Home Course: Havre hosts Central A golf

There was a time when the Havre High golf teams thought they would be playing their biggest tournament of the season at the Laurel Country Club. Now however, that tournament, the one the Blue Ponies want to succeed at the most, is being played on their home course. And on top of that, it's being played on Havre High's homecoming weekend.

On Friday, the Blue Ponies will tee it up at the 2018 Central A Divisional Tournament, with a 9 a.m. start at Prairie Farms Golf Course. Originally, the Eastern A and Central A had decided to combine the divisional tournament, but the MHSA didn't approve the switch in time, so Havre is back to hosting the Central A.

"I'm glad it's on the course we play at almost every day," HHS sophomore Josh Warp said.

Indeed, the Blue Ponies know Prairie Farms better than anybody in the field. In fact, only rival Lewistown has seen the layout in recent years, as Belgrade and Livingston haven't been back to Prairie Farms since the last time it hosted the divisional tournament. So, no doubt, head coach Walynn Burgess' teams will have a definite course knowledge advantage come Friday morning.

And having course knowledge is key at Prairie Farms. The tree-lined course is definitely a target golf course, with tee shots and approaches needed to be very precise. And the Ponies know the course well.

Still, the tournament won't be easy.

On the girls side, Havre is the favorite, as the Ponies are led by returning All-Stater Teagan Fee. The senior has two wins this season, and six Top 10 finishes. One of her wins just so happens to have come at the Havre Invitational last month at Prairie Farms.

Fee also has help in the team title chase, too. Fellow senior Kinzee Peterson is experienced, having played in the last two postseasons. Jocelyn Staples also played varsity a year ago, and freshman Sophie Kirkpatrick may be a newcomer, but she, too, knows the Prairie course well.

"I think our girls should be the favorite," Burgess said. "If they play like they're capable of, they'll do well."

The Havre boys will also be in the team title hunt, but HHS has yet to beat Belgrade and Lewistown during the regular season.

"They've been close," Burgess said of his boys team. "If our guys play well, they'll be right there."

Havre sophomores Caleb Chambliss and Josh Warp and junior Tyrel Kjersem should all three be in the mix for individual medalist honors Friday, while sophomores Nolan Lotton, who qualified for a state a year ago, and Clint Owens, also have plenty of divisional tournament experience to draw on.

And the divisional tourney is where it's at for the Blue Ponies. The top two teams on the boys and girls side will qualify for the state tournament, while the top 15 individuals also advance regardless of team scores. So the goals for the Ponies on their home course are two-fold: win team titles, but also qualify as many golfers to state no matter what happens with the team scores.

All golfers who qualify for the state tournament will advance to the final meet of the season, which will be held at the Hamilton Golf Club next Friday and Saturday. The Central A Divisional Tournament gets underway with a 9 a.m. shotgun start Friday at Prairie Farms.