STATE GOLF: Glacier, Flathead to tee it up in Billings

Glacier had the individual champion — Tommy Mann — and runner-up — Teigan Avery — at the Class AA state golf tournament in Helena last year.

Both have graduated.

So Glacier’s outlook for this year’s event, which begins today at Lake Hills Golf Course in Billings, is far different.

“I’m trying not to put any expectations on these kids,” Glacier coach Jim Schaible said.

“I’m sure they have some of their own. I just want them to go out and play your best.”

If that happens, good things should happen for Glacier and Flathead.

“On the boys side we have so many young kids,” Schaible said.

“I want them to build on this experience, no matter what happens. Five of the six we’re taking (to state) will be returning.”

The Glacier boys, fifth at state last year, have two players back from that team — juniors AJ Grande and Brayden Aurich.

For the Glacier girls, second at state, it’s seniors McKenna Tinseth and Gabi Mammana. Tinseth finished eighth to earn all-state honors (top 15).

Senior Nick Weaver returns for the Flathead boys, who placed sixth as a squad.

Flathead’s girls have three girls back at state from last year’s 10th-place showing — seniors Becca Knutson, Maddie Huestis and Katie Stobie.

“I couldn’t be more excited,” Flathead coach Kyle Dunfee said.

“All five boys are playing their best games of the year and are the most confident they have been all season.”

For the Flathead girls, Dunfee has high hopes for his seniors.

“She’s been steady, hasn’t had any blow-up rounds,” he said of Knutson.

“Her scoring average (under 100) has been consistent all year.

“Huestis has the ability to break 90 if she can manage the golf course and play one hole at a time and forget about the big numbers.”

Stobie has the fifth best average on the team.

“She is one of those girls who has come a long way since the beginning of the year.”

Weaver and senior teammate Rielly Manger have gone back and forth as the team’s top scorer this fall.

“Manger is one of those kids who grinds so hard sometimes he forgets it’s one shot at a time,” Dunfee said.

“He has learned to keep his head and play one hole at a time. I’m proud of what he has done in seven weeks. He’s a different person, different golfer. He is playing awesome (right now).”

Dunfee said Weaver “has been steady all year. He doesn’t get too high, too low. If he has a bad hole, he shakes it off.”

Billings West and Great Falls High are the favorites in boys play, but Dunfee said “if our boys play to their potential, there is no reason we can’t be in the top five, top six at state.”

The Bozeman girls are heavy favorites while Missoula Sentinel is the best from the west at state.

Tinseth tuned up for state by winning the Kalispell Invitational nearly two weeks ago. She was steady both days and finished four shots ahead of Knutson, who tied for third with two other players. It was her first tournament win of the season.

“That’s a great thing to happen,” Schaible said.

“It boosts your confidence. Now she knows she can do it.”

Tinseth has numerous top five finishes to date.

Mammana, who has been shooting in the low 90s the last few tournaments, finished seventh at the invitational here.

“That’s quite an accomplishment from where she started this year,” Schaible said.

He said if Glacier could get two more girls to break 100 both days in Billings, “we have a decent shot at top five (team finish).”

Play starts today and Friday at 10 a.m.

Schaible said Lake Hills is similar to Bill Roberts Golf Course in Helena.

“Very open, not a lot of difficult holes,” he said.

Which could make for low scores both days.

Flathead State Team

BOYS

Nick Weaver, senior; Rielly Manger, senior; Noah Love, junior; Sam Elliott, junior; Ben Walseth, senior; alternate — Keaden Morisaki, junior.

GIRLS

Becca Knutson, senior; Maddie Huestis, senior; Katie Stobie, senior; Cassidy Lavin, sophomore; Mikaila Jorgenson, senior; alternate — Maisie Hanson, junior.

Glacier State Team

BOYS

AJ Grande, junior; Brayden Aurich, junior; Zach Stotts, junior; Brandon Olsen, senior; Jon Sorenson, junior; alternate — Hunter Berke, sophomore.

GIRLS

McKenna Tinseth, senior; Gabi Mammana, senior; Kate Trunkle, junior; Aly Meeker, sophomore; Hannah Iverson, junior; alternate — Reide Barkus, junior.