Who's going to the Class A state golf tournament and who's staying home will be decided Thursday with one trip around the links at Meadow Lake Golf Resort in Columbia Falls.

Play is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. for the five participating schools - Columbia Falls, Libby, Polson, Ronan and Whitefish. Not in the mix this year is Bigfork, now in the Class B golf ranks.

The top three teams and top 15 individuals move on to the season finale Oct. 9-10 in Kalispell.

The Whitefish boys and girls are the divisional favorites again, while the next two positions are up for grabs on both fronts.

Whitefish's Bulldogs are the defending Class A boys state champions, winners by 30 strokes last October in Polson. The Bulldogs have captured eight state titles under coach Terry Nelson and 11 total in school history. Heading into this season, they've won state four of the last five years and finished second in 2007.

"It will be an interesting tournament," Columbia Falls coach Gene Marcille said.

"I think the Whitefish boys have a good chance of winning a state championship. Reed Platke is a legitimate state contender."

Platke finished second at state last year, one shot off the pace, and has had another banner season this fall for the Bulldogs.

Also back from the state championship team are Joel Mallams and Zach Maassen.

Marcille said the Columbia Falls boys "have a real good chance of being one of the three teams (advancing to state).

"We're playing on our home course. Meadow Lake is a great golf course. It's about the toughest we play. A pretty tight course in places, lots of out of bounds, lots of hazards."

Tanner Lineberry, a senior, is expected to carry the banner for the Wildcats.

"High expectations," Marcille said for Lineberry.

"He's excited, he's done well in tournaments. Consistently in the top five."

In girls play behind Whitefish, Polson will push hard for second place leaving the other three to fight for the remaining berth to state.

Kelsey DeWit, a Columbia Falls senior, missed out on a state trip last year by one stroke.

"She's pretty focused (for divisional)," Marcille said.

Whitefish's Kiley McConnell and Polson's Natalia Arlint will contend for medalist honors while Whitefish's BreAnna Cameron is a top five contender, along with Polson's Amy Williamson.

McConnell finished second at last year's divisional, three shots off the mark. Cameron was third.

Marcille said weather, which has been perfect to date, could be a factor. Temperatures are expected to be in the mid-50s. That's a far cry from the 80s golfers have played in for much of the fall.

"That will present a challenge for all the kids," Marcille said.

"It will be interesting to see. I'm hoping the course is the bigger challenge (than the weather)."

Following Thursday's action, many of the divisional teams will compete in the Flatfish Invitational on Friday and Saturday.

"Unfortunately, it's a tricky tournament for us, more time out of school," Marcille said of the Flatfish.

"What we do is leave it up to the kids. If they don't qualify for state, they want to play. It's their last shot at golf. We respect that.

"Our plan right now, we will be in the Flatfish - boys and girls."