Wolfpack boys go back-to-back at AA golf

The Glacier Wolfpack boys hold their Class AA team state championship trophy at Northern Pines on Friday, Oct. 4. (Jon Allen/Daily Inter Lake)

Glacier's Sam Engellant tees off on the eleventh hole during the second round of the Class AA State Golf Tournament at Northern Pines Golf Club in Kalispell on Friday, Oct. 4. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)\
Casey Kreider

Missoula Sentinel's Hudson Goroski gets a hug from teammates after winning the boys individual title at the Class AA State Golf Tournament at Northern Pines Golf Club in Kalispell on Friday, Oct. 4. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Billings Senior's Becca Washington watches her drive on the ninth hole during the second round of the Class AA State Golf Tournament at Northern Pines Golf Club in Kalispell on Friday, Oct. 4. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Great Falls' Hanna Boyd hits a drive on the ninth hole during the second round of the Class AA State Golf Tournament at Northern Pines Golf Club in Kalispell on Friday, Oct. 4. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Flathead's Dylan Morris watches his tee shot on the sixteenth hole during the second round of the Class AA State Golf Tournament at Northern Pines Golf Club in Kalispell on Friday, Oct. 4. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Bozeman's Cooper Bourret watches his tee shot on the eighteenth hole during the second round of the Class AA State Golf Tournament at Northern Pines Golf Club in Kalispell on Friday, Oct. 4. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Missoula Sentinel's Hudson Goroski watches his tee shot on the eighteenth hole during the second round of the Class AA State Golf Tournament at Northern Pines Golf Club in Kalispell on Friday, Oct. 4. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Glacier's Sam Engellant smiles after sinking a putt on the eighteenth hole for third place at the Class AA State Golf Tournament at Northern Pines Golf Club in Kalispell on Friday, Oct. 4. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Glacier's Jonah Wynne chips onto the green on the fourteenth hole during the second round of the Class AA State Golf Tournament at Northern Pines Golf Club in Kalispell on Friday, Oct. 4. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Glacier's Sam Engellant sinks a putt on the sixteenth green during the second round of the Class AA State Golf Tournament at Northern Pines Golf Club in Kalispell on Friday, Oct. 4. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Bozeman's Kira Connell hits a drive on the ninth hole during the second round of the Class AA State Golf Tournament at Northern Pines Golf Club in Kalispell on Friday, Oct. 4. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

by JON ALLEN
Staff Writer | October 5, 2024 12:00 AM

Winning the title is hard, defending it is even harder.

The Glacier boys did just that though, shooting a second-round 290 Friday at Northern Pines Golf Club — 592 overall — to claim the state championship by two shots over Missoula Sentinel.

“I am so proud of these boys,” Glacier coach Jim Ness said. “I knew they had it in them all year long and they pulled it off at the end and it wasn't easy.”

Glacier led by as many as seven shots during the round, but as the teams reached their final holes the score was tied before the Wolfpack took the late advantage.

The Spartans — headlined by individual medalist Hudson Goroski — shot their second 297 of the tournament Friday to finish at 594, Bozeman rounded out the top three with a 605 score.

The Wolfpack finished with four golfers in the top 15 earning All-State honors: Sam Engellant in a tie for third at 145; Torren Murray in seventh with 147 — including a second-day 68; and Luke Nelson and Jonah Wynne finished tied for 12th at 152.

“Our team went through some highs and lows,” Engellant said. “We were eight under at one point as a team, we were playing really well. ... I had some really exciting holes come down the stretch.”

Engellant noted that his final putt on 18 — a 15-footer down the hill to save par after hitting his tee shot into the fescue — is one that he will remember for a long time.

Goroski claimed the individual crown with his 68, finishing at 3-under 141. Just one shot behind was Bozeman’s Cooper Bourret — the leader after round one. Engellant and Sentinel’s Jack Schaefer finished four shots behind Goroski.

“It’s pretty surreal,” Goroski said. “You never think you’re going to go into a tournament that you are going to win it, and right now it doesn’t even feel real.”

Flathead’s Dylan Morris birdied his final two holes to finish an even par round Friday and earn All-State honors in a tie for fifth with Capital’s John Gilbert.

“The second day my wedge game was a little bit better,” Morris said. “Yesterday I was giving myself too many lag putts on these fast greens. When these greens are rolling as fast as they are it’s just hard to do that.

“Today I was putting the wedges closer, being more aggressive off the tee. I think yesterday off the tee I was playing a bit too conservative.”

The Braves ended the tournament in ninth place with a 656 total score. Korbin Eaton shot a 78 Friday to finish tied for 27th.

“It was really a great performance considering they didn't have a drop score,” Flathead coach Roy Antley said. “Korbin Eaton put in a great effort ... he played great from tee to green. I think the worst score he had was one double bogey.”

In the girls competition, Billings Senior’s Becca Washington needed two playoff holes to grab medalist honors from Great Falls’ Hanna Boyd.

After finishing the tournament tied at 155, the two still couldn’t be separated after playing the 18th hole again. Washington earned the victory with a par on hole 10, the second playoff hole.

Bozeman’s Kira Connell finished in third, eight shots behind the lead duo.

Gallatin claimed the team title with a second round 341 and a 697 score overall, besting Billings West in second by one shot and Billings Senior in third by four.

Glacier finished the team competition in seventh after shooting 784 over the two days. Abbi Townsend topped the leaderboard for the Wolfpack with a 182 score in a tie for 17th, just one shot out of earning All-State honors.

“I’ve got a great group of girls, they are super talented,” Ness said. “The great thing I have four girls coming back for next year, the only one I am losing is our senior Braelyn Ryan. I am optimistic about a really great year next year.”

Flathead’s Kyrie Gislason and Becky Schmidt shot a matching 205 score for the tournament and finished tied for 43rd.

“It’s a good way for (Kyrie) to finish her high school career,” Antley said. “I’m really excited for Becky Schmidt, our freshman. The sky is the limit for her, she is such a hard worker and I am expecting really big things for her.”

AA State Golf Tournament

Northern Pines Golf Club

Friday

BOYS
Team results — 1, Glacier 592; 2, Missoula Sentinel 594; 3, Bozeman 605; 4, Helena Capital 617; 5, Billings West 621; 6, Gallatin 639; 7 (tie), Billings Skyview and Butte 640; 9, Flathead 656; 10, Billings Senior 673; 11, Missoula Big Sky 686.

Individual top 15

Hudson Goroski, Sentinel 73-68-141

Cooper Bourret, Bozeman 70-72-142

Jack Schaefer, Sentinel 73-72-145

Sam Engellant, Glacier 73-72-145

John Gilbert, Capital 71-75-146

Dylan Morris, Flathead 74-72-146

Torren Murray, Glacier 79-68-147

Zander Brester, West 74-75-149

Reid Wilkinson, Bozeman 76-77-150

Jack Pinski, CMR 73-77-150

Isaac Mosser, Skyview 76-75-151

Luke Nelson, Glacier 76-76-152

Jonah Wynne, Glacier 74-78-152

Brenner Booth, Butte 77-75-152

Jack McKee, Bozeman 74-79-153

Billy Benjamin, Skyview 76-77-153

Glacier — Sam Engellant 73-72-146; Torren Murray 79-68-147; Luke Nelson 76-76-152; Jonah Wynne 74-78-152; Tanyon Murray 80-74-154

Flathead — Dylan Morris 74-72-146; Korbin Eaton 81-78-159; Isaac Gall 86-89-175; Hunter Fann 89-87-176

GIRLS

Team results — 1, Gallatin 697; 2, Billings West 698; 3, Billings Senior 701; 4, Bozeman 704; 5, Helena 760; 6, Helena Capital 779; 7, Glacier 784; 8, Belgrade 800; 9, Butte 837.

Individual top 15

x – won playoff

xBecca Washington, Senior 81-74-155

Hanna Boyd, Great Falls 78-77-155

Kira Connell, Bozeman 81-82-163

Kiah Homes-Morrissey, Gallatin 84-81-165

Mielle Kavran, West 85-80-165

Quincy Weymouth, CMR 82-85-167

Addison Bleile, Gallatin 85-88-173

Lilia Troxel, Belgrade 82-92-174

Charlotte Rasper, Gallatin 94-80-174

Anna Fenhaus, West 84-91-175

Liv Kobold, Senior 84-91-175

Paige Loberg, West 87-89-176

Olivia McGreevey, Capital 96-80-176

Avery Gardner, Bozeman 93-84-177

Payton Tryan, Senior 89-92-181

Heidi Huber, Bozeman 92-89-181

Glacier — Abbi Townsend 94-88-182; Maggie Mitton 98-99-197; Kendall Tkachyk 102-95-197; Vaida Cole 107-102-209; Braelyn Ryan 111-101-212.

Flathead — Kyrie Gislason 100-105-205; Becky Schmidt 101-104-205.