Glacier boys battle, end up second at AA
BOZEMAN — Will Salonen and Tyler Avery were striking the ball well for Glacier Friday, but the Gallatin Raptors remained quite a few strokes better.
Behind Jordan Verge’s second-round 66, the Raptors sailed home with the State AA boys golf championship at Cottonwood Hills. Gallatin had a two-day total of 581, and Glacier, third at state a year ago, was second at 606. Helena Capital (615) was third.
Verge, who had an eagle on No. 7 while playing the front nine at 6-under 30, was medalist by four strokes with a 137 total. In second was his twin Justus, who shot 70 Friday and finished at 141.
Butte’s Jack Prigge was next at even-par 144. Salonen shot a 72 Friday and finished 2-over and in a tie for fourth with Joe McGreevey of Helena Capital.
Three strokes back was Avery, who had a 73 Friday and a two-day total of 149.
“Gallatin’s just really good,” Glacier coach Doug Manaker said. “And we knew it was going to be near impossible to overtake them, but we played really well.
“At one point in our final round today we got within six shots. Considering they were playing on their home course, we gave it our all and I’m very proud of how we finished.”
Salonen had three birdies Friday and at one point was 2-under; Avery had four birdies Friday — he had an eagle on Thursday, on No. 16 — and got as low as 4-under.
“Will and Tyler both played exceptionally well,” Manaker said. “Really both of them put together two solid rounds. It was a tough course, a real challenge, especially with the greens. Those two showed why they’ve really been our top two players all year long. They showed perseverance and their ability to withstand adversity.”
Flathead finished 10th out of 10 boys teams. Drew Lowry was the Braves’ top finisher, in a tie for 34th with a total of 168. Joston Cripe shot Flathead’s best round Friday, an 80, and moved up to 53rd.
The big lead the Billings West girls built on day one held up, as they shot the lowest score on Friday as well — 341, seven strokes better than Billings Senior.
Senior ended up second with a two-day total of 706; Bozeman beat Gallatin by two strokes to claim the third-place trophy.
Glacier was sixth and Flathead eighth out of 10 teams.
The Wolfpack had two players make All-State, in Chloe Tanner (tied for fifth) and Stella Claridge (tied for 12th). Tanner shot 87 Friday to finish at 169; Claridge’s total is 172.
In between them is Flathead’s Jillian Wynne, who tied for 10th with a two-day total of 172. The top 15 players earn All-State recognition.
“Chloe had a rough start today but then she really went strong on her back nine,” said Manaker, noting Tanner’s 38 coming in. “I’m really proud of her. And Stella worked so hard since last year and one of her goals was to get all-state. I’m really proud that she was able to accomplish that.”
Glacier’s boys were able to improve on last year’s third-place finish.
“Even if we hadn’t played as well as we did, it’s been a great group to coach,” Manaker said. “I just really felt like the team was so close — it was just really fun to be a part of what they were able to achieve.”
State AA Golf
BOYS
Team scores — 1, Gallatin 294-287—581; 2, Glacier 302-304—606; 3, Helena Capital 311-304—615; 4, Missoula Sentinel 314-309—623; 5, Billings Senior 325-307—632; 6, Billings Skyview 327-339—666; 7, Billings West 343-334—677; 8, Bozeman 337-344—681; 9, Missoula Big Sky 339-347—686; 10, Flathead 361-357—718.
Individual Top 15
1, Jordan Verge, Gallatin, 71-66—137; 2, Justus Verge, Gallatin, 71-70—141; 3, Jack Prigge, Butte, 72-72—144; 4 (tie) Joe McGreevey, Capital, 72-74—146; and Will Salonen, Glacier, 74-72—146; 6, Tyler Avery, Glacier, 76-73—149; 7 (tie), Ramey Lloyd, Gallatin, 75-75—150; Dutch Teders, Capital, 75-75—150; and Tye Boone, Skyview, 77-73—150; 10 (tie), Hayden Ellis, Big Sky, 73-79—152; Kade McDonough, Sentinel, 75-77—152; 12 (tie), Eli Groschelle, CMR; and Gavin Klein, Gallatin, 77-76—153; 14 (tie) Joe Opitz, Sentinel, 80-75—155; and Stevie Voigt, Gallatin, 79-76—155.
GLACIER: Will Salonen 74-72—146; Tyler Avery 76-73—149; Trey Engellant 75-82—157 (T-20th); Sam Engellant 77-80—157 (T-20th); Keaton Cassidy 83-79—162 (27th).
FLATHEAD: Drew Lowry 81-87—168 (T-34th); Tyler Williams 86-92—178 (T45th); Joston Cripe 106-80—186 (53rd); Kadin Gall 96-98—194 (T59th); Korbin Hawley 98-98—196 (61st).
GIRLS
Team scores — 1, Billings West 320-341—661; 2, Billings Senior 358-348—706; 3, Bozeman 357-353—710; 4, Gallatin 355-357—712; 5, Helena Capital 387-376—763; 6, Glacier 393-394—878; 7, Belgrade 442-429—871; 8, Flathead 445-433—878; 9, Butte 457-438—895; 10, Missoula Sentinel 454-449—903.
Individual Top 15
1, Bella Johnson 71-77—148; 2, Kodie Hoagland, Butte, 82-73—155; 3, Kenzie Walsh, Senior, 85-80—165; 4, Hayden Trost, West, 84-82—166; 5 (tie), Elly Atkins, Bozeman, 82-87—169; and Chloe Tanner, Glacier, 82-87—169; and Kadence Fischer, West, 82-87—169; 8 (tie), Lauren Mayala, Senior, 84-86—170; and Addiley Lloyd, Gallatin, 86-84—170; 10 (tie), JIllian Wynne, Flathead, 87-85—172; and Ella Torsleff, Gallatin, 85-87—172; 12 (tie), Stella Claridge, Glacier, 85-89—174; and Becca Washington, Senior, 90-84—174; 14, Sara Priebe, Bozeman, 91-86—177; 15, Annika Brocklebank, West, 83-95—178.
GLACIER: Chloe Tanner 82-87—169; Stella Claridge 85-89—174; Kenna Sandler 110-96—206 (32nd); Sophie LeDuc 116-122—238 (T49th); Colette Daniels 123-126—249 (56th).
FLATHEAD: Jillian Wynne 87-85—172; McKinlie Murer 106-110—216 (T40th); Sophie Dykhuizen 115-107—222 (T45th); Becca Vosen 137-120—257 (58th); Ladahlia Hook 145-132—277 (59th).