Local Golf Report: Ponies about to hit the course

Now things get really fun. Not only are the playoffs underway for both men's and women's league at Prairie Farms Golf Course, but, the Havre High golf season is about to begin too.

The Blue Pony boys and girls report to practice for fourth-year head coach Brett Gilman Thursday morning. Havre will have just three practices before it heads to Great Falls for the season-opening Great Falls Invitational Monday-Tuesday. The tournament is held at both Meadowlark Country Club and Eagle Falls Golf Course, and begins a busy start to the season for the Blue Ponies.

On Aug. 18, Havre hosts its annual Havre Invitational at Prairie Farms, then turns around and heads to Bozeman for the Belgrade Invitational the following Monday. So, before school even starts, the Ponies will already have played three varsity tournaments.

Prairie Farms will also be busy this week with playoff golf. Women's league will continue their playoffs on Thursday night, while the men start their 16-team playoff tonight.

Last Thursday night, the women got started with Schubert Agency defeating D.A. Davidson, Prairie Farms beating Makin Waves, Patrick Construction besting Havre Heating & AC and Northern Montana Hospital defeating Independence Bank. Sarah Spangler was low gross with a 37, while Carrie Kato was low net with a 29.5.

Meanwhile, last week was the end of the men's regular season. Last Tuesday saw Rock Solid score 25.5 points to earn high team. Jake Myers, Steve McLain, Gary Stremcha and Jim Benner made up the squad. Jeremy Jensen shot a blistering 33 for low gross, while Steve McLain was low net with a 30.5.

Wagner Plumbing won the second half of the Tuesday night standings with 141 points. Hole 19 was second, followed by Bing-N-Bobs and Vic's Place. The eight teams that qualified for the playoffs from Tuesday night included those four, plus BKD Law, Korb Construction, Rock Solid and Northern Edge.

Last Wednesday night saw Aarons earn high team with 22 points. The team was composed of Scott Stockdill, Brandon Moomey, Bob Moomey and Dax Nebel. Dave Boles was low gross with a 38, while Patch Wirtzberger was low net with a 30.5. Master Sports captured the second-half title with 161 points. D.A. Davidson was second, followed by Michelob Light and Valley Furniture. Those four teams, plus Havre Ford, Mariani Insurance, Gallery Lounge and Bear Paw Credit Union advanced to the playoffs.

And those playoffs start with the first round tonight. The top half of the bracket has Mariani Insurance facing Rock Solid, Gallery Lounge taking on Vic's Place, BPCU against Hole 19 and Havre Ford taking on Wagner Plumbing. The other half of the bracket features Bing-N-Bobs against Valley Furniture, Korb Construction against Michelob Light, BKD Law taking on D.A. Davidson and Northern Edge facing Master Sport. The men's league playoffs continue with the quarterfinals on Wednesday night, the semifinals next Tuesday and the 18-hole championship next Wednesday.

Last week also saw plenty of excitement on the tournament seen. A full slate of four-person teams took to Prairie Farms for the annual Northern Montana Health Care Foundation Scramble. The tournament is one of the best scrambles of the summer, and it certainly was again this year.

The winning team Saturday was Koefod Agency with a 15-under total. The team was composed of Kevin Harada, Kyle Sheppard, Chad Spangler and Sarah Spangler. Scharfe, Kato and Co. was second with Jim Kato, Carrie Kato, Sheri Baltrusch and Tom Baker making up the team, while BPCU was third with Jeremy Jensen, Jeff Jensen, Jenna Jensen and Scott Miller making up the squad.

The Hospital Tourney, as it's affectionately known, has always been extremely well-run and well-attended, and congrats to all those who played, who won, and who worked so hard to put it on.

Prairie Farms Men's League Standings

(Final)

Tuesday night

1. Dan Wagner Plumbing- 141

2. Hole 19- 141

3. Bing n Bobs- 133.5

4. Vic's Place- 130.5

5. BKD Law- 129

6. Korb Construction- 128.5

7. Rock Solid- 128.5

8. Stockman Bank- 125

9. Patrick Construction-122

10. Milk River Engineering (Misfits)- 119

11. Cowan & Son- 118

12. Tilleman Motor CO- 117

13. Northern Edge- 116

14. Havre Ford- 111

Wednesday Night

1. Master Sports -161

2. DA Davidson- 159.5

3. Michelob Light- 157

4. Valley Furniture – 156.5

5. Havre Ford- 150

6. Mariani Insurance- 145

7. Gallery Lounge- 143

8. Bear Paw Credit Union- 130

9. Aarons- 128

10. S&M Construction- 120.5

11. Independence Bank- 107.5

12. Koefod Agency- 96