, Jamie Knight 101-102-203, Ashlyn Stenerson 115-120-235, Dani Flynn 127-110.
Glendive – Breilyn Riggin 100-103-203, Amanda Mittlestadt 103-101-204, Montana Polette 122-116-238.
Hamilton – Sydni Rose 92-102-194, Melissa Kimp 112-112-224, Emma Olbricht 113-113-226.
Hardin – Charity Ratliff 107-110-217.
Lewistown – Marlee Thomas 101-101-202, Sydney Smith 105-109-214.
Libby – Lily Feeback 101-101-202, Erin Jager 108-104-212.
Miles City – Megan Ryan 101-97-198, Jamie Burman 105-111-216.
Sidney – Nicole Moore 118-108-226, Kennedi Sheehan 118-126-244.