Girls golf takes 2nd in state tournament
The Whitefish girls golf team concluded a strong season with a second place finish at the Class A state golf tournament in Hamilton on Saturday.
Gracie Young led the team with a score of 181 for eighth overall. Holly Hileman finished ninth at 183 and Haley Hileman in 11th at 186. Whitefish finished 21 strokes behind state champion Sidney, and Lewistown, Billings Central and Havre took third, fourth and fifth.
Head coach Bill Kahle said the strong play of the Hileman twins and Young propelled the team forward during a year that could have felt like rebuilding.
“For a year where we lost a lot of our girls last year, I was really proud of how they rallied together and played all year. I’m really looking forward to next year when Megan Archibald and Gracie Young will be back, and I’m pretty excited for what the next few years hold,” he said.
The girls were sitting in second place after Friday’s opening 18 holes at the tournament. The girls team had two players crack the top 10 on the first day — Hayley Hileman in eighth with her 89 and Young tied for ninth with a 92.
The boys team took ninth in overall team play, with Hamilton, Polson and Laurel placing in the top three. Brendan Buls finished in a tie for 11th place with a score of 162. Jeff Hyer shot a 188 and Ryan Kemm a 190 to finish in the top 50.
Kahle said he’s happy with how his first season as head coach went and he’s thankful of the support he gets from his coaching staff, Tim Olson and the staff at Whitefish Lake Golf Club.
“[They] really make my job a lot easier than it could be,” he said. “So I’m just very thankful I was able to take over a program that has the outstanding history that Whitefish golf has.”
Class A State Golf
Hamilton Golf Club
Final results
Boys
Team scores
1, Hamilton 312-325--637; 2, Polson 329-322--651; 3, Laurel 333-323--656; 4, Billings Central 333-329--662; 5, Livingston 336-330--666; 6, Butte Central 352-347--699; 7, Miles City 353-358--711; 8, Belgrade 369-356--725; 9, Whitefish 364-369--733. No score: Columbia Falls, Corvallis, Dillon, Frenchtown, Stevensville, Sidney, Havre, Browning, Lewistown.
Individual scores
T11, Brendan Buls, Wf, 82-80--162; T46, Jeff Hyer, Wf, 91-97--188; T49, Ryan Kemm, Wf, 95-95--190; Thomas Carloss, Wf, 96-97--193; 61, Jamie Schwarts, Wf, 102-97--199;
Girls
Team scores
1, Sidney 369-371--740; 2, Whitefish 386-375--761; 3, Lewistown 395-393--788; 4, Billings Central 408-399--807; 5, Havre 426-428--854; 6, Polson 423-435--858; 7, Frenchtown 452-435--887; 8, Hamilton 453-474--927; 9, Dillon 468-461--929.
Individual scores
8, Gracie Young, Wf, 92-89--181; 9, Holly Hileman, Wf, 93-90--183; 11, Hayley Hileman, Wf, 89-97--186; 27, Paige Sproul, Wf, 112-99--211; 40, Megan Archibald, Wf, 113-113--226;