Milton, Rowe lead Lake County golfers at state

Lake County golfers closed out the fall golf season in style at the Class A State Tournament in Sidney over the weekend, with four local players earning All-State honors and the Polson boys securing a third-place team finish.

Polson senior Max Milton led the charge for the Pirates, firing a blistering 69 on the opening day that included an eagle and four birdies to sit atop the leaderboard. Milton finished the two-day event at 145 (69-76), good for a tie for third and the bronze medal. His performance capped off a strong season as one of the top prep golfers in Montana.

Teammate Cash Brown was steady across both rounds, carding 75-76—151 to place eighth overall and join Milton on the All-State list. Behind them, Carson Emerson placed t-20th (88-78—166), while Soren Lund (40th, 84-91—175) and Everett Hendrickson (54th, 97-92—189) rounded out the Polson lineup.

The Pirates’ team total of 637 (316-321) earned them third place, finishing just behind Billings Central (616) and champion Corvallis (614).

Ronan’s contingent also made noise in Sidney, led by junior Oliver Rowe, who turned in a pair of polished rounds to place sixth overall (75-74—149). Sophomore Kolby Finley joined him in the top 15 with rounds of 83-81—164, tying for 15th and earning All-State recognition for the first time.

On the girls’ side, Polson’s Olivia Cottet finished 27th (106-99—205), while teammate Johanna Bieber took 30th (102-105—207), each improving on their day-one scores. Ronan’s LaRae Mays finished t-48th (114-119—233), representing the Maidens at state.

Billings Central captured both the boys’ and girls’ team titles.

With four Lake County golfers — Milton, Brown, Rowe, and Finley — earning All-State honors, the tournament underscored the depth of the area’s golf talent