Whitefish golfers head to state tourney in Hamilton

The Whitefish girls golfers are divisional champions after a strong showing at the Western A Tournament in Libby last week.

The girls took first overall ahead of Corvallis, boosted by a third-place finish from Ella Shaw (87).

Megan Archibald (96) took seventh, Kendall Reed (100) 12th, Annie Nixon (112) 22nd and Anna Elm (114) 26th.

Head coach Bill Kahle said the girls’ performance was a culmination of the hard work they’ve put in all season.

“I was really proud of the girls. They won over a really tough Corvallis team. They played well on a course that was playing pretty difficult,” he said. “There were some circumstances that had changed, there were spectators on the course, obviously there was a little more pressure because it was the divisional tournament, so although none of them had their greatest rounds they really stuck together and hung together and won the thing.”

The boys finished fifth, just three strokes behind Frenchtown.

Grant Kahle and Andrew Brozek both posted 87s for 14th and 15th. Cameron Kahle (89) took 19th, Jayce Cripe (90) 21st and Ryan Kemm (93) finished 28th.

Cripe also posted a hole-in-one during the tournament.

All 10 players that competed in Libby have qualified to play at the Class A State Tournament in Hamilton on Friday and Saturday.

Kahle said while both teams have different expectations and goals for the tournament, he’s expecting strong performances from his boys and girls alike.

“For the girls, this week we’ll spend some time refining somethings they may have struggled on in divisionals. We’ll be spending a lot of time on the range, the chipping green and the putting green really focusing in on what the individual athletes need to work on. They have a pretty good chance if everybody plays as well as they can. All of my girls have made such huge improvements this year that if they play within themselves and do the best they can, I think a real good chance,” Kahle said.

“I think we have a few boys who could qualify for all-state. I think if we can finish in the top three or four this year that would be quite an accomplishment.”

Western A Divisional Golf Tournament

Saturday

At Cabinet View Golf Course

Libby

Boys

Whitefish 353

1. Cameron Kahle 89 (19th)

2. Jayce Cripe 90 (21st)

3. Grant Kahle 87 (15th)

4. Ryan Kemm 93 (28th)

5. Andrew Brozek 87 (14th)

Girls

Whitefish 395 (1st)

1. Ella Shaw 87 (3rd)

2. Megan Archibald 96 (7th)

3. Kendal Reed 100 (12th)

4. Annie Nixon 112 (22nd)

5. Anna Elm 114 (26th)