State A golf: Laurel surges back to top; Smith, Bulldogs second

POLSON — It looked for a while that the Whitefish boys might not shake off a little controversy at the State A golf tournament, which concluded Saturday at Polson Bay Golf Course.

What they really couldn’t overcome was Cameron Hackmann’s hot putter.

Hackmann, a Laurel freshman, fired a second-round 67 to earn medalist honors and lead the Locomotives back to the top of the Class A golfing mountain.

With Eli Weisenberger third and Sam Norman tied for seventh, Laurel finished nine strokes ahead of the defending champion Bulldogs, 597-606. It is the Locomotives’ fourth title in five seasons.

Hackman’s two-day total of 138 was five strokes ahead of Whitefish junior Billy Smith, who shot a 73 Saturday and ended up at 145. Smith was hanging in until a double-bogey on 17; meanwhile Hackmann was rolling in his third straight birdie and fifth of the round, to go with an eagle (on No. 1) and one bogey.

“He made some putts,” Smith said. “I’ve never seen anything like that.”

Not to be outdone, Laurel’s girls also swept the team and individual crowns, with Hannah Adams claiming first by five strokes (146 to 151) over defending champion Macee Greenwood of Corvallis.

Laurel’s girls swept to their fourth straight title (and fifth overall) by 109 strokes over Hamilton, 653 to 762. Livingston was next at 770.

For drama, then, you turned to the boys. It had plenty, including a two-stroke penalty that was assessed, then withdrawn, on Bulldog golfer Johnny Nix.

On No. 9 he took a practice swing and hit a branch. By the time he birdied No. 10 word came that although the branch didn’t fall, Nix had committed a penalty for clearing a swing path.

“I said, ‘I know this rule too; we’re going to challenge this,’“ Whitefish coach Tait Rocksund said. “And our understanding was correct. No tree branch was interfered with. He was away from the ball and not on his swing path. And it’s fall, and a couple leaves came down.”

No penalty was given, as it turned out, but Nix did play holes 11-13 at 4-over, and followed his Friday 73 with a 79.

“Laurel beat us,” Rocksund, in his first season as Whitefish coach, asserted. “I think there was a moment where it kept coming up and added some stress. But I think it didn’t impact the outcome, ultimately.”

It was academic because of the way Laurel was playing.

“I mean, 67,” Rocksund said, smiling. “Cameron Hackmann played amazing golf today. For a freshman I think that’s exciting not just for (Laurel) golf but Montana golf, to have a rising star like that. And if you watch Cameron out there, he knows how to take care of business.”

Polson’s boys finished third, earning their first trophy since taking second (to Laurel) in 2017.

Carson Hupka shot a pair of 75s and finished sixth, but a bunch of Pirates were in the top 15 — including sophomore Ashley Maki, who took sixth among the girls.

“I was really proud of Ashley Maki,” Polson coach Cameron Melton said. “She shot her two best rounds (79-79) of the year to get top six. And the boys played fantastic — to have four boys get all-state as sophomores, and one girl — it was a very very good couple of days.”

Whitefish’s Smith finished runner-up for the second straight season. He birdied Nos. 11 and 15 Saturday to twice get to 1-under, but couldn’t keep the pressure on.

“It took me a while to decide what I wanted to do (on 17),” said Smith, who was off the fairway, then clipped a tree with a lay-up. Now that I’ve thought about it, I probably would’ve gone for it. But with the circumstances the team was in …

“Other than 17 I don’t think I missed any fairways. I parred every hole on the front nine. Really played well, except just that one hole.”

Smith, Nix and Marcus Kilman were all All-State, for finishing among the top 15 golfers plus ties. Smith and Nix return next year along with Riley Brown.

“I’m excited,” Smith said. “We’re losing some really good players — Marcus and Bjorn Ole — but I think next year we’re going to be good. Johnny this eason was unbelievable. He had some scores that were crazy. I think we’re going to be good next year and I’m excited for senior year.”

“It’s been quite the journey,” Rocksund said. “We were in the simulator all winter, went to Pinehurst, played golf all summer. It’s hard to come up a little bit short, but we’re going to take a lot away from this. We’re going to grow from this and take all the positives. I’m really proud of the team

“We’re a great golf team. Laurel just had better stuff than we did. Sometimes that happens.”

State A

Saturday

Polson Bay Golf Course

BOYS

Team scores — 1, Laurel 301-296 —597; 2, Whitefish 297-309 —606; 3, Polson 306-311 —617; Livingston 316-319 —635; 5, Hamilton 325-330 —655; 6, Billings Central 343-314—657; 7, Lewistown 348-363 —711; 8, Corvallis 363-35 —713.

All-State Golfers

1, Cameron Hackmann, Laurel, 71-67 —138; 2, Billy Smith, Whitefish, 72-73 —145; 3, Eli Weisenberger, Laurel, 74-72 —156; 4, Aubrey Kelley, Livingston, 72-75 —147; 5, Danyk Jacobsen, Livingston, 74-75 —149; 6, Carson Hupka, Polson, 75-75 —150; 7 (tie), Sam Norman, Laurel, 75-76 —151; and Max Cianflone, Hamilton, 76-75 —151; 9, Johnny Nix, Whitefish, 73-79 —152; 10 (tie), Christian Lund, Polson, 75-80 —155; Marcus Kilman, Whitefish, 74-81 —155; Conor Walsh, Billings Central, 78-77 —155; 13 (tie), Hunter Emerson, Polson, 77-79 —156; Reese Jensen, Billings Central, 81-75 —156; Torrin Ellis Polson, 79-77 —156.

LAUREL: Cameron Hackmann 71-67 —138; Eli Weisenberger 74-72 —156; Sam Norman 75-76 —151; Trayson Hart 82-81 —163 (t21); Trey Ewalt 81-83 —164 (t24).

WHITEFISH — Billy Smith 72-73 —145; Johnny Nix 73-79 —152; Marcus Kilman 74-81 —155; Riley Brown, 83-76 —159 (17th); Bjorn Olson 78-84 —152 (20th).

POLSON: Carson Hupka 75-75 —150; Christian Lund 75-80 —155; Hunter Emerson 77-79 —156; Torrin Ellis 79-77 —156; Espn Fisher 85-86 —171 (t30).

LIBBY: Reece Malyevac 80-81 —161 (T18th).

COLUMBIA FALLS: Lane Clark 90-90 —180 (t40th)

RONAN: Dillon Pretty On Top 89-93 —182; Ruben Couture 92-90 —182; Nash Niemeyer 92-90 —182 (t43rd).

GIRLS

Team scores — 1, Laurel 326-327 —653; 2, Hamilton 383-379 —762; 3, Livingston 386-384 —770; 4, Polson 388-396 —784; 5, Corvallis 397-391 —788; Whitefish 390-399 —789; Miles City 402-400 —802; Billings Central 443-441 —884.

All-State Golfers

1, Hannah Adams, Laurel, 74-72 —146; 2, Macee Greenwood, Corvallis, 74-77 —151; 3, Katie Lewis, Frenchtown 76-81 —157; 4, Haylee Adams, Laurel, 79-79 —158; 5, Breana Jensen, Laurel, 83-80 —163; 6, Ashley Maki, Polson 83-83 —166; 7, Karly Volk, Sidney, 84-85 —169; 8, Aly Rose, Hamilton, 86-86 —171; 9, Reagan LaPante, Miles City, 89-84 —173; 11, Anyah Cripe, Whitefish, 87-91 —178; 12, Anna Prill, Billings Central, 90-92 —182; 13, Kiaralynn Weidinger, Lockwood, 90-93 —183; 14 (tie); Macy Whisenand, Whitefish, 88-98 —186; Molly Cooney, Laurel, 90-96 —186; Brooklyn Brown, Hamilton, 91-95 —186.

LAUREL: Hannah Adams 74-72 —146; Haylee Adams 79-79 —158; Breana Jensen 83-80 —163; Molly Cooney 90-96 —186; Alyssa Robertus 101-105 —206.

HAMILTON: Aly Rose 86-85 —171; Brooklyn Brown 91-95 —186; Emma Hollingsworth 105-95 —200 (25); Fern Stewart 101-104 —205 (t29); McKinley Murray 107-108 —215.

LIVINGSTON: Jessica Gubler 91-96 —187 (17); Elsa Cajune 96-97 —193 (19); Camille Poncin 100-94 —94 (20); Ashlan Martensen 99-97 —196 (21); Kara Allen 100-97 —197 (t22).

WHITEFISH: Anyah Cripe 87-91 —178; Macy Whisenand 88-98 —186; Stella Jaffe 106-104 —210 (t36); Tallory Workman 109-106 —215 (t40); Leia Brennan 115-115 —230 (48).

POLSON: Ashley Maki 83-83 —166; Kila Cannon 102-96 —198 (24); Clare Konen 107-102 —209 (35); Kylee Seifert 96-11 —211 (t38).

RONAN: Alyssa Pretty On Top 92-97 —189 (18); Kylee Niemeyer 102-95 —197 (t22).

BROWNING: Brooke Blue 103-102 —205; Brittney Wagner 109-113 —222.

COLUMBIA FALLS: Eddie Chisholm 110-105 —215.