Chiefs, Maidens golf start season strong

Ronan golf coach Matt Olson knows the season of golf is grueling and is somewhat reluctant when discussing expectations of his teams.

“The season (of golf) is a marathon and not a sprint,” Olson said. “Obviously, you want to have success and that justifies their hard work. Remember, no one goes to the hall of fame for winning a regular-season tournament.”

Olson doesn’t want to press too many expectations on a team he says has a “high ceiling.” He wants to keep everything in perspective.

The Chiefs finished their first match of the season with a second place out of seven teams, according to Olson.

“That was our first tournament of the season and finishing second is pretty awesome,” Olson said. “Like I said, we talked about it before. I have a very good feeling about this team. I am excited. We will have to play it out. I’ve been around the game long enough to know it’s a long season but our boys team has a really solid team.”

The Chiefs’ No. 2 player Vinny Bird-Webster led his team by firing a 79.

“Webster’s score was just outstanding for never having seen a golf course and that was his first tournament round of the year,” Olson said. “How Webster played was just awesome.”

Olson finishes fourth

The girls team, unlike their boys counterparts, will face the challenge of being younger.

Despite their youth and inexperience, they had an outstanding performance from Brooklyn Olson, who finished fourth firing a 97 in the first tournament of the season in Hamilton.

“These kids have never seen Hamilton Golf Course and I was really proud of them,” Matt Olson said. “Our team is off to a good start. Now we will have a week where we have two or three tournaments.”

Chiefs, Maidens to host golf tournament

The Ronan Chiefs and Maidens will host a 10-team golf tournament at 10 a.m. next Tuesday at Mission Mountain Golf Course.

Ronan invites several of the Class-B and Class-C schools from the surrounding area.

“We have teams as close as Plains, Deer Lodge, Anaconda, Loyola,” Olson said. “It’s a pretty solid event. It’s a one day, 18-hole event for both the boys and the girls. This will be our first measuring stick of the season. Plenty of teams will be there and we will know where we stand after this tournament. This will give us a better idea of where we are at come Districts and Divisionals.”