Whitefish’s Johnny Nix carries momentum to win Kalispell tournament
The WHS Boys Golf Team took first place at the Kalispell Invite two-day tournament on Sept. 14–15. Pictured, from left to right, are Billy Smith, Riley Brown, Johnny Nix, Tag Walker and Matthew Peschel. (Provided photo)
The Kalispell Invitational hosted 16 teams over two days last week and the Whitefish Bulldog boys came out on top.
The boys team scored 607 while Glacier came in a close second with 609. Polson settled for third place, scoring 614.
Whitefish’s Johnny Nix had a career-best two-day total and was the overall individual winner with a score of 145. Tyler Avery of Glacier won second place with a score of 146 after tying Billy Smith of Whitefish and then winning a scorecard playoff.
In the tournament, Smith led after day one with Avery one stroke behind; Nix was sitting in fourth place. Nix rode the momentum from his final four holes on Wednesday into the second day of the tournament. He shot a 73 on day two at the Buffalo Hill Golf Club, the best of the day, to push past both Smith and Avery for the victory.
“We’re definitely on an upward trajectory heading to the postseason, so that’s exciting,” said Whitefish Coach Tait Rocksund.
Polson was the girls team winner, by 45 strokes over Missoula Hellgate; Hellgate was led by medalist Anna Stensrud (151). Polson’s Ashley Maki finished second with 162.
Great Falls High’s Hanna Boyd was third, winning a scorecard playoff with Chloe Tanner of Glacier. Both finished at 167.
The Whitefish girls players didn’t finish in the top scores of the tournament, but Stella Jaffe shot a two-day total of 201 and teammate Leia Brennan was one stroke behind her with 202. Bulldog Eva Zignego shot 239 in the tournament.
The Whitefish golf teams also played in Hamilton on Saturday where Whitefish’s Smith and Carson Richie of Hamilton each shot one-under 71 to lead the boys field.
The Hamilton Broncs won the boys team race with a score of 308, followed closely by Whitefish at 310 and Polson at 312.
Kalispell Invite Results
Boys team: 1, Whitefish 607; 2, Glacier 609; 3, Polson 614; 4, Flathead 628; 5, Helena Capital 629.
Boys Individual: 1. Johnny Nix, Whitefish `72-73—145, 2. Tyler Avery, Glacier* 69-77—146, 3. Billy Smith, Whitefish 68-78—146, 4. Joe McGreevey, Capital 71-76—147
Girls Team: 1. Polson 723, 2. Hellgate 768, 3. C.M.R 769.
Whitefish Girls: Stella Jaffe 201, Leia Brennan 202, Eva Zignego 239.
Full results from the Hamilton tournament were not provided.