STATE GOLF: Whitefish girls aim for three-peat in Class A
The Whitefish girls have their sights set on winning a third-straight Class A state championship, and had an early look at what it may take last week.
The Bulldogs got what amounts to a practice round at the Western A divisional last weekend when they routed the field at Hamilton Golf Course for their fourth-straight divisional crown. They’ll be back in Hamilton on Friday for the state tournament, and may need an even stronger performance if they want to hold off a strong field from around the state.
Whitefish is led by a pool of strong and consistent golfers, but don’t have the true standout they have had the past two years in graduated two-time state champion Coral Schulz, now at Montana State.
Bulldogs sophomore Gracie Young finished with the team’s low score at divisionals, carding a 94 to finish in third place. Sisters Holly and Hayley Hileman, both seniors, have been at or near the top of the leaderboard all season and freshman Megan Archibald placed 12th at divisionals to give the team four individual qualifiers and one of the state’s deepest teams.
They’ll get some push from the other side of the state, where Sidney carded four girls in the top 10 in the Eastern divisionals, albeit on their home course at Sidney Country Club. Billings Central and Lewistown also have strong teams.
Butte Central’s Tricia Joyce enters as the medalist favorite, posting an 8-over-par 80 in Hamilton last week. Joyce was one of four representatives for Montana at the Junior America’s Cup and Montana-Alberta Ryder Cup this summer and finished third at state juniors.
Glendive’s Breilyn Riggin, Sidney’s Kaelyn Volk and Lewistown’s Kinsey Irvin should also be in the running for top individual finisher.
Polson is in the running for a state title on the boys side, but will need to get by a tough Hamilton team playing on its home course.
The Pirates, led by third place divisional finisher Carson McDaniel, placed four golfers in the top 15 last weekend, with Matt Hobbs, Noah McDonald and Collin Kenney joining as individual qualifiers.
Hamilton, comfortable with all of the corners and crevices of their home track, also placed four golfers in the top 15, but had three in the top five which should bode well for this weekend.
Western A champion Max Toenjes, the runner up at last season’s state tournament and fourth place in 2014, leads the Broncs and is a favorite for medalist honors. Teammates Ky Burch and Blaine Wetzsteon also posted sub-80 scores at divisionals and should be towards the top of the leaderboard.
Laurel’s Paul O’Neill, the Eastern A champion and the state junior champion in his age group this summer, joins Toenjes as a favorite entering the tournament. Miles City’s Deven Doughty and Nick Anderson, Billings Central’s Sam Berry and Stevensville’s Zel Frost are among a second pack with Burch and McDaniel that could push the top two with a strong two rounds.
Play tees off on Friday morning and concludes on Saturday.