Golf season underway, boys have been playing well

The Columbia Falls golf season is well underway and doing well.

Sophomore Tyler Langton has led the Wildcats early in the season, with teammate and senior Logan Lybbert a stroke or two behind him in each tourney so far.

All told, the boys’ squad this year has eight boys and one girl, Elizabeth Opalka.

The roster also includes Ruesch Powell, Cameron Byrd, DJ Laycock, Trey Perkins and Cody Brothwell.

The squad has been without Lowell Panasuk to start the season as he’s coming off surgery, but he could return to the course by the end of the season.

Langton opened the season with a 10th-place finish at the Whitefish Lake Golf Course and shot a 78 to win the team’s invitational at West Glacier Aug. 22. On Aug. 24 he shot a 94 to lead the team at the Columbia Falls Invitational at Meadow Lake Resort.

Longtime coach Gene Marcille is assisted this year by local pros Andrew Lettrich of the West Glacier Golf Course and TJ Ray of Meadow Lake Golf Resort. Longtime assistant Dan Frankino retired.

Golf starts earlier than other prep sports so that the postseason doesn’t run into October, when the weather can get miserable.

This year’s divisional tourney is in Hamilton Sept. 23. The state A tournament is in Sidney the following weekend.