Polson boys, girls golf hope to bring home a state title in Hamilton

Polson High School golfer Carson McDaniel isn’t concerned about the home course advantage the Hamilton Broncs have headed into the Montana Class A State Tournament at the Hamilton Golf Club in Hamilton on Friday.

Neither is his Coach Bill Owen.

McDaniel, who tied for third with Stevenson High School’s Zel Frost by firing a 78, was able to keep pace with the Broncs’ No. 1 player Max Toenjes even for the first nine holes. Toenjes won the Class A Western Divisional with his back-nine performance winning by five strokes.

McDaniel and the rest of his Pirate teammates qualified for state by finishing second and shooting a collective 326, only seven strokes behind the favorite Hamilton.

“We were only seven strokes behind Hamilton and that is pretty significant considering it is their home course,” Owen said. “Both our boys and girls will have another shot and a full 18 holes. Our team has a pretty good feel for the course and it’s going to be a little bit more of an even playing field than what we had not having that experience. We had a practice round (last Thursday) on the course and we will go up there this Thursday. I feel we are in a good spot where we can contend.”

Finishing Divisional tied for third has McDaniel “optimistic” and though he said he didn’t perform the way he wanted, the junior is looking at state as another opportunity to do better on a now familiar course.

“Playing (in Hamilton) five times in a week and half, i’ts starting to feel like a home course,” McDaniel said. “Every time we get to play it and learn little things (about the course) just helps us succeed. Everything that we can learn (about the course) is just priceless.”

According to McDaniel, he has had several good battles with Toenjes this season.

“We’ve been pretty much close in every contest we’ve had all year,” McDaniel said. “Being able to stick close to him on his home course brings confidence and he is gets to play there every day. The amount of experience he has on a home course (in Divisional) is a pretty good feeling.”

McDaniel, who was “disappointed” in his performance at Divisionals, said playing on the same course at state offers him a chance at redemption.

“I am a little disappointed in how I played (at Divisionals),” McDaniel said. “The big goal was to get to state. Now, I am learning the course and every time we play that course, it is just helpful.”

The Polson girls and boys golf teams had eight players receive All-Conference honors en route to both teams qualifying for the Montana High School Association Class A State golf tournament.

The Pirates’ Matt Hobbs finished sixth firing an 81, Noah McDonald tied for seventh with an 83, and Colin Kenny tied for 15th shooting a 92.

“Max is going to be one of the main kids to beat and I feel like (McDaniel) will be able to contend with him,” Owen said. “Hamilton is a pretty difficult course and that is a really good score for that course.”

McCue embraces her leadership role preparing Lady Pirates for state

Senior Kiyara McCue was just a freshman when she watched the varsity Lady Pirates win state in 2013.

McCue was a freshman on the JV but she said she learned a significant amount from that team.

“Looking back (on the 2013 team), they had everything that I would want to be looking up to,” McCue said. “They were constantly positive and working on their game. That is something, as a senior, I want to be a good example to the lower classmen coming in.”

McCue said she felt, as the senior leader of her team, one important aspect in golf is: attitude.

“I think once you go out there and you start getting more of a negative attitude, you get frustrated constantly and your game doesn’t go too well,” McCue said. “You can’t get yourself down. Once you get frustrated, you have to kind of look up, stay positive, and just do the best that you can.”

The Lady Pirates qualified for state, finishing third in Divisionals by firing a score of 458. The Lady Pirates finished 59 strokes behind state favorite White Fish and 36 strokes behind second place Dillon. White Fish shot a 409 and Dillon shot a 432.

McCue tied for 8th with a score of 105 and Amanda Farley medaled shooting a 116 for Polson.

“I think it’s a matter of all four girls improving and their games have improved all season,” Owen said. “I really try not to put any pressure on them because our girls are gaining more confidence and we are building on that. Our scores at Hamilton were the best scores of the season and I was pretty pleased with the results.”

Right now McCue is approaching, headed into state, with the same positive mentality.

“As individuals, I just look forward to doing the best that we can and obviously I would like to shoot below 100,” McCue said. “I am trying not to be too hard on myself. I want to go out there and have fun, and just do our best.”

The Lady Pirates have only four players, which doesn’t allow them to scratch any of their scores. Despite this and facing perennial state contending champion White Fish, Owens said he remains “optimistic” about his team’s chances.

“I like our chances of having a trophy when we come home,” Owens said. “Our best chance is probably with the boys team but you never know. Our girls are still growing and obviously they would have to play up from what they did. We would have to turn it up but I think they could still place at state.”

What’s the weather like today?

Pirates’ Coach Owen has had enough experience in golf to understand being prepared for inclement weather is a key part of success.

With fall now officially underway, inclement weather becomes more of a possibility, according to Owen.

“I don’t like anyone on our team talking down about the weather conditions because the weather conditions are the same for everyone, and the ones that adapt the best to the weather conditions are usually the team that has good days,” Owen said.

Owen said the weather can significantly affect the distance when a player tees off.

“You are going to get less distance when it is colder outside,” Owen said. “That is when you use a ball that is colder and has a softer core. You want to use balls with a lower compression in cold weather. Balls fly better and move better when you are playing with low compression, and that really dictates how you can play in cold weather.”

Owen said sometimes he preaches to his teams about the importance of being prepared.

“It’s sort of a macho thing that some players don’t want to play with a rain jacket,” Owen said. “You have to come to events prepared and use what equipment you can. Keeping your grips dry in golf and keeping yourself dry and warm are big items in cold weather. I also make them take their umbrella.”

Owen said he will have his Pirates and Lady Pirates prepared for anything.

“I try to prepare them with the idea that we can play in anything,” Owen said.

Western A divisional tournament

At Hamilton Golf Club

Boys

Team results

1, Hamilton 319; 2, Polson 326; 3, Butte Central 369; 4, Whitefish 373; 5, Stevensville 379; 6, Columbia Falls 380; 7, Frenchtown 407; 8, Corvallis 423. No score: Dillon.

Top 15

1, Max Toenjes, Ham, 73; 2, Ky Burch, Ham, 77; T3, Carson McDaniel, Pol, 78; T3, Zel Frost, Stev, 78; 5, Blaine Wetzsteon, Ham, 79; 6, Matt Hobbs, Pol, 81; T7, Tyge Yellenich, BC, 83; T7 Logan Lybbert, CF, 83; T7, Noah McDonald, Pol, 83; T10, Derek Wolff, Ftn, 84; T12, LJ Panasuk, CF, 85; T12, Brendan Buls, Wf, 85; 14, Tristan Hanson, Ham, 90; T15, Cameron Johnson, BC, 92; T15, Colin Kenney, Pol, 92.

Girls

Team results

1, Whitefish 409; 2, Dillon 432; 3, Polson 458; 4, Hamilton 472; 5, Frenchtown 479; 6, Corvallis 598. No score: Butte Central.

Top 15

1, Tricia Joyce, BC, 80; 2, Courtney Ockler, Ftn, 91; 3, Gracie Young, Wf, 94; 4, Dani Flynn, Ftn, 96; 5, Lindsey Huber, Dil, 97; 6, Holly Hileman, Wf, 101; 7, Cali Cannon, Pol, 102; T8, Melissa Kimp, Ham, 105; T8, Kiyara McCue, Pol, 105; T10, Kelsy Truman, Dil, 106; T10, Hayley Hileman, Wf, 106; 12, Megan Archibald, Wf, 108; 13, Adrianna Pittman, Dil, 109; 14, Liz Roberts, Ham, 115; 15, Amanda Farley, Pol, 116.