Golf: Crown them again
Kalispell’s Avery, Libby’s Johnston successfully defend junior state titles
POLSON — Different course same results.
Kalispell’s Teigan Avery and Libby’s Ryggs Johnston claimed the overall championship at the Montana State Golf Association’s State Junior Championships on Wednesday at Polson Bay Golf Course.
Avery, who has now won her age group the past seven years, won her third consecutive overall state junior title.
The two-time defending Class AA high school state champion, who will be a senior this fall at Glacier High School, carded the lowest score on both days of the tournament to keep a competitive field at bay. She followed up her 75 on Day 1 with a 74 to finish six strokes ahead of runner-up Hayden Flohr.
“It never really felt like I was ahead of the pack, Avery said. “There were some really good girls that weren’t in my group. I knew I had to play the course and keep it as close to par as I could and hope that would be a good enough score.”
The gap could have been wider had Avery not posted a double bogey on the par-5 final hole.
With tree branch towering over her lie and a bunker in front of the green, Avery couldn’t quite get up and down, clipping a leaf and landing in the bunker before finishing out the day.
“I was pretty disappointed (on the last hole), but I kept it really close to par,” Avery said. “I had some bogeys but got some birdies to bring it back.”
Luckily her double bogey on the final hole wasn’t as decisive as the boys championship.
Libby’s Ryggs Johnston trailed Joey Moore by two strokes on the final hole.
In the midst of a scoring tear, Johnston shot one-under on the 18th for his fourth birdie in the final five holes, finishing with a 69 for the round.
Moore double bogeyed the final hole, giving Johnston his second state junior title in as many years.
“I wasn’t really think about winning it at that point or really over the last two holes,” Johnston said. “I was thinking ‘just birdie and get in the mix for the Junior America’s Cup.’ It just shows anything can happen in golf.”
The Montana State Junior Championship is also the qualifier for both the Junior America’s Cup and the Montana Alberta Cup. The top four boys and girls overall qualified for Junior America’s Cup. The boys qualifiers for the Junior America’s Cup are Johnston, Moore, Caleb Stetzner, and Libby’s Jonny Cielak. The girls qualifiers are Avery, Flohr, Morgan O’Neil, and Whitefish’s Coral Schultz. The boys will compete in Flagstaff, Arizona and the girls will compete in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The Montana teams will compete against 18 other teams from the Western United States, Canada, and Mexico. The Junior America’s Cup is July 26th-30th.
In addition, the top two 15, 16, and 17 year-old competitors for boys and girls qualified for the Montana Alberta Cup. Boys qualifiers for the Cup were Johnston, Moore, Stetzner, Cielak, Schafer Paladichuk and Bigfork’s Joseph Potkonjak. The girls representing Montana will be Avery, Flohr, Katrina Babinecz, Tricia Joyce, Hannah Rosanova, and Kaelyn Volk. The Montana Alberta Cup is in Lethbridge, Alberta on August 9-11.
Montana State Golf Association
State Junior Championships
Polson Bay Golf Course
Par 72
June 23-25, 2015
Boys
16-17
Caleb Stetzner 67-71 138
Jonny Cielak 71-73 144
Sean Benson 72-73 145
Ryan Keenan 71-74 145
Danny Friez 65-81 146
Joseph Potkonjak 73-73 146
Tommy Mann 77-70 147
Schafer Paladichuk 76-72 148
Cory Presinger 73-75 148
Payton Stott 73-75 148
Caleb Trost 73-75 148
Joey Peter 72-76 148
Garrett Woodin 73-76 149
Allen Rogers 78-73 151
Colton Hudson 76-75 151
Joey Walp 74-78 152
Sean Ramsbacher 80-75 155
Max Toenjes 81-75 156
Josh Heath 81-77 158
Bridger Martin 77-81 158
Gage bPasson 82-80 162
Riley Lawrence 80-82 162
Jaden Gravely 81-82 163
Jackson Beyer 79-86 165
Travis Wright 83-85 168
14-15
Ryggs Johnston 68-69 137
Joey Moore 67-71 138
Duncan Hollar 75-75 150
Thomas Tucker 72-80 152
Daniel Crippen 78-75 153
Braxton Humphrey 80-78 158
Ben Kaul 76-82 158
Josh Neth 83-76 159
Paul O’Neil 87-76 163
Connor Mora 79-84 163
Carson McDaniel 86-78 164
Cody Graveley 84-85 169
Andrew Grande 90-81 171
J.R. Small 81-90 171
Tyler Flink 91-83 174
Jack Thorsen 88-88 176
Ryan Kallem 87-91 178
Matt Hobbs 91-88 179
Brady Cady 90-89 179
Jace Rhodes 92-90 182
Chase Morehouse 92-92 184
George Carpenter 94-93 187
Dylan Nordberg 104-97 201
Peyton Beyerle 117-98 215
Blane Lawrence 122-94 216
Adam Elletson 135-120 255
13 and Under
Carson Hackmann 75-76 151
Nick Pasquarello 79-83 162
Ethan Brown 84-83 167
Jordan Verge 85-84 169
Conor Walsh 90-85 175
Justus Verge 89-86 175
Tyler Avery 85-92 177
Logan Greef 94-88 182
Malachi Nicholas 91-95 186
Ramey Lloyd 99-105 204
Tyson St John 103-103 206
Eli Groshelle 119-112 231
Girls
16-17
Tiegan Avery 75-74 149
Hayden Flohr 79-76 155
Morgan O’Neil 79-78 157
Coral Schulz 79-80 159
Sydni Rose 79-88 167
Tanna Campbell 84-84 168
Catrina Babinecz 84-86 170
Tana House 83-91 174
Lynzee Dexter 94-90 184
Rylie Carmichael 98-87 185
Holly Hileman 96-96 192
Emily Moran 91-102 193
Breilyn Riggin 102-96 198
14-15
Hannah Rosanova 88-84 172
Tricia Joyce 85-88 173
Kaelyn Volk 90-91 181
Renae Heisler 97-90 187
Skyler Martin 98-95 193
Nevin Larsen 97-99 196
Tierney Messmer 95-106 201
Lauren Peterson 107-98 205
McKenna Osentowski 173-142 315
13 and Under
Macee Greenwood 107-102 209
Ella Mercer 116-107 223
Landri Paladichuk 108-117 225
Ashtyn Swigart 115-111 226