Making a statement
<p>Nicole Clairmont took second at divisionals with an 86.</p>
Lady Pirates golf wins divisionals by 36 strokes, headed to
state
POLSON - Another week, another textbook performance by the Lady Pirates golf team. If divisionals were any indication, the Polson girls will be a strong force this weekend in Hamilton.
Recording five of the top six finishers at their home course on Thursday, Sept. 22, the Lady Pirates crushed the rest of the field by shooting a 354, 36 strokes in front of second-place Whitefish's 390. The third-place school? Frenchtown, an astounding 133 strokes behind Polson with a total of 487.
"The only team to beat us this year was Livingston," head coach Bill Owen said. "I've heard they have a good team, but I think we're in the mix for a team trophy."
Nicole Clairmont finished five strokes off the leader's round with an 86, which was good for second, while Kat Medland and Jaylin Kenney tied for third with a pair of 89s.
Right behind them was Anna DiGiallonardo, whose fifth-place finish was a 92. Makaliah Wilson was the next lowest score in the clubhouse, shooting a 97, tied for sixth.
"I'm really excited about them, especially Kat," Owen said. "Toward the end, her scores have gotten better and better. She's really stepped it up. Jaylin is playing the best I've seen her play and Nicole and Anna are hanging in there as well."
The home course was a perfect recipe for the dominating round Polson's girls produced.
"It's always a factor having home rounds," Owen said. "The girls have performed well on other courses and they're capable of delivering pretty good numbers regardless of the course. Hamilton's course is similar to ours, it's comfortable."
Not to be outdone were a pair of boys who are heading to Hamilton as well. Hayden Congdon fired a 77, finishing tied for third overall, just four shots off the pace. Sophomore Dalton Noyes' 94 was good for 14th place.
Owen is excited for both of his Pirate golfers as they head to Hamilton.
"The experience of state will be key for him down the road," Owen said of his sophomore.
"That 77 was his best round," Owen said of Congdon. "Our course was playing tough, it had just been aerated. He showed himself to be a medalist."
The season culminates this weekend in Hamilton as Polson's golfers take aim for medals and trophies.
If they play up to par, ship the accolades to the Pirates.