Hi-Line Athlete Profile: Boston Swensen, HHS Golf

Golf is a high-pressure sport. And when it comes to the high school ranks, there’s no pressure greater than that of a divisional tournament. After all, players and teams can’t reach their dreams of playing in the state tournament of they can’t handle the pressure at divisionals.

Havre High senior Boston Swensen knows about that pressure. She’s been there before. As a freshman, Swensen qualified for the Class A state tournament, but missed out on making it as a sophomore.

However, Swensen bounced right back and went to the state tournament in 2012, her junior season, where she played at a stellar level in last year’s Central A meet in Livingston and the following week at Old Works Golf Course in Anaconda.

Swensen, who’s also a standout on the soccer pitch for the Hi-Line United and in the class room, where she’s vice president of Key Club and a 3.8 student at HHS, is a four-year varsity player for HHS and first-year head coach Brett Gilman. And she’s also part of a strong Havre High girls team which has won several team titles this season and could be a favorite to capture this weekend’s Central A title.

And that’s one thing Swensen likes about playing high school golf. She likes that it’s a team and individual sport. And while she’s experienced state tournament golf on an individual level, in this, her final season of high school golf, she’s confident her entire HHS team will get do the same.

Here’s five questions with Swensen, who plans on attending either BYU or Utah State after high school, as she prepares to play the Central A Divisional Saturday in Havre.

HDN: This is your last year of high school golf. How has it gone so far?

Swensen: “I started out playing really well this season. There’s been some high points and some pow points, but it’s all been worth it. Now, I just want to play good at divisionals and state.”

HDN: What’s the most reliable club in your bag?

Swensen: “I really like all of them. I feel like most of my game is really consistent, most of the time. They all seem to have their bad days too, but when I’m playing good, I’m hitting all my clubs good.”

HDN: The divisional tournament is at Prairie Farms. What’s your favorite hole and why?

Swensen: “No. 3 is my favorite. I usually seem to play pretty good on that hole. And when the wind’s blowing, I can hit my driver a long way there. And it’s the hole I have the most birdies on out here.”

HDN: Who is your biggest influence in golf?

Swensen: “I started playing golf because I wanted to be in a sport in the fall, something that would keep me involved. And I really like that it’s both a team and individual sport. You want the team to do good, but you also have your own success too. My dad got me into golf because he felt like it was a sport I would be good at.”

HDN: The Pony girls have been on a roll this season. What are the expectations now?

Swensen: “We’re going to take divisionals. I just know we will. If we do it will be the first time Livingston hasn’t won it in like nine years. And we’ve beat them (Rangers) at every tournament we’ve saw them at this year. I don’t know how we’ll do at state, but the important thing, is we’re going to go to state as a team.”