Hitting the links
<p>Reigning sixth place state finisher and Polson senior Nicole Clairmont swings at the range during practice last season.</p>
<p>Dalton Noyes will provide experience and leadership on Bill Owen's younger boys squad. Noyes is a four-year golfer for the Pirates. Owen said the senior has improved each year.</p>
POLSON — Polson’s golf team will be the first high school club in the area to open practice today.
The Pirates’ girls squad will look to three-peat as Class A state champions. Coach Bill Owen returns four of his top five players including third-place state finisher Jaylin Kenney, sixth-place finisher Nicole Clairmont, and Peyton Anderson, who finished eighth.
Idaho State-bound Anna DiGiallonardo, who overcame an injury to finish seventh at the state tournament, is the only 2012 Pirates girl who graduated.
Kenney and Clairmont will provide leadership and experience on the team.
“Jaylin doesn’t get upset when she plays,” Owen said. “She stays really steady and cool.”
Clairmont rebounded from a tough 2011 state tournament with a sixth-place finish. Owens said that with her confidence back, she could potentially be the team’s low scorer.
Anderson, just a sophomore, peaked in last season’s state tournament. Owen expects big things from her in the future as well.
Another senior, Lauren Dupuis, was another cog in the last two titles’ wheels. Owen expects her to be much improved and contribute even more this season.
“I felt like she did the most this summer to get ready for this season,” he said. “I think she’s really hungry.”
Owen thinks that a third consecutive title is a realistic goal for this year’s Pirate girls.
“It always comes down to what they put into it and having everything come together at the right time,” he said. “I think we’ve got a pretty good chance of doing that with the girls.”
On the boys side, Owen hopes his 2013 team will qualify for the state tournament, a feat that last year’s squad was unable to accomplish.
Owen will rely on returning senior Dalton Noyes for experience and leadership. Noyes’ primary help will come from Ronan transfer Alex Killian, who was ineligible to play last season.
The Pirate boys will suffer from Hayden Congden’s graduation. Congden finished 14th at last year’s state competition.
“I’m hoping that we’ll have some surprises out there,” Owen said. “We’ll probably not be favored for anything. I’m just hoping we can improve and make it to state and see what happens.