Wolfpack, Braves golfers set to defend home course at state

Flathead and Glacier have the home course advantage.

Golfers from across the state converge in Kalispell Thursday and Friday for the AA state golf tournament at Northern Pines Golf Club. 

The Wolfpack boys enter the tournament as defending state champions and Western AA divisional champs from a week ago in Missoula. The girls team also claimed a divisional title in the Garden City.

“The boys and girls have had a fantastic year,” Glacier coach Jim Ness said. “They are well prepared for the tournament.” 

Ness noted that his golfers haven’t seen many of east side teams this season, so that creates a bit more competition than they are used to. 

Seniors Sam Engellant and Tanyon Murray lead the Wolfpack boys. 

“I know a state title would mean a lot to both of those guys in their final season,” Ness said. 

The Wolfpack girls saw all five golfers finish in the top 15 at the divisional, with Abbi Townsend leading the way in 3rd with a 183 score. 

Vaida Cole, Kendall Tkachyk and Maggie Mitton made it four Glacier golfers in the top seven. 

“It feels really good, after practicing out here all year,” Ness said. “They know this course very well and that should be an advantage for us.”   

Flathead brings four boys and two girls to the tournament out of divisionals. 

The boys are headed by senior Dylan Morris, who looks for his second top-15 finish in three years. Korbin Eaton, Isaac Gall and Hunter Fann will also tee it up on Thursday for the Braves. 

Morris claimed victory in this season’s Kalispell Invitational by one shot over Engellant and Helena Capital’s John Gilbert, though that tournament was held at Buffalo Hill Golf Club and Village Greens. 

“The start of the season was pretty rough, but these past three weeks have been good, of course the Kalispell Invite was good,” Morris said Tuesday. “I would say it has been a pretty successful season.” 

Kyrie Gislason, who appeared in the 2023 state tournament, and Becky Schmidt qualified for the Bravettes.  

Flathead coach Roy Antley heads into his final tournament in charge of the Braves and Bravettes before stepping away at the end of the season. 

“It’s been a real privilege and a pleasure to coach these kids,” Antley said. “I am hoping for the very best for all these kids not just Thursday and Friday, but the rest of their lives.” 

Missoula Sentinel expects to be in contention at the tournament following a second-place finish at divisionals. The Spartans finished second at state a season ago, just five shots behind Glacier. Butte and Helena Capital also qualified with a top four team finish. 

Bozeman and Gallatin had first- and second-place finishes from the Eastern AA Divisional; both schools placed in the top-five a year ago. 

CMR’s Jack Pinski hopes to threaten for the individual title after winning in Billings last week, the Rustlers finished in sixth as a team. 

The Helena girls finished runners-up to Glacier at the Western AA divisional and hope to improve on a ninth-place finish from a year ago at state. 

Gallatin claimed the girls title at the Eastern AA divisional, but Billings West, Bozeman and Billings Senior all finished close behind the Raptors. 

Great Falls’ Hannah Boyd and Butte’s Dylan Bartoletti hope to keep their momentum following individual titles at their divisionals last week. 

    Flathead's Korbin Eaton pitches onto the first green during the Crosstown Cup at Village Greens on Thursday, Sept. 5. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider