Lady Bluehawks golf, Beckman set for state

Thompson Falls boys, girls golf coach Mike Bates said he knows “anything can happen” when his team qualifies for state and he has reference.

In 2015, Bate’s team qualified for state and captured a state title labeled, according to Bates, as “underdogs” headed into the competition.

Bates and his Lady Bluehawk team will get another opportunity to add to Bates’ growing resume as they qualified for the Class-B state championship as a team this year.

The Lady Bluehawks begin their first round of state golf Monday at Shelby High School. The competition will go until Tuesday.

Bates expressed confidence in the Lady Bluehawks being able to qualify for state. At Divisionals, Elsie Brown shot an 84, Jessica Brownner shot a 95, and Julie Vanicek fired with a 95.

“Anything can happen at state,” Bates said. “In Divisionals, it’s a one-day format. During state, you can be a little off and the second day make up for the scores. When you get to state, everyone can win it. We will just have to wait and see what happens. It’s a little bit windy and the wind should only blow about 12 MPH. Hopefully, the weather holds up to exactly what we want and then anything can happen.”

Bates said his Lady Bluehawks’ team is on “Cloud 9.”

“Our team has had a lot of local support from our golf course, the women’s league has talked to the kids and it’s been a huge success for our kids and the school,” Bates said. “We have had a really good golf team. We’ve gotten a lot of support around town and that really helps out too.”

At this point in the season, Bates said it is “necessary” to try to keep the pressure off of his team.

“We really want to downplay the whole experience,” Bates said. “It is just going to be like any other tournament and you aren’t going against your opponents, you are playing the golf course. When you get in a group, you can’t worry about what they are doing. You just have to play the course and play it the best that you can. Sometimes, players can get caught up in how one player is playing and then they get a little excited and they start hurrying their shots. You just have to play the best you can and let the chips fall where they may.”

Bates expressed confidence in his Lady Bluehawks’ team and Dylan Beckman, the lone member of the boys golf team, to excel at state.

“Any of them are

capable of finishing in the top 15,” Bates said.

Beckman qualifies

for state

Dylan Beckman was the only member of the Thompson Falls boys’ golf team to qualify for state.

Beckman, who fired a 73 at St. Regis, continued his consistency by firing a 76 at Divisionals on May 9.

“He’s been really solid and consistent for us,” Bates said. “He’s just a junior and he’s a really good kid on and off the course. He is a good player and I expect him to be a top-5 kid in the state. When state is over, he will be playing right there.”

Bates said he and his team were “happy” that Beckman was able to qualify for state.

“We are really happy Dylan made it to state and I feel bad for the boys team that didn’t make it,” Bates said. “We just had a couple of players that slipped a bit and we knew our conference was going to be tough.”