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Blue Pony golf teams finish strong

Senior Nikki Gabrielsen earns Class A All-State honors as Pony girls finish fourth

There was no arguing that the 2013 Class A state golf tournament was going to be tough for the Havre Blue Ponies. Good teams, good players and a tough golf course were all part of the equation.

But the Ponies certainly proved to be tough themselves over the course of the 36-hole state tournament held Friday-Saturday at Polson Bay Golf Club.

The Havre High girls finished with a team total of 816 and just two strokes away from a third-place trophy. The Ponies came in just behind Anaconda, which shot an 814. Polson won the team title by two strokes over rival Whitefish. Havre also got an outstanding all-state performance by senior Nikki Gabrielsen, who tied for 14th overall.

Meanwhile, the Blue Pony boys weren’t eligible for a team score, but Havre still played well individually this weekend as sophomore Jeff Miller finished inside the Top 30 and fellow sophomore Jerod Boles finished in the Top 40. Sidney captured the state boys title with a 639, beating Whitefish by six strokes. Anaconda was a distant third.

But it was the HHS girls who made the biggest splash.

Gabrielsen put together her best weekend of the season, in her final golf tournament of her career. She shot 101 on Friday, then shaved six strokes off that score to get into the Top 15 and earn Class A All-State honors on Saturday.

Like Gabrielsen, most of the Blue Ponies had a strong second round Saturday, and that helped vault them into trophy contention. Katie Beck shot 99 on Saturday after shooting 104 Friday to finish with a 203, while Boston Swensen shot 109-101 as the Havre seniors led the way. Sophomores Payton Howard and Randi Gabrielsen finished at 214 and 217, respectively, and will be back again next year for Blue Pony head coach Brett Gilman.

“The girls weren’t necessarily disappointed,” Gilman said. “We knew going in it would be pretty close with Anaconda. The first day, we shot the highest team score we have all year, but they came back Saturday and had the third-lowest team score of the tournament. So that was nice to see. They were just a lot more relaxed the second day, and they played much better golf.”

On the boys side, Miller put together a consistent 36 holes in what was a loaded boys field. He shot rounds of 85-86 to finish in 25th place overall. Boles shot 89-89 while freshmen Kane Gabrielsen and Dustin Haas shot 181 and 183, respectively for the 36 holes. Both players were playing in their first state tournament, and with all four boys coming back next season, Gilman said this weekend was a great experience.

“I thought the boys performed well,” Gilman said. “It was very good experience for them. For our freshmen, they found out what it was like at state, and the experience will really help all four of the boys. It was a good field and I thought the scores didn’t really indicate how well the boys played.”

Anaconda’s Jackson Wagner captured boy’s medalist honors with a 146, beating Whitefish’ Art Doorn by one stroke. Whitefish’ Erin Tabish captured girl’s medalist honors with a 165.

The 2014 Class A state tournament will be held at the Hamilton Country Club.

State A Golf Tournament

At Polson Bay Golf Course, Par 72

BOYS

Team scores – 1. Sidney 320-319-639, 2. Whitefish 316-329–645, 3. Anaconda 339-327-666, 4. Billings Central 344-328-672, 5. Lewistown 348-335-683, 6. Hamilton 337-352-689, 7. Belgrade 369-347-716, 8. Libby 375-376-751.

Top 15 Individuals - 1. Jackson Wagner, Anaconda, 76-70-146; 2. Art Doorn, Whitefish, 72-75-147; 3. Dylan Meccage, Laurel, 74-76-150; 4. Paul Brannan, Sidney, 72-81-153; 5. Cooper Donahue, Whitefish, 74-80-154; 5. Caleb Stetzner, Anaconda, 76-78-156; 7. Bobby Frank, Sidney, 82-73-155; 8. Jake DuFresne, Laurel, 78-78-156; 9. Alex Killian, Polson, 79-79-158; 9. Connor Frank, Sidney, 79-79-158; 11. Josh Heath, Hamilton, 78-81-159; 11. Gavin McPherson, Glendive, 80-79-159; 13. Tyler Ferguson, Belgrade, 81-79-160; 14. Cam Caraveau, Billings Central, 85-77-162; 14. Troy Wolff, Frenchtown, 87-75-162.

Team Scores

Sidney (639) – Paul Brannan 72-81-153; Bobby Frank 82-73-155, Connor Frank 79-79-158, Luke Beenken 87-86-173, Tristan Potts 108-91-199.

Whitefish (645) – Art Doorn 72-75-147, Cooper Donahue 74-80-154, Mitch Young 88-85-173, Joey Walp 85-89-174, Cody Olson 85-90-175.

Anaconda (666) – Jackson Wagner 76-70-146, Caleb Stetzner 76-78-154, Jordan Noyd 95-87-182, Zach Dauenhauer 92-92-184, Dennis Stanberry 103-93-196.

Billings Central (672) – Cam Caraveau 85-77-162, Dylan Neutgens 86-82-168, Kaiden Caraveau 87-84-171, Jackson Boos 87-85-172, Parker Jones 86-87-173.

Lewistown (683) – Tyrell Walter 83-82-165, Trip Crouse 88-83-171, Kyle Myhre 86-85-171, Preston Kynett 97-85-182, Zach Hould 91-100-191.

Hamilton (689) – Josh Heath 78-81-159, Ky Burch 83-92-175, Bridger Palin 89-87-176, Blaine Wetzsteon 87-92-179, Taylor Dowdy 97-92-189.

Belgrade (716) – Tyler Ferguson 81-79-160, Shiloh Christopher 92-85-177, Sam Hoffman 98-90-188, Elijah Baker 98-93-191.

Libby (751) – Morgan Wilkins 87-80-167, Johnny Cielak 85-84-169, Quinn Sullivan 97-93-190, Luke Adamason 106-119-225.

Browning – Trae Kennerly 88-84-172.

Butte Central – Tryston Frey 95-100-195.

Columbia Falls – Henry Chisholm 109-92-201.

Dillon – Parker Love 93-94-187, Travis Ackerson 96-93-189, Nathaniel Reed 100-91-191, Carson Turner 108-106-214.

Frenchtown – Troy Wolff 87-75-162, Chris Delaney 88-80-168.

Glendive – Gavin McPherson 80-79-159, Haydn Pettersen 86-80-166.

Hardin – Larkin Chandler 81-82-163.

Havre – Jeff Miller 85-86-170, Jerod Boles 89-89-178, Dustin Haas 90-93-183, Kane Gabrielsen 91-90-181.

Laurel – Dylan Meccage 74-76-150, Jake DuFresne 78-78-156, Robbie Nardella 93-97-190.

Livingston – Nick Bragg 93-95-188, Garrett Schweigert 101-92-193, Gunner Bergsing 99-99-198.

Miles City – Jarrett Gunther 86-79-165, William McFarland 86-79-165, Devin Doughty 92-81-173.

Polson – Alex Killian 79-79-158, Reno Lindesmith 94-93-187, Ryan Thurman 94-95-189.

GIRLS

Team scores – 1. Polson 356-359-715, 2. Whitefish 366-355-721, 3. Anaconda 414-400-814, 4. Havre 418-398-816, 5. Livingston 412-414-826, 6. Laurel 414-433-847, 7. Dillon 440-450-890, 8. Billings Central 490-451-941.

Top 15 Individuals – 1. Erin Tabish, Whitefish, 83-82-165, 2. Jaylin Kenney, Polson, 86-85-171, 3. Nicole Clairmont, Polson, 83-92-175, 4. Christal Tokash, Livingston, 80-96-176, 5. Morgan O’Neil, Laurel, 88-90-178, 6. Katie Fyall, Whitefish, 86-93-179, 7. Peyton Anderson, Polson, 94-88-185, 8. Darby McNally, Frenchtown, 97-88-185, 9. Lauren Dupuis, Polson, 93-94-187, 10. Simone Craft, Whitefish, 92-96-188, 11. Madi Tucker, Laurel, 97-93-190, 12. Sydni Rose, Hamilton, 92-102-194, 13. Emily Morley, Anaconda, 96-99-195, 14. Taylor Nelson, Dillon, 98-98-196, 14. Nikki Gabrielsen, Havre, 101-95-196.

Team Scores

Polson (715) – Jaylin Kenney 86-85-171, Nicole Clairmont 83-92-175, Peyton Anderson 94-88-182, Lauren Dupuis 93-94-187, Heather Franck 111-99-210.

Whitefish (721) – Erin Tabish 83-82-165, Katie Fyall 86-93-179, Simone Craft 92-96-188, Malia Morris 105-90-195, Georgia Donaldson 113-90-203.

Anaconda (814) – Emily Morley 96-99-195, Julia Peterson 104-93-197, Ali Huber 109-101-210, Brittany Slaughter 105-107-212.

Havre (816) – Nikki Gabrielsen 101-95-196, Katie Beck 104-99-203, Boston Swensen 109-101-210, Payton Howard 104-110, Randi Gabrielsen 114-103-217.

Livingston (826) – Christal Tokash 80-96-176, Kaycee Keegan 102-96-198, Michaela Amunrud 106-102-208, Hunter Rose Goetz 124-120-244.

Laurel (847) – Morgan O’Neil 88-90-178, Madi Tucker 97-93-190, Kallie Linse 110-118-228, April Wheeler 119-132-251.

Dillon (890) – Taylor Nelson 98-98-196, Casawndra Page 107-105-212, Shelby Kluesner 113-125-238, Rachael Nye 122-122-244.

Billings Central (941) – MacKenzie Redman 111-101-212, Sophia Mascarena 121-107, Rachel Wagenaar 120-116, Chloe Michaelson 138-127.

Belgrade – Jessie Hirsch 104-101-205, Sarah Friedrich 115-119-234.

Browning – Summer Kennerly 102-97-199, Cyan Old Chief 105-112-217.

Frenchtown – Darby McNally 97-88-185, Jamie Knight 101-102-203, Ashlyn Stenerson 115-120-235, Dani Flynn 127-110.

Glendive – Breilyn Riggin 100-103-203, Amanda Mittlestadt 103-101-204, Montana Polette 122-116-238.

Hamilton – Sydni Rose 92-102-194, Melissa Kimp 112-112-224, Emma Olbricht 113-113-226.

Hardin – Charity Ratliff 107-110-217.

Lewistown – Marlee Thomas 101-101-202, Sydney Smith 105-109-214.

Libby – Lily Feeback 101-101-202, Erin Jager 108-104-212.

Miles City – Megan Ryan 101-97-198, Jamie Burman 105-111-216.

Sidney – Nicole Moore 118-108-226, Kennedi Sheehan 118-126-244.

 

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