Ronan golf sets sights on states

Coach Matt Olson couldn’t have been more excited on Monday, Ronan’s golf team’s first day of practice for the 2014 season. Olson had 28 kids turn out for his team.

“That’s incredible for a Class B school,” Olson said. “… I’m really pleased with that.”

His goal for both teams is simple: qualify for the state tournament. Last season was more about getting used to playing tournament golf, Olson said. This season will be about winning tournament golf. He said his players’ inexperience was evident at last year’s divisional tournament in Bozeman, where neither team qualified for the Class B-C state tournament.

“Until you get some experience and you are able to deal with the awe factor and still focus on your golf, you’ll do that,” Olson said.

The Maidens will be highlighted by state qualifier Sophia Woodcock, just a junior. Woodcock was the only Class B golfer from the county to go to state. Olson is excited about the help she’ll have this season, though. Fellow juniors Lauren Hales and Darian DeLaurenti should be key contributors, and the coach said he has a ton of athletic girls who have chosen to golf this season. Olson hopes his girls squad will be able to compete with perennial power Loyola Sacred Heart.

“I’d be very disappointed if we didn’t [qualify for the state tournament],” Olson said.

On the boys side, Olson has a little more experience, but his players still have some work to do to get to the state tournament level.

“We’ll have to improve during the season,” he said.

Seniors Chase Rhine and J.T. Probst and juniors Rhett Duffey and Michael Irvine will provide the leadership, and Olson’s son Tanner lettered last season as a freshman.

A freshman, Fisher Niemeyer, should compete for one of the Chiefs’ top spots as well, Olson said.

He said he hopes for some unexpected results from the rest of his boys, though.

“By naming that [lineup], I hope I’m halfway surprised by the other ones,” he said.

The growth of the program is evident, according to Olson, a development that will only help him and his staff—assistants Jesse Gray and Jeff Andrews—come tournament time.

“Last year, we were so young,” he said. “We didn’t have experience. We have talent. We have athletic girls and boys. We have numbers. We just didn’t have the experience.”

The Chiefs will host a tournament at Mission Mountain Golf Course on Tuesday, April 15.