Ponies tee it up at new Eastern A

Havre High head coach George Ferguson's first golf season has flown by, he says. But, as the end nears, he also admits, the fun is just beginning.

The Blue Ponies, five boys and three girls, begin postseason play at Thursday's Eastern A Divisional, which will be held at the Sidney Country Club. It will be a divisional of firsts, not only for Ferguson, but also for the 10 teams in attendance. This year marks the first combined divisional golf tournament in Class A, with the old way being four separate tournaments.

"Very excited," Ferguson said. "This season has gone by quick, but it's been a blast. It's been a lot of fun coaching and working with these kids. They've all done a great job of preparing themselves for this next two weeks, so I'm really excited to go to my first divisional golf tournament. I know our kids are going to play really well."

Havre will need to play well in the new Eastern A, which includes the defending state champion Laurel boys and girls, as well as strong teams from Billings Central. The entire Eastern A field is made up of the Ponies, Locomotives and Rams, as well as host Sidney, Glendive, Miles City, Hardin, Lewistown, Livingston and Class A newcomer East Helena. Among the many firsts this week, the Vigilantes will be playing in their first postseason as a new school.

The field isn't the only challenge for the Ponies either. The course is an opponent all unto itself.

Sidney is a difficult 18-hole track with big elevation changes, sloping greens, a hefty amount of river bottom cottonwood trees, and plenty of deep bunkers. Key water hazards and tight out-of-bounds also make the Sidney course a true test of golf.

"Fortunately, all of our kids have now played Sidney at least once," Ferguson said. "So I think they should go into the tournament feeling confident about the course. We've also played a lot of tough courses this season, in a lot of different conditions, so, I think we're well prepared."

The Pony boys are hoping being well-prepared means a Top four finish this weekend. Laurel and Billings Central have been pretty much unbeatable all season long, but the Havre boys, consisting of senior Tyrel Kjersem, juniors Josh Warp and Caleb Chambliss and sophomores Tavish McLean and Kale Reno, have bested every other team in the field at least once this season. Warp and Kjersem also have prior state tournament experience, while Chambliss is a divisional qualifier for yet another season.

"It's going to be a fight for two spots, really," Ferguson said. "You just have to tip your cap to Laurel. They're really good. And Billings Central has been pretty well ahead of the rest of us all season long too. So I think it's going to come down to us, Livingston, Sidney and Lewistown to get into that top four slots for the state tournament. And every one of those teams, including us, has very good golfers, who are all capable of playing great in Sidney. It's going to be very close, and I think our boys have already proven they're up for the challenge."

Challenging best describes what the Havre girls will be facing in Sidney. The Blue Ponies do have junior leader Jocelyn Staples back from last year's team that qualified for the state tournament. However, Havre is also bringing two first-time divisional golfers to Sidney in junior Carlee Kato and freshman Sylvie McKeon-Hanson.

And while the Ponies will be up against a tough field, including Laurel, Central, Livingston and Hardin, Ferguson said, his young girls team has come a long way since Aug. 14.

"I'm so proud of those girls," Ferguson said. "This season has not been easy for them. They are all still learning and growing as golfers, and they have to do it on really tough golf courses, against really tough competition. So I am just really proud of them, because they've stayed the course, they've kept grinding, kept working, and it's going to pay off.

"I think our girls team could really surprise people in Sidney."

And at the end of the day, it does all come down to Thursday's 18 holes in Sidney. For the Blue Ponies, they're chasing top-four finishes as a team, and or top-30 individual honors. Those are the two ways to qualify for next week's state tournament in Laurel.

"All our kids going to divisionals can get to state," Ferguson said. "They've all gotten better as the season has went on. I'm really proud of what they've already done this season. Now, all that's left to do is go out and play their best for 18 holes and we'll see where we're at at the end of the round. That's all they can do now is go make good swings, make good puts and let the chips fall where they may. That's golf. But one thing I know for sure, these kids have been a blast to coach and I can't wait to see how they do at divisionals."

The 2019 Eastern A Divisional Tournament is slated for Thursday morning at the Sidney Country Club. The Class A State Tournament will be held next Thursday and Friday in Laurel.