A hole new golf team

MISSOULA — The move from Class A to Class B primarily meant a change in competition for most Ronan sports, but for the golf team, it meant a change in the rosters as well. That’s because golf, a Class A sport in the fall, is played in the spring for Class B. Now, the Chiefs and Maidens are down a few golfers thanks to softball, track and tennis.

Nevertheless, head coach Rupe Paulson is focused the season, looking to imitate as much of last year’s success as he can. A year ago in Class A, Paulson sent two boys and two girls to the state tournament.

“The boys team has an honest shot at state,” Paulson said. “Despite the losses, we’re trying to stay in the right frame of mind.”

Last year’s two Chiefs state golfers, Riley Dennis and Payton Adams, return, looking to get back to the stage they were on last year.

“The more we play, the tougher he’ll get,” Paulson said of Dennis. “I expect him to place at state.”

Adams is in the same boat with the season just getting started.

“He’s coming along,” Paulson said. “He’ll be a good player.”

Paulson is looking for sophomore Alex Killian to step up this season as one of Ronan’s top three golfers.

“I really expect him to push for our top golfer,” Paulson said.

The Maidens golf team suffered a bit more from the effects of the class change. State golfer Payge DeLaurenti opted for softball and three others decided on other spring sports, leaving the Maidens with a team lacking experience and numbers, but hoping to learn as they go.

“We’re down to six girls,” Paulson said.

Paulson saw bright spots at Loyola last week, as Darian Blixt-Leo recorded a career-best 93 on Thursday, March 29 before battling through windy and occasionally rainy conditions the next day, recording a 123. Shyann Brum put forth a gutsy performance on Thursday, battling sickness before bowing out after her first round.

Also at Loyola, Killian placed 14th, shooting an 87 and 90 for a 177 two-day total, while Dennis was just six strokes off that pace with an 88-95-183.

“Friday was really windy and that golf course has mature trees and slick, fast greens,” Paulson said. “It can be tough to keep up.”

Paulson noted that both teams haven’t had the opportunity to work on putting, as March 28 was the first chance the teams got to hit the greens, just one day before their opening tourney.

The Chiefs and Maidens will have the week off before events at Bigfork and Plains on April 12 and 14, respectively.