Avery, Schulz prep stars on, off the course

Glacier’s Teigan Avery and Whitefish’s Coral Schulz have a lot in common.

Both are good students academically, soft spoken, polite and charming to be with.

The two seniors also share a love for something they are very passionate about — golf.

Avery will be shooting for her third straight Class AA state championship next month at Bill Roberts Golf Course in Helena.

Schulz will be looking to make it back-to-back Class A state championship next month at Sidney.

“I usually play pretty decently there,” Avery said of Bill Roberts.

“I have some fond memories there.”

Like winning the Montana Junior Amateur tournament and setting scoring records for the event two straight years. The first time in the 13U division.

“It’s a nice set-up, some challenging holes,” she said.

“You have to think, not bomb your drives. You have to play smart. It’s kind of like Buffalo Hill. I like those courses.”

Avery won state last year in Bozeman in a playoff, and as a sophomore in Missoula by one shot.

She finished second in Great Falls her freshman season.

“Led by six after the first day, lost by two,” she said of that one.

This year she’s enjoying another stellar go on the links. She finished second at the Great Falls Invitational and the Butte Invitational.

She tied for the best round in Butte, but lost a scorecard playoff.

She missed the Missoula Invitational, which was limited to one day because of hazardous air quality from wildfires, to visit three schools back east — Butler University in Indianapolis, Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, and Wellesley College outside of Boston.

Then last week, she verbally committed to the University of Montana.

“It was a hard decision,” she said before her announcement to UM.

“Where do I want to go for the next four years?”

And the Griz won out.

But that’s another year off. She still has some important business to take care.

“My senior year, I just want to do as well as I can for myself and my high school,” she said.

“By the end of the season, I hope we can come back with a (team) trophy ... end my school career with a top three finish.”

Schulz, like Avery, also is a team player.

“Last year we won (state) by 37 strokes,” she said.

“It was awesome to have a strong team.”

And with her on the course, you can never count the Bulldogs out of a team title.

“I want to win state again,” she said on the individual front.

“Try to lower some of my scores from last year and just have a lot of fun. It’s my last year. I want it to be a memorable year.”

Schulz has been tuning up for the finale by dominating the Class A ranks this fall.

She won the Missoula Invitational, which featured seven Class AA teams along with Class A squads.

Earlier she claimed the Whitefish Invitational by three shots. On Tuesday she posted the best score, 76, at the Polson Invitational.

Last year she won every high school tournament she played in except for the Kalispell Invitational. She was second in that one.

“I like being on top, absolutely,” she said.

“I like the challenge if I’m behind, also.

“Everyone works hard (on their game),” she said.

“I work all summer at it, play in a lot of tournaments (Spokane, Seattle, Cheyenne, Wyoming).

“I really enjoy both,” she said of summer tournaments and high school golf.

“I like playing in the summer. It’s nice to meet new people. I enjoy playing with my team.”

And for her, it’s always been about making new friends.

“Golf is a great way to meet people,” she said.

“You get to talk to them for hours.”