Pony golfers shine at Class A State tourney

There’s a lot of pressure on golfers, especially high school golfers playing on the biggest stage of their season — the state tournament.

However, many Havre High golfers didn’t let that kind of pressure affect them, and instead, they went out and ended the 2016 season on a high note.

At this weekend’s Class A state tournament, which was held Friday and Saturday at the Hamilton Golf Club, two Blue Ponies earned Class A All-State honors, while one hit a hole-in-one, and a team showed great things are in store in the next few years.

The All-State honors went to HHS senior Dustin Haas and Blue Pony sophomore Teagan Fee. Haas finished tied for fifth in the boys field with rounds of 79-79, in a tournament won by Hamilton’s Max Toejenes, who edged defending state champion Liam Clancy of Billings Central by two strokes.

“Dustin played pretty good golf, and he expected to finish in the Top 15, and he accomplished that. So I’m very happy for him,” HHS head coach Brett Gilman said. “Teagan was kind of on the bubble to whether she would get in the Top 15 going in. But she battled hard and played really well, and she got in there. So that was really exciting.”

For Haas, it was his second straight Top 10 finish at the state tournament, and a great end to an outstanding career on the links for the Ponies. He, and his fellow Ponies, seniors Kane Gabrielsen and Aden Passon didn’t qualify for the team title chase, which was won by the host Hamilton Broncs, but, each player ended his career playing well. Gabrielsen finished with scores of 82-85 and Passon shot 86-84.

“Kane and Aden both played some good golf,” Gilman said. “I know Kane was hoping to finish higher, but he battled hard and stayed positive the whole tournament. And Aden, I thought he put together two of the best rounds of his career. So those guys did a great job.”

Things also went extremely well for a young Havre girls squad. As a team, the Ponies finished fifth overall with a total score of 854. Havre finished only behind state champion Sidney, as well as strong squads from Whitefish, Lewistown and Billings Central.

“Very excited about the girls finishing fifth,” Gilman said. “I told them before the tournament that if they played to their capabilities, they would be right there and they did that. And with them being a young team, if they put in the work, there’s no reason why they can’t be on the podium with a trophy next year. But I’m super proud of how they all did this weekend.

Individually, Fee was the catalyst, earning Class A All-State honors by finishing 15th. Fee, in her second state tournament appearance, shot rounds of 94-100 on her way to her outstanding finish.

And overall, the Pony girls showed great promise, even improving their standing from Friday to Saturday. Junior Regan Lammers continued her fine play with rounds of 108-108, while sophomore Kinzee Peterson shot 109-103 and even carded a rare hole-in-one in Saturday’s final round. The ace also came during her best-ever 18-hole score. Rounding out the scoring in Havre’s outstanding showing was junior Grace Litzinger and senior Mackenzie Tilleman, who each shot rounds of 115 Friday and 117 Saturday.

“It was a good weekend, a productive weekend,” Gilman said. “I’m very proud of all the kids and how they played.”

State A

at Hamilton GC, Hamilton

Final scores

Boys

Team scores – 1. Hamilton 312-325–637; 2. Polson 329-322–651; 3. Laurel 333-323–656; 4. Billings Central 333–329–662; 5. Livingston 336-330–666; 6. Butte Central 352-347–699; 7. Miles City 353-358–711; 8. Belgrade 369-356–725; 9. Whitefish 364-369–733.

Top 20 Individuals

1. Max Toenjes, HAM, 69-75–144; 2. Liam Clancy, BIL, 73-73–146; 3T. Carson McDaniel 79-78–157; 3T. Paul O'Neil, LAU, 78-79–157; 5T. Tyge Yellenich, BTC, 79-79–158; 5T. Samual Berry, BIL, 81-77–158; 5T. Dustin Haas, HAV, 79-79–158; 8. Chase Morehouse, SID, 81-79–160; 9T. Matt Hobbs, POL, 81-80–161; 9T. 83-78–161; 11T. Baine Wetzsteon, HAM, 80-82–162; 11T. Trey Kelley, PO, 81-81–62; 11T. Brendan Buls, WTF, 82-80–62. 14T. Devin Doughty, MC, 81-82–163; 14T. Lane Marshall, LIV, 81-82–163; 14T. Elijah Baker, BEL, 83-80–163; 17T. Ky Burch, HAM, 84-80–164; 17T. Andrew Hansen, SID, 87-87–164; 17T. Layne Willis, LAU, 86-78–164; 20. Derek Wolff, FTN, 84-81–165.

Girls

Team scores – 1. Sidney 369-371–740; 2. Whitefish 386-275–761; 3. Lewistown Fergus 395-393–788; 4. Billings Central 408399–807; 5. Havre 426-428–854; 6. Polson 426-428–858; 7. Frenchtown 452-435–887; 8. Hamilton 453-474–927; 9. Dillon 468-461–929.

Top 20 Individuals

1. Breilyn Riggin, GLE, 83-80–163; 2. Kinsey Irvin, LEw, 84-82–166; 3. Tricia Joyce, BTC, 83-85 168; 4. Dani Flynn, FTN, 88-82–170; 5T. Courtney Ockler, FTN, 85-86–171; 5T. Kaelyn Volk, SID, 82-89–171; 5T. Tieney Messmer, SID, 85-86–171; 8. Gracie Young, WTF, 92-89–181; 9. Holly Hileman, WTF, 93-90–183; 10. Abby Gremaux, LEW, 93-92–185; 11. Hayley Hileman, WTF, 889-97–186; 12. Sophia Mascarena, BIL, 92-96–188; 13. Kiyara McCue, POL, 95-94–189; 14. Torey Dahl, SID, 101-92–193; 15. Teagan Fee, HAV, 94-100–194; 16. Ashtyn Swigart, MC, 98-98–196; 17. Kallie Linse, LAU, 100-98–198; 18. Kenna Adolph, BIL, 106-94–200; 19T. Melissa Kimp, HAM, 94-107–201; 19T. Hunterrose Goetz, LIV, 108-93–201.