Whitefish golfers head to state tourney
The Whitefish girls golf team took first overall at the Western A Divisional Tournament in Hamilton last weekend. From left to right, Ella Shaw, Gracie Young, Megan Archibald, Annie Nixon, Kendall Reed.
Gracie Young tees off in Hamilton during the Western A Divisional Tournament last week. (Jeff Doorn photos)
Whitefish golfers are looking ahead to this week’s State Tournament in Sidney after a successful outing at divisionals in Hamilton.
The girls took first overall by 14 strokes thanks to the stellar top-three play by Gracie Young and Ella Shaw.
Young took second with an 89 and Shaw tied for third with a 92.
Whitefish finished ahead of Polson, Browning and Libby.
“I feel really proud of the way the team played,” head coach Bill Kahle said. “The girls came through and put up a first place finish — we had some excellent play from the girls on a really tough course with some really tough competition.”
For the boys, Cameron Kahle’s 81 was enough for sixth place in overall individual scores. As a team the Bulldogs finished fourth behind Hamilton, Polson and Stevensville.
The top four teams along with the top 30 individuals with the lowest scores qualify for state play, which begins Thursday in Sidney.
Kahle acknowledges both his teams are in for a challenge on Thursday, but he’s excited for them to seize the opportunity and get some experience on a high-level course.
“The keys are going to be to just do what they’ve been doing all year,” Kahle said. “On the girls side, just continuing to play some really solid golf. Because we have a young team on both sides, I’m really looking forward to them getting some experience. We’re going to go out there and do our best, just even that experience is going to be really invaluable for the coming years.”
Western A Divisional
At Hamilton Golf Club
Saturday
Boys
Team Totals
Hamilton 326, Polson 330, Stevensville 350, Whitefish 354.
Top 10
Ryggs Johnston, LIB, 63; Zel Frost, STE, 74; Carson McDaniel, POL, 76; Derek Wolff, FTN, 76; Tristan Hanson, HAM, 76; Matt Hobbs, POL, 77; Bryce Reed, HAM, 80; Cameron Kahle, WF, 81; Trey Kelley, POL, 83; Zach Taylor, HAM, 84.
Girls
Team Totals
Whitefish 406, Polson 421, Browning 455, Libby 470.
Top 10
Tricia Joyce, BC, 77; Gracie Young, WF, 89; Courtney Ockler, FTN, 92; Ella Shaw, WF, 92; Lindsey Huber, DIL, 93; Brooklyn Olson, RON, 96; Cali Cannon, POL, 98; Amanda Farley, POL, 99; Sammee Bradeen, LIB, 101; Makayla LaBuff, BRO, 105.