Golf: Larson, Avery in charge at Kalispell Invite

A pair of Glacier golfers are in position to capture high school medalist honors for the first time this season.

Scott Larson, a junior, used seven birdies to card a 2-under 70 for a four-shot lead over teammate Cody Sherrill at the Kalispell Invitational at Northern Pines Golf Club on Thursday.

Teigan Avery shot an 8-over 80 for a commanding seven-shot advantage on Missoula Hellgate’s Katie Wills and Maddie Trent.

The 36-hole tournament winds up today at Crystal Lakes Golf Course at Fortine.

“It feels nice,” Larson said of leading a varsity golf tournament for the first time ever.

“I’d rather be 4-up (than 4-behind heading into the final day).”

Larson had birdies on Nos. 3, 6, 8, 12, 15, 17 and 18 and bogeys on 4, 11, 13, 14 and 15. He totaled 26 putts for the round.

“I liked the greens a lot today,” Larson said of his home course.

“There were some lucky putts (on the birdies) ... 20 to 25 feet. I played well.”

Larson’s best round at Northern Pines was a 71. He shot that last summer.

“Struggled a little bit,” Larson said with his driver.

“Scattered them a lot. I didn’t hit a lot of greens in regulation — 12 — but I made a lot of putts.”

Larson’s 34 on the front nine was the best score of the day. He tied for the best mark on the back nine with teammate Tommy Mann. Both shot 36.

“I was surprised I had seven birdies,” Larson said.

“I’m pretty happy with that.”

Larson has turned  some solid results as the fall campaign winds down. He was a runner-up at the Missoula Invitational earlier this month and placed third at the Butte/Anaconda Invitational.

“I’ve been playing good,” he said.

“I’ve been a lot more consistent.”

Although Avery called her round “OK,” she still holds a sizable lead on the field.

She had two birdies — on Nos. 5 and 7 — six bogeys and two doubles.

“It was a rough round,” she said.

“I wasn’t making any putts. I wasn’t sticking my iron shots close, but I kept it together enough to stay at 80.”

Avery has finished in the top five of every tournament but one. She has been a runner-up at two events.

“I haven’t played it as much as I usually do,” Avery said of Northern Pines.

“I played the back nine only once this year.

“It’s a great course,” she added.

“I usually score a lot better there than I did today, which was disappointing. But I really like that course.”

As far as today’s final round ...

“I like being in the lead,” she said. 

“What I really like more than anything is when I have been given a disadvantage ... something to get me riled up. That’s when I seem to play my best.

“I was hoping for 76 or better (today) to be honest, she added. “It just didn’t happen.”

Glacier holds the lead on the team front for boys. The Wolfpack shot a 303 for a 16-shot edge on Missoula Hellgate.

Missoula Hellgate, with three girls in the top five, leads the standings with a 361 total. Glacier is second at 383. 

Flathead’s girls, 422, are in third place. The Bravettes were led by Jenna Jensen, 44-49—93, and Morgan Knutson, 46-49—95, in fifth and sixth place, respectively.

The Flathead boys, 341, are fourth. Joseph Potkonjak, 37-42—79, had the best round for the Braves. He’s in eighth place.

Thursday’s Results

At Northern Pines Golf Course

Boys

Team Totals

Glacier 303, Missoula Hellgate 319, Missoula Sentinel 321, Flathead 341, Glacier II 360, Missoula Big Sky 364, Flathead II 420.

Individuals

Scott Larson, Gla34-36—70

Cody Sherrill, Gla37-37—74

Logan Becker, Sen38-38—76

Sam Rivey, Sen35-41—76

Tommy Mann, Gla41-36—77

Sam Stern, GlaII35-42—77

Pat Colberg, Hlgt39-39—77

Joseph Potkonjak, Fla37-42—79

Brady Henthorn, Hlgt39-41—80

Devin Bray, Hlgt42-38—80

Dylan Rossbach, Hlgt40-42—82

Greg Jones, Gla41-41—82

Ryan Keenan, Fla39-43—82

Sam Ramsbacher, Sen41-42—83

Rayce Compton, BSky43-40—83

Jacob Welch, Fla43-41—84

Jon Nolan, Sen43-43—86

Richard Robinson, BSky42-44—86

Nate Fuge, Sen44-43—87

Michael Hamblin, GlaII44-44—88

Chauncey Liston, Hlgt44-44—88 

Kevin Talcott, Gla44-47—91

Russell Jensen, FlaII46-49—95

Jake Cirincione, GlaII48-48—96

Matthew Marshall, Fla52-44—96

Tyson Gentri, BSky48-48—96

Drew Beck, BSky52-45—97

Eli Hertlein, GlaII50-49—99

Jake Quinn, BSky49-50—99

Riley Nelson, GlaII51-53—104

Nick Weaver, FlaII51-54—105

Hans Munzing, FlaII52-58—110

Tyler Davis, FlaII55-55—110

Girls

Team Totals

Missoula Hellgate 361, Glacier 383, Flathead 422, Missoula Sentinel 448, Missoula Big Sky 449, Glacier II 474

Individual

Teigan Avery, Gla40-40—80

Katie Wills, Hlgt43-44—87

Maddie Trent, Hlgt39-48—87

Kate Michell, Hlgt43-47—90

Jenna Jensen, Fla44-49—93

Morgan Knutson, Fla46-49—95

Shayla Johnson, BSky44-51—95

McKenna Hulslander, Gla48-49—97

Jenna Herrick, Hlgt45-51—97

McKenna Tinseth, Gla52-51—102

Lindsay Bixler, Sen53-50—103

Kyrsten Seibenaler, Gla48-56—104

Cynthia Gilbertson, Gla53-54—107

Sami Ormesher, BSky53-54—107

Tacey Howe, GlaIII53-55—108

McKenna Van Soest, Sen56-55—111

Emma Epperlyh, GlaII60-55—115

Aryn Phillips, Fla59-56—115

Marlee Sandry, BSky62-53—115

Sydnee Nowlen, Sen57-59—116

Jennifer Rasmussen, GlaII59-59—118

Kailee Nelson, Sen56-62—118

Brie Finbraaten, Sen60-59—119

Morgan Corkish, Fla58-61—119

Kara Hogan, Hlgt58-61—119

Sidney Davis, BSky62-70—132

Jackie Stenberg, GlaII64-69—133

Liz Lorentz, Fla72-63—135

Gabi Mannama, GlaIIDNF