High hopes for Glacier, Flathead at state AA golf
The Daily Inter Lake | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 12 years, 3 months AGO
It’s been all Glacier so far and you can look for more of the same on the final weekend of the Class AA high school golf season.
The Glacier boys will be heavy favorites in Great Falls as they have already claimed tournament titles at Great Falls by 12 strokes, by 47 at Missoula, by 19 at Helena, by 42 at the Glacier Invitational and by 33 at the Flatfish.
State action starts for all AA schools today at Meadow Lark Country Club. Action shifts to Eagles Falls Golf Club on Saturday for the final round.
“They like both locations,” Glacier coach Rob Logsdon said of his players.
“Different tracks so they will get a different look both days.
“I’m really proud of the seniors,” he continued.
“I’m looking forward to them having a final weekend of great golf.”
Glacier’s Ryan Porch was the medalist at Great Falls and Glacier events, while Logan Iverson was the medalist at Missoula and Helena.
“Ryan and Logan have been burning it up,” Logsdon said.
“Cody Sherrill has had a great year, getting better (every time out). Kevin Talcott has been super solid, consistent every week.”
Porch finished second at state last year, as did the Wolfpack.
Iverson tied for fifth.
The four teams chasing the Wolfpack this time are Billings West, Billings Skyview, Helena Capital and C.M. Russell.
The Glacier girls have put together perhaps their best season ever, winning team titles in Missoula, Glacier and the Flatfish. They finished second at Great Falls and Helena.
Freshman Teigan Avery has enjoyed a banner first year on the state links, claiming medalist honors at Missoula, Glacier and Flatfish.
She was second in Great Falls and third in Helena.
“She’s very talented,” Logsdon said.
“She has a lot more experience (than most freshman) having played (in tournaments) nationally and regionally.”
Logsdon said Shea Stevens and Hannah Davis have also played very well and have been top 10 finishers for the Wolfpack during portions of the season.
Coral Schulz from Capital and Kortney McNeil from Senior will push Avery for the individual title.
Glacier will contend for team honors along with Billings Senior, Billings West and Helena Capital.
Flathead may not challenge for a team championship in boys or girls play, but it does have some solid players who could make some noise.
Freshman Ryan Keenan finished up the regular season by winning the Flatfish Invitational. He’s been a consistent top 10 finisher along with teammate Max Applegate.
“I think we’ve been waiting for him to break through,” FHS coach Jess Roper said of Keenan.
“He’s just getting comfortable out there now.”
Roper said Applegate has been “a little up and down, but I think he’s ready for this week.”
Roper said the team is aiming for a third-place finish.
On the girls side, Morgan Knutson, Geneva Zoltek and Michaela Murer have been the leaders.
“(The girls) are starting to come around,” Roper said.
Class A
This marks the final weekend of play with the state tournament at the Old Works Golf Course in Anaconda.
Action begins today at 9 a.m. with the Polson girls looking to defend their state championship. The 36-hole event ends Saturday.
The Pirates are led by divisional champ Anna DiGiallonardo, divisional runner-up Jaylin Kenney and third-place finisher Nicole Clairmont.
Whitefish could be a title contender in boys play if its Nos. 3-4-5 players come through.
“If we can get those (players) in low to mid-80s, we could have a good shot at the team title,” WHS coach Tim Olson said.
Whitefish has some very talented individuals who could vie for medalist honors.
For the boys, it’s junior Art Doorn.
“He’s playing with confidence, playing consistent,” Olson said.
“He’s put in the time and effort. He’s been holding his own against AA and the best players in the state. We’re looking for some good things from him this weekend.”
Doorn won the divisional title last week by six shots.
Teammate Kyle Barron tied for third at the divisional, nine shots behind Doorn.
“Consistent,” Olson said of Barron down the stretch. “He put back-to-back career bests together (79-77) at the Flatfish. He’s playing with some confidence.”
Cody and Cooper Olson finished 10th and 11th at the divisional for the Bulldogs.
For the WHS girls, Erin Tabish is again the team leader. She placed fourth at the divisional with teammate Katie Fyall fifth.
Tabish has battled a sore knee all fall, but Olson says she is “playing 98 percent on that knee, getting better every week.”
The bad news is Fyall will not play at state. She is sidelined with a back injury.
“A frustrated freshman right now,” Olson said of Fyall. “It’s a big blow to our team score.”
Olson said Fyall has consistently been in the high 80s to low 90s.
ARTICLES BY THE DAILY INTER LAKE
No headline
MISSOULA — Glacier Wolfpack softball had a productive day against Missoula teams, first routing Big Sky 25-0 and then edging Sentinel 4-3 on Thursday in Western AA play.
Wolfpack falls to Capital by 20 in loser out
BUTTE — The Glacier Wolfpack (15-10) fell to Helena Capital 56-36 on Saturday, eliminating them from the Class AA state girls basketball tournament at the Butte Civic Center.
No headline
Buffalo Hill Golf Club in Kalispell is now accepting registration forms for the upcoming men’s league season.