State golf arrives for Flathead, Glacier
All the prep work has been done. Now it’s time to see how well prepared Glacier and Flathead are for the Class AA state golf tournament in Missoula.
Action begins today at 9 a.m. at the Missoula Country Club. Plays shifts Wednesday to Canyon River Golf Course for the final 18 and another 9 a.m. start.
The Glacier boys and Billings Senior girls are defending team champions.
The Glacier boys won their first outright title a year ago, finishing 13 shots better than Billings Skyview. Glacier has brought home a state trophy — first, second or third place — six times, or every year in school history.
“An older style golf course,” Glacier coach Jim Schaible said of the country club.
“Tight fairways, big trees, rolling greens.
“Canyon River is quite a bit more open, plays a little longer, big greens.”
Both courses will offer a stiff challenge.
“They are starting to look like they are preparing themselves mentally, physically,” Schaible said of his players.
“They’re good, solid players,” he said of his boys.
“What I’m looking for is for them to be tough enough to play through adversity. They need to be tougher, rely upon each other as a team.”
As far as his girls, who finished second at state last year for their first trophy ever ...
“Their scores have gotten better and better all season,” he said.
“We’ll see if they can maintain that at state.
“I told them to have some fun and to keep that ball rolling. They’re on a good roll right now.”
At last week’s Flatfish Invitational, four of the five Glacier girls broke 100 on the final day at Village Greens.
As far as individual play, Glacier’s Teigan Avery and Cody Sherrill were the medalists at the Flatfish.
Avery and Glacier’s Scott Larson were medalists the week before at the Kalispell Invitational.
Avery finished second at state last year, two shots behind Kortney McNeil of Billings Senior.
Avery is the lone player on this year’s Wolfpack girls team with state experience.
The Glacier boys have three back who competed at state a year ago. Tom Mann tied for fourth and was just four shots off the pace. Cody Sherrill was ninth and Kevin Talcott missed out on a top-15 finish by two strokes.
Flathead’s boys and girls also concluded the regular-season with some strong performances.
Sophmore Ryan Keenan matched the course record with a 63 at Village Greens on the final day of the Flatfish to place second overall, one shot behind Sherrill.
Flathead’s Joseph Potkonjak was seventh at the Flatfish.
For the Flathead girls, two cracked the top 10 at that event. Jenna Jensen was third and Morgan Knutson 10th.
“Flatfish was really fun,” Flathead coach Jess Roper said.
“I’m proud of the boys and girls.”
Roper said Knutson did not travel with the team to Missoula on Monday because of an illness. Her roster spot has been filled by Liz Lorentz.
“I’ll be missing my No. 2 player (Knutson),” Roper said.
“That will be a blow to the team, but it will give Liz some valuable experience.”
Keenan and Potkonjak are the lone boys for FHS with state experience. Keenan missed the top 15 last year by three shots.
Knutson, Aryn Phillips and Michaela Murer competed at state for the Bravettes in 2012.
“We’ll use it (state) to gain experience for next year,” Roper said.
“We have a lot of first-time state players (this year).”
As for teams to beat, it’s Glacier, Bozeman and Billings Senior for the boys; Bozeman, Senior and Billings West for the girls.
State Golf Lineups
Glacier
Boys — Greg Jones, Scott Larson, Tom Mann, Kevin Talcott, Cody Sherrill, Scott Larson
Girls — Teigan Avery, Cynthia Gilbertson, McKenna Tinseth, McKenna Hulslander, Kyersten Seibenaler
Flathead
Boys — Ryan Keenan, Joseph Potkonjak, Jacob Welch, Matthew Marshall, Russell Jensen
Girls — Jenna Jensen, Aryn Phillips, Michaela Murer, Morgan Corkish, Liz Lorentz