Glacier boys eye hardware; Flathead has medalist threats

One thing is for sure about the State AA golf championships set for Thursday and Friday in Missoula: It’ll be better conditions.

Minus a wind that blew some balls off the greens at last week’s Western AA Divisional at Fairmont Hot Springs, there should be some lower scores at Larchmont Golf Club (Thursday) and the Missoula Country Club (Friday).

And the Glacier boys were already shooting pretty low.

“Realistically, we should be competing for championships – individually and as a team,” Wolfpack coach Doug Manaker said of the boys, who won the Western AA title. “(Bozeman) Gallatin is really tough, and there are some other schools that on any day can beat anybody. But I love our depth.”

Gallatin is led by twins Justus and Jordan Verge, who led Bozeman High to last year’s title. Justus Verge is the defending state medalist; Jordan won last week’s divisional.

Glacier has five golfers that can go low, including Tyler Avery (third at state last year), Will Salonen, Sam Manaker, Coby Kunda and Keaton Cassidy.

The Gallatin Raptors got the best of Glacier in the first tournament played this year, the Great Falls Invitational. The Pack finished 14 shots back in the one-day tournament.

Last week Gallatin posted a two-day total of 590; Billings Senior was second in the Eastern AA at 620. In Fairmont, Glacier was coasting in with a 626.

“I think the Verges are definitely the top two to beat,” Doug Manaker said. “They’re just so consistent. But Tyler has played really well and been in the top 10 in every tournament this year. I think he’s looking forward to the challenge.”

As are all of his teammates.

“They’re kind of embracing it,” Manaker said. “This is a challenge, to compete with those guys.”

On the boys’ side another threat to the Verges’ status is Flathead’s Ezra Epperly, another golfer consistently in the 70s and the Western AA medalist. He was 20th at state a year ago.

“He’s really gotten a lot more consistent this year,” Flathead coach Roy Antley said. “He’s always been a long hitter, but his rate of poor hits has gone down. He’s keeping it in play a lot more this year. If he can continue to do that he has a great chance of being an All-State (top 15) golf this year.”

Flathead didn’t get a complete boys team to state, though there are solid Braves behind Epperly like Joston Cripe. The girls’ team finished third at the divisional. Leading the way was Marcella Mercer, who shot bigger numbers than she’s used to and finished behind Butte’s Kodie Hoagland and Ella Prigge at the divisional.

“She’s mentally strong,” Antley said. “She didn’t have her best tournament, but she’s working hard to correct the few issues she had and she’ll be fine.”

Jillian Wynne has been a solid No. 2 for Flathead and Antley hopes for big weeks from McKinlie Murer and Sophia Dykhuizen in order for the Bravettes to finish in the upper half of the team race.

Glacier’s girls are led by Alana Griffin, Chloe Tanner and Stella Claridge. The Pack was eighth at state last year.

“I’m expecting them to improve greatly on their finish from last year,” Manaker said.

Bozeman’s girls are the Eastern AA champs and the Hawks and Billings West shot significantly lower scores than the Western AA counterparts. But again, weather.

“It was tough out – it was cold and windy,” Antley said. “I think this week the weather will be calmer and warmer and the scores will be better.”