Bigfork, Eureka at divisional golf tourney

Bigfork and Eureka are in Helena today for the boys and girls Division 3 golf tournament.

Bill Roberts Golf Course will host the one-day, 18-hole event starting at 9 a.m.

The top four teams and best 15 individuals scores at divisional advance to the Class B state tournament to be hosted by Huntley Project on May 12-13.

Bigfork has one state performer back from last year, sophomore Colton Stodghill. He tied for 12th at the 2014 divisional.

Eureka also had a state qualifier back in Chase Bohne. He tied for 10th place.

The highlight to the spring season thus far for Bigfork was winning its invitational tournament on April 9 at Eagle Bend Golf Club. Led by medalist runner-up Joseph Potkonjak, a junior, Stodghill and Jonathon Landon, the boys claimed the team title by a seven-shot margin. It was the first time the Vikings had won this event it its 31-year history.

Stodghill tied for fifth at the invitational and Landon tied for 10th.

“It was a good day,” veteran Bigfork coach Steve Hullett said.

“The kids played well. It was fun to win one. We’ve won numerous other tournaments, but not that one.”

Kali Meagher led the Bigfork girls, which does not field a full team, at Eagle Bend. She finished 10th.

Competing in today’s divisional with Bigfork and Eureka are: Townsend, Boulder, Loyola Sacred Heart, Manhattan, Plains, Deer Lodge, Ronan, Big Timber, Thompson Falls and Three Forks.

The Townsend girls and Loyola Sacred Heart boys are defending divisional champions.

Eureka tuned up for the divisional by winning the St. Regis Invitational on April 30th at Trestle Creek Golf Course. Potkonjak, Landon and Stodghill finished 2-3-4, respectively, with scores of 78, 80 and 82.

Meagher place third to lead the Bigfork girls.

Potkonjak was the medalist at the Seeley-Swan Blackfoot Invitational two days prior to St. Regis. He shot a 74 to guide the Vikings to the team title.

Bohne was sixth and Bigfork’s Ryder Trent was 10th.

Meagher was sixth on the girls side.