Nelston is medalist; Glacier girls, Sentinel boys take Western AA golf

Luke Nelson wasn’t to be caught, nor were the Glacier girls or Missoula Sentinel boys.

Nelson, a senior golfer for Glacier, followed up his 68 from Thursday with a 70 and claimed medalist honors at the Western AA Divisional at Northern Pines Golf Course.  

He shot 6-under for the tournament, two strokes better than runner up Hudson Goroski of Sentinel. 

With Torren Murphy taking third at 2-under 142, the Wolfpack made up three strokes on Sentinel, which led the team standings by six after 18 holes. The Spartans won by three, 587-590. 

The Glacier girls had no worries, pushing a large lead at the midway point out to 42 strokes by the end of Friday’s golf. 

Nelson was sitting at 3-under through 12 Friday, before a pair of bogeys helped Goroski gain a stroke. Goroski eagled No. 17 while Nelson birdied the same hole, putting the Spartan 1-under for the day and 4-under for the tournament. 

When both players shot par on 18 Nelson had the two-stroke victory — his second of his senior season. 

Glacier’s Jonah Wynne shot a 73 Friday to move up to eighth in the individual standings; teammate Sam Syverson shot 83 and finished just outside the top 15.  

Sentinel had four players in the top 11: Goroski, Jack Schaefer (fifth), Derek Schaefer and Willy Nowlen. 

Flathead finished fifth out of eight boys teams and had a pair of top-15 golfers: Freshman Andrew Converse was 12th and Trygve Gislason was 14th. 

Glacier put four girls in the top seven, with Maggie Mitton (174) and Kendall Tkachyk (181) taking second and third; Missoula Big Sky’s Zoey Loberg fired an 80 Friday to surge to medalist honors. 

Vaida Cole and Abbi Townsend helped the Wolfpack finish with back-to-back 359 scores for a 718 total; Helena was second at 760, followed by Big Sky and Flathead. 

The Bravettes moved up a spot — and earned a state tournament berth — with some solid play Saturday. Rebecca Schmidt was their top finisher at 15th; meanwhile Hayden Ward, Hadley McDonald and Madeline Matson all improved by 17-21 strokes from Thursday. 

The top four teams qualified for the State AA tournament next Thursday and Friday in Butte. In addition, the eight top individual golfers who aren’t on a qualifying team advance to State. 

Full results can be found at golf genius: ggid 25WAADIV.  

Western AA Divisional 

Friday 

Northern Pines Golf Course 

BOYS 

Team scores — 1, Missoula Sentinel 288-299—587; 2, Glacier 294-296—590; 3, Helena Capital 318-298—616; 4, Missoula Big Sky 329-322—651; 5, Flathead 330-335—665; 6, Butte 339-342—681; 7, Missoula Hellgate 340-342—682; 8, Helena 346-343—689. 

Top 15 Individuals 

Luke Nelson, Glacier    68-70—138 

Hudson Goroski, Sentinel    69-71—140 

Torren Murray, Glacier    71-71—142 

John Gilbert, Capital    74-69—143 

Jack Schaefer, Sentinel    70-76—146 

Austin Kaufman, Helena    69-78—147 

Chase Choquette, Butte    71-76—147 

Jonah Wynne, Glacier    76-73—149 

Derek Schaefer, Sentinel    74-77—151 

Jayce Belzer, Capital    80-72—152 

Willy Nowlen, Sentinel    75-77—152 

Andrew Converse, Flathead    77-76—153 

Karson McDonough, Big Sky    76-78—154 

Trygve Gislason, Flathead    79-77—156 

Matt Gilbert, Capital    79-78—157 

Flathead: Converse 153, Gislason 156, Conner Gall 85-92—177; Jacobe Sullenger 89-90—179; Tuckier Morin 105-95—200. 

Glacier: Nelson 138, Murray 142, Wynne 149, Sam Syverson 79-83—162; Elliot Anderson 87-82—169. 

GIRLS 

Team scores — 1, Glacier 359-359—718; 2, Helena 381-379—760; 3, Big Sky 406-396—802; 4, Flathead 438-382—820; 5, Capital 433-412—845; and Butte 431-414—845; 7, Sentinel 474-462—936. 

Individual Top 15 

Zoey Loberg, Big Sky    89-80—169 

Maggie Mitton, Glacier    86-88—174 

Kendall Tkachyk, Glacier    87-89—176 

Harlow Anderson, Capital    87-94—181 

Mya Helvic, Helena    93-89—182 

Vaida Cola, Glacier    96-86—182 

Abbi Townsend, Glacier    90-96—186 

Kate DeShaw, Butte94-92—186 

Cate Hardan, Helena    91-98—189 

Glacier Lucchetti, Helena    94-96—190 

Keeley Johnston, Butte    99-91—190 

Maci Reid, Sentienl    97-94—191 

Charlotte Dale, Big Sky    100-91—191 

Catlyn Helmer, Hellgate    99-96—195 

Rebecca Schmidt, Flathead    101-97—198 

Flathead: Schmidt 198, Hayden Ward 109-91—200; Hadley McDonald 115-98—213; Madeline Matson 117-96—213; Sienna Blanchard 113-110—223. 

Glacier: Mitton 174, Tkachyk 176, Cole 182, Townsend 186, Lillie Groom 106-97—203. 

    Glacier's Maggie Mitton tees off on the fifteenth hole at the Western AA Divisional Golf Tournament at Northern Pines Golf Club on Thursday, Sept. 25. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider   

    Glacier's Torren Murray tees off on the fifth hole at the Western AA Divisional Golf Tournament at Northern Pines Golf Club on Thursday, Sept. 25. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider   

    Glacier's Kendall Tkachyk tees off on the seventeenth hole at the Western AA Divisional Golf Tournament at Northern Pines Golf Club on Thursday, Sept. 25. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider