Tee it Up: Havre High golf teams hit the course

One of the best things about the start of the high school golf season is it's really a continuation of summer. Starting early means great summer weather and pristine golf conditions, and that's exactly what the Havre High boys and girls golf teams have as they prepare to open their 2016 season.

The Blue Ponies, under fourth-year head coach Brett Gilman, begin the season today and Tuesday at the Great Falls Invitational, with Meadowlark Country Club and Anaconda Hills as the two venues.

And with the start of a new golf season comes new excitement and new expectations, as well as new challenges.

The Blue Pony boys return three varsity players from last year's team, which won the Central A team title, and placed fourth at state. Havre will certainly miss the experience of graduated standouts Jeff Miller and Jerod Boles, but, 2015 All-Stater Dustin Haas is back for his fourth year of varsity golf, and he returns as one of the top players in Class A. Also back are fellow seniors Kane Gabrielsen and Aden Passon, giving the Ponies a solid nucleus yet again.

"On the boys side I've got three returning lettermen. All three of them competed at state last year and we'll have a couple of newcomers so we'll be eager to see how they fair."

Newcomers to the varsity team this season will be plentiful. Included in the mix are seniors Kyle Kirkpatrick, Gavin Mosbrucker, Bobby Personett, Hondo Owens and Tucker Carlson. Nic Keller and newcomer Tommy Brown will also compete for varsity time on the links.

The HHS boys will certainly be a strong team again this season, and should do well, especially in the Central A. Of course, Class A stalwarts like defending champion Billings Central, as well as Laurel, Hamilton and Whitefish will also be strong again this year. Still, with the experience Havre has, as its top three players have all played in three consecutive state tournaments, Gilman says his boys team should do quite well this season.

"The boys can do well, they should be in the mix in at divisionals again," he noted.

On the girls side, Havre has to replace very little. In fact, the Ponies have the bulk of their roster back from a team which qualified for last year's state tournament. Havre did suffer losses of seniors Randi Gabrielsen and Payton Howard, but senior Mackenzie Tilleman, along with juniors Regan Lammers and Grace Litzinger give the Ponies plenty of experience, while sophomore Teagan Fee should be a standout this season. Kinzee Peterson and Marcee Murphy will also compete for varsity slots for an HHS girls team that Gilman has high hopes for, this season and in future years to come.

"On the girls side we've got four returning lettermen that participated at state," he said. "They look to be in good shape."

And, taking the next step for the Havre girls will be trying to win a divisional title. The Ponies' top competition at divisionals will likely be Livingston and Lewistown, while Whitefish and Laurel boast really strong girls teams at the state level.

Still, with a young, but now experienced, girls squad, Gilman said his team should be one to watch.

"I think the girls should have a real shot at divisonals this year," Gilman said.

And a reason both Pony teams will be tough this season is, the schedule certainly prepares Havre well. The Ponies start with the Class AA Great Falls Invite, but also host their own Havre Invite Thursday, before playing such tough tournaments as the Belgrade Invitational in Bozeman, the Billings Central and Laurel Invites, and a trip to Lewistown as well. The season culminates with the Central A Divisional at East Glacier Golf Course Sept. 23 and the Class A state tournament Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 at the Hamilton Country Club.

"Looking forward to getting the season started," Gilman said. "The beginning of the season is always exciting. I'm looking forward to seeing the kids get back out on the course and see what they can do."

The Ponies open their season this afternoon at Meadowlark Country Club, before moving to Anaconda Hills Tuesday for round two of the Great Falls Invitational. Havre will host the Blue Pony Invitational Thursday at Prairie Farms Golf Course.