Local Golf Report: Pony golf season starts Thursday

Many of us have been doing it all summer long. But now, it’s time for the high school golfers at Havre High to tee it up.

Thursday morning, the Blue Pony boys and girls golf teams will get their season started with their first official practice at Prairie Farms Golf Course. Havre will once again be under the direction of head coach Brett Gilman, and the coach has just three days to prepare his varsity team for the season-opening tournament. The Ponies will make their season debut Monday and Tuesday at the Great Falls Invitational. The tournament will be played at the Meadowlark Country Club and Eagle Falls Golf Course.

Havre High will have two home tournaments this season, including the annual Havre Golf Tournament, which will take place Thursday of next week at Prairie Farms. Sept. 13, Havre will host the annual Havre Invitational at Beaver Creek Golf Course.

The Blue Ponies’ varsity teams will have some tough courses to play in the postseason as well. The Central A Divisional will be held Sept. 26 at Bozeman’s Riverside Country Club, while the 2014 Class A state tournament will be played Oct. 3-4 at the Hamilton Golf Club in Hamilton.

On the home golf front, men’s league at Prairie Farms enters its final week of the regular season. Tonight and Wednesday mark the last chances for eight more teams to reach the upcoming men’s league playoffs. In the Tuesday night standings, Bing-N-Bobs is well out in front, followed by Lisa’s 15 West, Tilleman Motor Co. and Dan Wagner Plumbing. Lisa’s 15 West, Wagner Plumbing, Northern Edge and Hole 19 secured playoff spots in the first half of the season. In the Wednesday night standings, Michelob Light, Independence Bank and DA Davidson lead with Havre Ford. The top three teams, along with Valley Furniture are also already in the playoffs.

Last Tuesday night saw Havre Muffler earn high-team honors with 24 points. Jim Burrington, Jerry Wood, Steve Granell and Gene Allen made up the squad. However, the round wasn’t finished due to the horrendous thunderstorm which blew through Havre that night, so no low gross and net were given.

Wednesday night, Property West scored 24 points for high team. Vince Scofield, Ryan Mapes, Jared Gillen and Ron Brenna composed the team. Jordy Donoven fired a 3-under-par 33 for low gross, while Gilman was low net with a 29.5.

Meanwhile, the ladies finished their regular season Thursday night. Makin Waves won the regular season title with 208.5 points, while Independence Bank was second, DA Davidson third and Patrick Construction fourth. Independence Bank was high team last Thursday with 24.5 points. The team was made up of Julie Mariani, Terry Lillevedt, Delonna Malone and Teresa Brown. Ali Ward was low gross with a 38, while Carol Culp and Susie LaSalle tied for low net with a 30.5.

The ladies begin their playoff tournament Thursday night.

Finally, the Montana State Senior Amateur was held this past weekend at three different golf courses in the Kalispell/Whitefish area, and several local players teed it up. Havre’s Bill Schilling finished with a three-round total of 270, John Tibbetts finished at 277, Chester’s Pete Woods came in at 282, Havre’s Kerry Ward was at 284, Steve Johnstone finished at 249, Rick Ervin finished at 268 and Dave Greenwood at 269, while Bob Breum finished at 308.

Prairie Farms Golf League Standings

Tuesday Night Men’s Standings

Bing-N-Bob’s 131, Lisa’s 15 West 120.5, Tilleman Motor Co. 118, Dan Wagner Plumbing 114, Stockman Bank 112.5, Havre Muffler 112, Patrick Construction 101.5, Hi-Line Drilling 100.5, Northern Edge 100.5, Havre Ford 97, Nalivka’s 95.5, Hole 19 92, Spencer’s Hi-Way Bar 89.5, Triple Dog Brewrey/Schubert Agency 89, Independence Bank 87.

Wednesday Night Men’s Standings

Michelob Light 128, Independence Bank 126, DA Davidson 118, Havre Ford 117, Master Sports 115, Hi-Line Audio/Video 113.5, Mariani Insurance 108, Property West 107.5, Valley Furniture 106, Koefod Agency 104.5, Bear Paw Credit Union 104, Taco John's 97, Ruff Real Estate 94, Prairie Farms 93.5, Triangle Communications 90, Tiger Woods 88.

Ladies League

(Final Standings)

Makin Waves 208.5, Independence Bank 207.5, DA Davidson 205.5, Patrick Construction 196, Havre Heating & AC 196, Northern Montana Hospital 192, Schubert Agency 174, Scharfe, Kato & Co. 173.5, Prairie Farms 166.5, Western Drug 141, Columbia Grain 89.5.