Whitefish golf teams great at state

Both the boys and girls golf teams captured first-place honors last week in Class A State played at the Butte Country Club. The boys won by a lopsided 41 strokes over second-place Havre, while the girls rolled to an easy 19-shot victory over the Blue Ponies.

For the boys, this was their third-straight team title, best ever for the Bulldogs and the girls' first championship since 1999. It was the 13th title for girls under Coach Terry Nelson and the seventh for boys.

Sam Krause took home medallist honors with a four-shot victory over Jim Mee, of Libby. Krause's impressive play carded him a three-under par 137 over the tight Butte Country Club's par 70 track.

"Butte is definitely a course that suits Sam's game with his pin-point accurate iron play and deadly putting," Nelson said. "Sam has a season stroke average of 72.2, which is the lowest ever for a Whitefish player."

Krause and Mee were tied after hole number 12 on day two, but after that, Krause reclaimed the lead with a birdie on the par-five 13th hole. On hole 16, after Mee missed the green with his second shot and carded a triple bogie to Krause's par, the match was essentially over with Krause's four-shot lead.

Zac Wooten had a great tournament for the Bulldogs with rounds of 76-74 and a fifth-place finish at state. Derek Denning had rounds of 74-78 to take home eighth place and also all-state honors for the fourth consecutive year.

Tyler Holtet fired a 75 in day one to help the Bulldogs get off to a 21-shot lead over their closest competitor, the Libby Loggers. On day two, Tyler finished with a flare by chipping in front of the large gallery on hole 18. Andre Groschupf was the fifth player on the boys state championship team.

Chelsea Ray continued to lead the charge for the girls as she has all season. Chelsea fired an 82 on day one to be just two shots out of the lead behind Glendive's number one player. On the second day Chelsea shot an impressive 78 to move up the leader board but fell one shot short of medallist honors to Havre's Ali Ward.

"Chelsea had a great tournament and was so close to taking the individual title," Nelson said. "She is such a good athlete and hits the ball extremely well."

Quinn Micklewright saved her best round of the year for the final day of the state tournament when she fired a career-best 84 to cement the team's run for a state title.

"I've never seen the girls so focused as they were that last day," Nelson said. "You could see that Quinn was on a mission, and nothing was going to derail her."

Freshman BreAnna Cameron played a steady two days with rounds of 92-91 over the Butte course.

"BreAnna is such a competitor, she's not happy with a round that has any bad holes included," Nelson said. "It's been a long time since we've had a freshman with her determination, focus and work ethic."

Ashley Archer and Hillary Johann also had good days at the state tournament.

"I was so proud of them for how hard they played and the fact that they shot such good rounds at the state tournament," Nelson said.

Good news for the Lady Bulldogs is that they have no seniors. A group of young girls will further boost the girls' success next year, with Nicole Schelling, Ellen Scheffer, Tayler Johnson, Shelbi Long, Brynne Pierce, Kaylee Archer, Robin Barrett-Lanier, Megan LaRoque and a couple of talented incoming freshmen.

The boys will need to reload after losing three four-year varsity players in Holtet, Denning and Wooten.

"I will really miss those three boys," Nelson said. "They've been anchors for the past four years for a great run of golf. Being part of three straight State Championships is a remarkable feat for any team."

Denning was a two-time divisional champion, a four-time All-State player and a course record-holder for the South Course. Holtet was a divisional champion, three-time All-State player and has the record low score for the Bulldogs with a 64 at Village Greens. Wooten has been a steady competitor with a stroke average in the 70s the past two years.

Returning for the Bulldogs will be Krause, Groschupf, Joel Mallams, Ryan Zalucky, Sean Watterud, Kyle Jacobson and a host of talented underclassmen waiting their chance to shine, Nelson said.