HHS golfers begin postseason with Eastern A Divisionals

The Havre Blue Pony golf teams may play in the winds of Havre a lot, but that didn't make the conditions at last Friday's Eastern A Divisional Tournament any easier.

In 40 mph winds, and on a tough Lake Hills Golf Club layout, the Pony golf teams had an up and down divisional, where the HHS girls placed sixth and the Pony boys finished seventh overall. Havre did advance two girls and two boys through to state, as only the top eight individuals advance after the top four teams qualify.

"Very difficult divisional tournament," HHS head coach George Ferguson said. "It was a tough course with really tough weather, and it affected everybody in the field. Scores went way up all the way around from just last week in Billings, and that happened to a number of our kids as well. So again, it was a tough day, and I know a lot of our kids were hoping for better scores, but they fought hard out there, they battled, they didn't quit or check out, they kept on battling right to the last hole, and as a coach, that's all I can ask. I'm very proud of this group."

The Havre girls shot a team score of 432, which was just three strokes behind Lewistown and six strokes from qualifying as a team. The top four teams, all of which advanced to state, were Billings Central, Laurel, Sidney and Livingston. Still, HHS had some great individual performances, led by junior Shea Reber, who advanced to her second straight state meet. Reber fired a career-low 94 to place eighth and earn All-Conference honors, while sophomore Brenna Hanson, in her first divisional tourney, shot 102 to place 13th and also earn All-Conference. Senior Mackenzie Kuhn, playing in her first year of golf, shot 117 to just miss out on advancing to state, while Tierra Parker and Cali Pyrak rounded out the Pony girls team.

"Our girls did awesome," Ferguson said. "In super hard conditions, we came so close to getting a top four finish, and it's because of how tough our girls were. They really did a great job. Shea Reber shooting her best round ever in those conditions, shows just how good of a player she's become. And Brenna Hanson just started golfing and is making it to state, that's just awesome. I'm so excited for all our girls because they really have come so far, they did exactly what we set out to do, and that's just getting better and better. Our girls team has a really bright future."

Ferguson thinks his young Pony boys team has a bright future, too. But Friday was a tough day. In a loaded Eastern A field, Havre shot its highest team score of the season, finishing seventh overall, though the Ponies were just a few strokes out of fifth. Juniors Shane Patacsil and Reid Kato led the way, with Patacsil shooting a 90 for 16th place and Kato posting a 99 in his first divisional tourney, as both made into the final eight, and advanced to state. Sophomores Matt Huse, Noah Barrett and Tanner Delarosa rounded out the scoring for the Ponies.

"I know our boys were pretty disappointed," Ferguson said. "They all had aspirations of shooting much better scores. But you know, they never gave in, even though it just wasn't their day. They kept on fighting. Shane and Reid really fought their way to state, and I'm proud of them for that. But overall, this was a very inexperienced boys team, and this tournament is going to make us so much better for next season."

And while Ferguson is excited for this week's state tournament, he also knows, with so much youth in the program, Havre golf's future is very exciting.

"I love where our program is headed," Ferguson said. "We're returning so much of our divisional roster, plus so many more kids that were in the hunt for divisional spots. The kids are talking about how much they really enjoy playing Blue Pony golf, and they're going to put in a lot of work next spring and summer. And that's what it takes to get better, and we have a ton of kids that will do that. And I'm just really proud of the 10 kids we took to divisionals, they gave it their all and fought through a really tough way, and they represented Havre High with class and dignity and sportsmanship, and that's golf. We just have great kids in our program, and I'm excited for state, and for the future of our teams."

The four Havre golfers who advanced will compete at the Class A state meet Friday and Saturday at the Hamilton Golf Club.