THREE-PEAT!

POLSON — Make it three in a row for the Polson girls golf team.

After losing to Whitefish by 13 strokes just last weekend, the Pirate girls outlasted the Bulldogs by six strokes on Saturday to claim their third Class A team title in as many years at Polson Bay Golf Course.

The 18th fairway Saturday afternoon bore a scene only accessible in a gentrified sport such as golf; Polson’s Jaylin Kenney bookended by Erin Tabish and Katie Fyall of Whitefish, all three girls calm and cordial as could be, each likely secretly hoping to chouse a collapse out of the other.

A meltdown by Tabish, holding onto a six-stroke lead over Kenney in the individual standings, could give Polson its first individual girls title since 2004.

A meltdown by Kenney could result in a team title for Whitefish.

“I was just trying to watch Erin and see if I could at least match her,” said Kenney, who calmly carded a bogey on the tournament’s final hole. “I knew me and Erin [sic] had to be at least close enough so that we could win. … I was keeping her score, so I knew how far apart we were.”

Tabish, who lost to Park’s Christal Tokash (who finished fourth this year) in a sudden-death playoff in last year’s state tournament, also notched a bogey on No. 18.

“Coming into 18, I had butterflies because I knew it was the last time I’d be coming down the 18th fairway at state, but it was a good feeling knowing that I wasn’t going to have to be in a playoff,” she said.

Fyall (who finished sixth) also posted a bogey on the final hole, keeping Polson’s team margin at six strokes and sealing the championship for the Pirates.

Polson had four girls finish in the top 10: Kenney (86-86-171), Nicole Clairmont (third, 83-92-175), Peyton Anderson (seventh, 94-88-182), Lauren Dupuis (ninth, 93-94-187).

“For a two day performance, I couldn’t ask for any more than what they did,” coach Bill Owen said.

The most recent title in Polson’s three-peat, Owen said, was much more interesting than 2012’s championship run.

“This was fun this year, just because it was iffy. Especially having lost to Whitefish last week and then stepping up like this and overcoming,” he said. “You couldn’t ask for a better response to that than what we had here.”

The most significant difference was perhaps the play of senior Lauren Dupuis in the Pirates No. 4 spot. Her 93 and 94 on Friday and Saturday, respectively, were her two best rounds of the year.

“I just got my two best scores for state, which is all I could ask for,” Dupuis said.

As an alternate on last year’s state title, Dupuis was excited to be able to channel her state tournament experience into being a contributor in 2013.

“This year, I actually helped out and helped us win,” she said. “It definitely helped me calm down and keep me loose.”

Anderson bounced back from a mediocre first day to turn in an 88 when it counted.

“She’s a competitor. I was not surprised at all to see her step up,” Owen said. “… She was obviously disappointed yesterday and, boy, what an answer.”

Anderson said that being paired with Dupuis on Saturday helped them both to stay grounded.

“We normally are really good together,” the junior said.

Kenney and Clairmont—both major factors in Polson’s last two championships—were their typical consistent selves.

Even if one of the Polson girls had struggled, No. 5 golfer Heather Frank turned in a 99, one of her best scores of the year, to provide a solid backup option.

“It was a good team effort all year, and they proved it out here,” Owen said.

The boys side of the tournament was even more dramatic, if thinner on the storylines.

Anaconda’s Jackson Wagner birdied his final two holes to turn in a final-round 70, but he still didn’t think he had won.

“I knew the one kid in the group behind me [Art Doorn of Whitefish] was playing good, so I didn’t really think I was going to win it,” Wagner said.

When he found out that he was even with Doorn as the final group entered the last hole, Wagner couldn’t even watch.

“I was sitting on a bench at the tenth tee box with my back to the green because I couldn’t watch it,” Wagner said.

His teammates, however, saw Doorn bogey the par-3 ninth, clinching Wagner the boys title.

Polson’s Alex Killian finished ninth with a pair of 79s in the tournament.Reno Lindesmith (187) and Ryan Thurman (189) also represented the Polson boys team in the tournament.

at Polson Bay Golf Course, Par 72

Friday, Oct. 4-Saturday, Oct. 5

BOYS

Team scores

1. Sidney 320-319-639, 2. Whitefish 316-329–645, 3. Anaconda 339-327-666, 4. Billings Central 344-328-672, 5. Lewistown 348-335-683, 6. Hamilton 337-352-689, 7. Belgrade 369-347-716, 8. Libby 375-376-751.

Top 15 Individuals

1. Jackson Wagner, Anaconda, 76-70-146; 2. Art Doorn, Whitefish, 72-75-147; 3. Dylan Meccage, Laurel, 74-76-150; 4. Paul Brannan, Sidney, 72-81-153; 5. Cooper Donahue, Whitefish, 74-80-154; 5. Caleb Stetzner, Anaconda, 76-78-156; 7. Bobby Frank, Sidney, 82-73-155; 8. Jake DuFresne, Laurel, 78-78-156; 9. Alex Killian, Polson, 79-79-158; 9. Connor Frank, Sidney, 79-79-158; 11. Josh Heath, Hamilton, 78-81-159; 11. Gavin McPherson, Glendive, 80-79-159; 13. Tyler Ferguson, Belgrade, 81-79-160; 14. Cam Caraveau, Billings Central, 85-77-162; 14. Troy Wolff, Frenchtown, 87-75-162.

GIRLS

Team scores

1. Polson 356-359-715, 2. Whitefish 366-355-721, 3. Anaconda 414-400-814, 4. Havre 418-398-816, 5. Livingston 412-414-826, 6. Laurel 414-433-847, 7. Dillon 440-450-890, 8. Billings Central 490-451-941.

Top 15 Individuals

1. Erin Tabish, Whitefish, 83-82-165, 2. Jaylin Kenney, Polson, 86-85-171, 3. Nicole Clairmont 83-92-175, 4. Christal Tokash, Livingston, 80-96-176, 5. Morgan O’Neil, Laurel, 88-90-178, 6. Katie Fyall, Whitefish, 86-93-179, 7. Peyton Anderson, Polson, 94-88-185, 8. Darby McNally, Frenchtown, 97-88-185, 9. Lauren Dupuis, 93-94-187, 10. Simone Craft, Whitefish, 92-96-188, 11. Madi Tucker, Laurel, 97-93-190, 12. Sydni Rose, Hamilton, 92-102-194, 13. Emily Morley, Anaconda, 96-99-195, 14. Taylor Nelson, Dillon, 98-98-196, 14. Nikki Gabrielsen, Havre, 101-95-196.