Pack golf teams head to State AA

The Glacier girls golf team was consistent all season — until last week, when it wasn't. And this was a good thing.

Sitting in fifth after the first day of the Western AA Divisional, the Wolfpack leap-frogged Flathead on Day 2 for the fourth and final team spot into the State AA tournament, which begins Thursday at Great Falls' Meadowlark Country Club.

First-year Glacier coach Cory Snipes couldn't be more pleased.

"The girls really came through this year," he said. "I don't think they finished better than sixth at any tournament (before divisionals). From my standpoint, that's a huge breakthrough and they had it on a very hard golf course. They played well."

Maggie Mitton, who shot a second-day 82 to take medalist honors, led the way. Lillie Groom was next; her two-day total of 203 left her 12th at the Western AA.

Peyton Cowden, Mari Surdock and Rylee Dutro — the only senior besides Mitton — round out this young team.

Competition will be tougher at state, where Eastern AA champion Billings Senior and Billings West have excellent teams. Senior's Payton Tryan fired a second-day 68 to overtake West standout Paige Loberg for medalist honors, by three strokes.

The Broncs' team total of 668 was nine strokes clear of West and miles ahead of the 753 shot by Western AA champion Missoula Big Sky. The Eagles, led by Charlotte Dale, Zoey Loberg and Jewell Colman, won their divisional by 41 strokes over Sentinel and 45 over Helena Capital.

"Big Sky is going to be a tough one to compete with," Snipes maintained. "Their girls team has been very good all year. If you can keep up with them, you're doing just fine."

Flathead didn't qualify as a team but three Bravettes made state as individuals: Becky Schmidt, Hadley McDonald and Hayden Ward.

"We didn't finish the way we set out to finish, but we've got three girls here at State and they're looking to play their best golf at the end of the season," Flathead coach Phil Jackson said. "That's what it's all about. You try to play consistent and reap the benefits of all their hard work in the offseason."

Flathead had no boys qualify for state while the Glacier squad matched the Pack girls by taking the fourth and final team spot.

The Wolfpack will have to vie once again with the potent boys teams from Helena Capital and Sentinel, along with Eastern AA squads Great Falls CMR, Bozeman and Gallatin. Bozeman and Bozeman both had two-day totals of 594 at their divisional; Jack Prinski of CMR and Bozeman's Will Benne but shot a two-day total of 139.

For Glacier, Tripp O'Boyle (73) had a great second day at the Western AA meet, while Torren Murray placed seventh with a two-day total of 150. Louis Groom, Elliot Anderson and Mac Anderson round out a dangerous squad.

"I do believe the boys can be in those top three spots," said Snipes, whose club had a two-day score of 629. "They have to play consistent and play smart, and realize they're going from one hard course at divisionals (Butte Country Club) to another extremely difficult course."

Capital's boys (597) won the Western AA by 13 strokes with medalist Jayce Belzer, John Gilbert and Matt Gilbert leading the way. Sentinel's Cole Jenkins, Jack Schaefer and Joseph Meusey lead a talented Sentinel squad.

Whatever happens, Snipes has been impressed by his golfers.

"I've loved it," he said. "I've had a great year, and the kids have been awesome to work with. Some ups and downs and some surprises as well. It's been great."