Hi-Line Athlete profile: Carlee Kato, Havre High Golf

By Havre Daily Staff

Oftentimes, the Havre High golf teams get just one regular season home meet per year. But COVID-19 has actually given the Blue Ponies a second chance to play at home this season. And for seniors like Carlee Kato, it will be a day they get to be honored, while playing on their home course one last time.

Havre will host Lewistown in a dual meet Thursday at both Prairie Farms Golf Course and Beaver Creek Golf Course. At Prairie Farms, before the start of the round, Blue Pony seniors Josh Warp, Caleb Chambliss, Clint Owens, Hunter Velk, Joram Randolph, Dylan Kimberling, Jocelyn Staples, Sid Moffit, Alec Azure and Kato will be honored.

"I've always played there," Kato, who is in her second year of high school golf said of Prairie Farms, and senior day. "So I'm glad my last home meet is on that course. I'm excited for senior day, too."

Indeed, the Ponies should be excited because senior days are always special, but perhaps even more so during the coronavirus pandemic.

"I'm glad we can make sure these seniors have their day," HHS head coach George Ferguson. "This is a great group of kids. I really enjoy coaching them. I'm really thankful I was able to become the golf coach because there were some of these kids I didn't know until I started coaching them in golf, and I'm really glad I got a chance to coach all of them, but also get to know them. I always say we have awesome kids at Havre High, and this group of senior golfers is no exception. So it's going to be a great day for all of them."

That includes Kato, who has grown up playing golf alongside her entire family. Her dad Jimmy and mom Carrie were both former Blue Pony golfers, with Carrie being a part of the only girls team to win a state championship at HHS. Jimmy is perhaps one of Havre's most accomplished golfers, and he also helped coach at HHS once upon a time.

"Golf is a family thing for us," Carlee Kato said.

"I've known Jim and Carrie for a long, long time," Ferguson said. "Jimmy and my older brother go way back, and then when I started golfing later in life, I was able to get know him as a friend, too. And I went to high school with Carrie, so I've known Carlee's parents, and their families practically forever. So I'm really honored to be able to coach their kids. Carlee is such an awesome kid, so much fun to be around, and she's really coming on strong as a golfer. It's been so much fun to watch her improve these last two years. And I'm excited to see how she finishes out her golf career, because I think she's going to have a really good remainder of the season."

For now, Kato and the Ponies are excited for one more tournament at home. But before Havre High tees it up against the Eagles Thursday morning, the Havre Daily News caught up with Carlee Kato for five questions.

HDN: What is your favorite thing about golf?

Kato: "It keeps me involved in things at school. It's fun, and before I started competing at it, it was very relaxing. Now, it's not as relaxing, but it's still a lot of fun."

HDN: Your whole family loves golf don't they?

Kato: Yes, it's on both sides. My mom and dad both love to play, so me and my siblings all play, too. It's a big thing in our family."

HDN: What's your best/favorite club in the bag?

Kato: "My 3-wood. It's what I'm best off the tee with. It never fails me."

HDN: Your younger brother is on the team this season. How's that going?

Kato: "I like it. It's fun having him on the team. I hope he can make the varsity. We have fun golfing together. He golfed with me all summer."

HDN: Are you excited for Thursday's meet?

Kato: "Defintiely excited to play Prairie Farms one more time. It's the course I've always played. It's where we always practice. It will be good to have our senior day there."