Pirates' Milton shoots 62 at Polson Invite

POLSON – Polson Pirate sophomore Max Milton was already having an impressive season through three high school tournaments. Then he played his home course.

On Monday Milton fired a 10-under 62, including a 29 on the back nine at Polson Bay Golf Course, to win the Polson Invitational boys medalist honors by six strokes. 

Brady Powell of Corvallis shot an impressive 68 for second; Aiden Rickels of Whitefish was third at 70 on the par-72 layout.  

Powell’s round started birdie-eagle and included three birdies on the back nine.  

Milton, meanwhile, was even part through six holes and then birdied Nos. 7-12, followed by an eagle on the par-4 13th, then another birdie on 16. He shot par on 17-18. 

Corvallis, with three golfers in the top five, won the boys team title at plus-6 294. Polson was next at 299, and Dillon was a distant third at 327. Five teams, including Columbia Falls, Ronan and Whitefish, were bunched together from 329-336.  

Whitefish, led by Karlee Brown’s 77, won the girls team title by 23 strokes over Dillon. 

Bentley Cody of Columbia Falls and Zane Garrison of Dillon tied for sixth at 76; Carson Emerson (77) and Cash Brown (78) both finished in the top 15 for Polson. 

Kolby Finley was Ronan’s top finisher, in a three-way tie for 12th at 78. Teammate Oliver Rowe tied for 15th at 79. 

On the girls’ side, Whitefish’s Brown was co-medalist with Hamilton’s Cameron Burnett — and Brown gained two strokes over 17 and 18.  

Brown was joined in the top 15 by Bulldog teammates Ryhlee Scott (tied for third, with Dillon’s Skylar LaPierre), Caroline Owens (tied for seventh) and Ava Zignego (tied for 15th). Whitefish had 358 strokes to 381 for Dillon and 383 for Hamilton. Six schools brought full girls teams to the tournament. 

Polson’s Johanna Bieber was ninth, shooting 97, and teammate Harlie Fisher was among three girls, including Bigfork’s Keegan Campbell, that shot 99. 

Browning’s Lily Juneau tied for 15th as well.

Polson Invitational 

Monday, Polson Bay GC 

BOYS

Team scores — 1, Corvalis 294; 2, Polson 299; 3, Dillon 326; 4, Butte Central 327; 5, Columbia Falls 329; 6 (tie), Ronan and Frenchtown, 331; 8, Whitefish 336; 9, Glacier JV 349; 10, Stevensville 366; 11, Browning 368; 12, Bigfork 374; 13 (tie), Polson JV and Hamilton, 382; 15, Flathead JV 393. 

Indvidual Top 15

Max Milton, Polson    62 

Brady Powell, Corvallis    68 

Aiden Rickels, Whitefish    70 

Tag Jessop, Corvallis    74 

Dylan Wirt, Corvallis    75 

Bentley Cady, Columbia Falls     76 

Zane Garrison, Dillon    76 

Silas Zetterberg, Frenchtown    77 

Zach Maki, Dillon    77 

Carson Emerson, Polson    77 

Tanner Sorenson, Corvallis    77 

Beau McGree, Butte Central    78 

Cash Brown, Polson    78 

Kolby Finley, Ronan    78 

Will McGree, Butte Central    79 

Oliver Rowe, Ronan    79 

GIRLS

Team scores — 1, Whitefish 358; 2, Dillon 381; Hamilton 383; 4, Frenchtown 412; 5, Polson 414; 6, Corvallis 445; 7, Bigfork 465. 

Top 15 Individuals

Karlee Brown, Whitefish    77 

Cameron Burnett, Hamilton    77 

Skylar LaPierre, Dillon    86 

Rhylee Scott, Whitefish    86 

Briley Albert, Dillon    89 

Marissa Patch, Frenchtown    94 

Jocelyn Lambert, Stevensville    95 

Caroline Owens, Whitefish    95 

Johanna Bieber, Polson    97 

Bryn Canflone, Hamilton    98 

Tatum Nagle, Dillon    98 

Keegan Campbell, Bigfork    99 

Kirsten Race, Corvallis    99 

Harlie Fischer, Polson    99 

Lily Juneau, Browning    100 

Ava Zignego, Whitefish    100