Class A golf: Whitefish tees off today at Old Works

The Whitefish Bulldogs tee it off today at Old Works, setting a course they hope leads to another state championship.

Three All-State players return from last year’s squad in Billy Smith, Marcus Kilman and Johnny Nix, and new head coach Tait Rocksund can wax poetic about all of them.

Rocksund notes that Smith, who lost in a playoff to teammate (and Air Force Academy appointee) Cameron Kahle at last year’s state meet, has gained 20-30 yards in length after training hard in the offseason. Kilman is a senior leader and Nix, like Smith a junior, has a ball speed of 174 miles per hour.

“The average on the PGA is 168,” Rocksun said. “He has so much potential.”

The Bulldogs as usual are pushed by Laurel, Billings Central and Sidney and, with the State A tournament being on their home course, possibly Polson.

Laurel will be part of that group trying out Old Works, the Jack Nicklaus-designed course near Anaconda, today.

The Bulldogs have to replace Kahle and Rocksund looks at seniors Bjorn Olsen and Gates Gilman as keys, but notes that four or five players will battle for the final two spots. The list includes juniors Tag Walker and Matthew Peschel, sophomore Riley Brown and freshmen Otto Klein and CJ Thew.

“Just a really great group of young people on the team,” Rocksund said. “That are very, very talented.”

Polson wasn’t invited to Old Works and started its season in Dillon on Tuesday. Four sophomores that saw varsity experience lead the Pirates: Hunter Emerson, Carson Hupka, Torrin Ellis and Christian Lund.

“The boys, if things go our way, have the ability to compete for a title,” Polson coach Cameron Milton said.

Landon Haddock was Libby’s top finisher as a junior last year.

Whitefish and Polson finished 4-5 at last year’s state meet in Butte, with Laurel easily winning its third straight crown and 2016-17 champs Sidney taking second.

Seven seniors graduated for Whitefish, but Rocksund has an All-State player in Anyah Cripe and a transfer or two to help keep things going.

Polson is led by Ashley Maki and Kylee Seifert. Maki tied for 16th — one spot below All-State — and Seifert was 30th.

Twins Hannah and Haylee Adams lead Laurel, and Corvallis’ standout Macee Greenwood is back to defend her individual title.

The State A meet is Oct. 1-2 at Polson Bay Golf Course.