Local Golf Report: Rotary Week is underway at Prairie

For those of you who love to watch the PGA Tour, you might have seen last weekend’s Barracuda Championship held at Lake Tahoe. And some of you might have been a little perplexed by the scoring system, as you tuned in and saw leaders with scores like +37 and even higher.

No, the course didn’t play so hard that players like Gary Woodland and Greg Chalmers were that far over par. That might come in two weeks at the British Open (not that high obviously). No, the scoring system used for the Barracuda is the Stableford system, and it gives players points for strokes instead of taking strokes off for par.

Well, this weekend at Prairie Farms Golf Course, Havre’s own version of Barracuda will be played when the Modified Stableford scoring system is used for the annual Rotary Blast. The tournament, which still has openings, is a two-person format with points earned for pars, birdies, eagles and others. It’s slightly different than the PGA Tour’s Stableford where pars are worth no points and bogeys and the players actually lose points for bogeys, double bogeys and worse. But, in general, the concept for the Rotary Blast, also formerly the Burrito Blast, which used to be held at Beaver Creek Golf Course, is the same, though handicap is also involved.

Speaking of BCGC, a new tournament is coming to the grand old course next weekend. A four-person scramble will be held by the MSU-Northern Alumni Foundation, with funds raised going to the new Diesel Technology Center. For more information and to sign up, contact the MSU-N Alumni Foundation or BCGC.

This week is also a busy one for youth golfers, as the annual Rotary Golf Camp is underway at Prairie Farms. The camp started Tuesday and will run through Thursday afternoon (see Friday’s HDN for more) and, as always, Jim Kato and Doug Sheppard do a phenomenal job with teaching, and helping grow the game of youth golf in Havre and on the Hi-Line.

In league action last week at Prairie Farms, Vic’s Place was high team Tuesday with 22.5 points. Lowell Swenson, Bill Schilling, Paul Dees and Tom Haas made up the team. Last Wednesday saw Master Sports take high-team honors with 22 points. Jim Kirkpatrick, Barry Kato, Doug Sheppard and Dave Sheppard made up the winning team.

In ladies action last Thursday night, Western Drug was high team with 22.5 points. Paula McLain, Joyce Donoven, Tabitha Bradbury and Kasey Shettle composed the team. Tammy Boles was low gross with an outstanding 39, while Sue Armstrong was low net with a 31.

And finally, a group of Havre golfers played in last week’s 80th annual Earl Hunt Memorial Fourth of July Tournament at Whitefish Lake Golf Club. The tourney is one of the most competitive stroke-play events on the Montana amateur circuit each summer, and, the Havre boys did well.

Kyle Sheppard finished first in the second flight with stellar rounds of 73-74-76, while Matt Hedstrom finished seventh in the first flight with 79-78-76. Gary Wagner was in the fourth flight, and he won with scores of 76-76-74, while Billy Wagner placed fourth in the third flight with 80-76-84. Dan Wagner also finished the tough tourney with rounds of 90-93-94.

Prairie Farms Golf Leagues

Tuesday Night Men

1. Hole 19- 82.5

2. Vic’s Place- 81

3. Bing n Bobs- 78

4. Dan Wagner Plumbing- 73.5

5. Havre Ford- 70

6. Milk River Engineering (Misfits)- 69.5

7. Korb Construction- 69.5

8. Rock Solid- 69

9. Stockman Bank- 69

10.Tilleman Motor CO- 69

11.BKD Law- 68.5

12.Cowan & Son- 68

13.Patrick Construction- 66.5

14.Northern Edge- 67

Wednesday Night Men

1. Master Sports -83

2. Havre Ford- 82.5

3. Gallery Lounge- 76

4. Valley Furniture – 76

5. DA Davidson- 76

6. Michelob Light- 76

7. Aarons- 68.6

8. Mariani Insurance- 67

9. S&M Construction- 66.5

10.Independence Bank- 65

11.Koefod Agency- 64

12.Bear Paw Credit Union- 63.5

Ladies League

D.A. Davidson- 153.5 (Bye Week)

Independence Bank- 150

Northern Montana Hospital- 148

Makin Waves- 140.5

Scharfe, Kato & Co.- 132.5

Patrick Construction- 132

Havre Heating & A/C- 127

Schubert Agency- 125

Western Drug- 112.5

Prairie Farms- 112.5

Rock Solid- 96