Polson Pirates, Lady Pirates golf off to strong start
The Polson Pirates boys golf team’s top starters were within strokes of each other at the conclusion of Thursday’s tournament in Whitefish.
Last year’s definitive No. 1 starter Carson McDaniel will be challenged by two of his teammates and they all were within strokes of each other at the recent game.
McDaniel just barely edged his teammates to capture fourth place in the Whitefish Invite by firing a 75. Matt Hobbs was right behind McDaniel and he shot a 76 on the day. Trey Kelley finished only three strokes behind Hobbs and four strokes behind McDaniel to finish sixth in the tournament. No. 4 golfer Kelvin Nowlen finished sixth firing a 79.
The team’s have competed in only two tournaments and already coach Bill Owen likes what he sees.
“I really believe that we have a good chance in our divisionals,” Owen said. “I like where we are at (at this point of the season). Obviously I feel really good about the four and five, and there will be another player contending with them. We have to get better but I feel pretty good about what is happening. Even our JV kids had a really good tournament.”
With Libby moving up from Class B to Class A this season, it has changed the competitive field for the Pirates. At the Polson Invitational, Loggers’ competitor Ryggs Johnston set a course record shooting a 61.
“He is one of the best golfers in Montana,” Owen stated. “That is the lowest score that has ever been recorded on that north course in Whitefish. Professionals play on that course, which makes his achievement pretty remarkable.”
The Pirates golfers also captured second place at the Highland Invitational in Butte on Aug. 14.
Polson lost to last year’s defending Class A champion Hamilton by one stroke. The Pirates shot a 325 for a team total and Hamilton shot a 324 as a team.
Hobbs was able to defeat McDaniel, even though they both finished in the top 4 both shooting a 76. Hobbs won the tie-breaker to capture first place and McDaniel took third.
Trey Kelley ended up finishing eighth in a tightly-contested battle shooting an 80. Another player that contributed was Colby Delvin, who shot an 88.
Lady Pirates start season strong
The Polson Lady Pirates have begun their season with strong individual performances early on in the year.
Though they didn’t have enough to qualify for a team in Highlands, that didn’t stop the three girls that played on the course from making an impact.
Esme Yarbrough shot a career best 98 to finish in eighth place. Cali Cannon shot a 104 and Amanda Farley shot a 108.
“The scores are pretty comparable and the girls are going to compete against each other,” Owen said.
At the Whitefish Invitational, the Lady Pirates competed as a team and were led by Cali Cannon, who shot a 93 to finish fourth. Amanda Farley was two strokes out of placing and shot a 98, Berkley Ellis shot 101 in her first-ever high school tournament, and Esme Yarbrough fired a 110.
The Pirates and Lady Pirates will compete at Meadow Lake in Columbia Falls on Aug. 24 and in West Glacier on Aug. 25 at the Browning Invitational.