Young Pirates golf team eager to build on Polson's rich tradition
THE 2017 Polson Pirates golf team poses for a picture during the 2017 Class A Montana High School Association state golf tournament (from left): Matt Hobbs, Trey Kelley, Carson McDaniel, Hogan Kelley and Colby Devlin. Hobbs, Kelley, and Devlin all hope to make an impact in the 2018 season and McDaniel will continue his golf career at South Dakota School of Mines & Technology. (photo courtesy of Bill Owen)
The Polson High School boys’ golf team will try to fill the void of their departing seniors and competitors this season.
Pirates boy’s golf coach Bill Owen confirmed there will be some changes as his team tries to fill the void left by the experienced golfers that qualified for the Class A Montana High School Association state golf tournament in 2017.
“There are some differences (headed into the 2018 season) and we need to develop three, four and five players for over the years,” Owen said. “They don’t have the experience for us at this point and they don’t have the experience level of a top-four player like I’ve had the last couple of years. We are hoping to make some noise at the end of things.”
The Pirates maybe inexperienced but they have some key returners that will provide leadership for some of the younger players.
One of them will be player Matt Hobbs, who devoted the summer towards becoming a better golfer, according to Owen.
“Matt is going to have a good season,” Owen declared. “During the off season, he played really well all summer and is really excited for the start of the season.”
Another golfer that will contribute to the team is golfer Trey Kelley.
“Trey is always steady,” Kelley said. “Hobbs was 8th at state last year. Trey finished 15th and was in the middle of the state tournament.”
Hobbs could find himself in contention for some hardware in golf, but capturing the state title might be far-fetched only because he will have to contend with Libby High School’s Ryggs Johnston, who is arguably one of the best high school golfers in MHSA history and is verbally committed to play golf at Arizona State University, Phil Mickelson’s alma mater.
“Hobbs will have to overcome Ryggs,” Owen said. “He could arguably be the best golfer we’ve ever had in the state of Montana.”
There will be 13 participants turning out for the Pirates’ golf team this season and two more that will provide varsity experience including Calvin Nowlin and Colby Devlin.
Despite the inexperience, Owen said he felt he is “confident” his team can have a chance to earn some hardware as he and his coaching staff hope to continue their reputation for building golfers.
“We are hoping we can have a chance at a trophy at state but we don’t have the team I started with the last year,” Owen said. “We hope to bring some more players in. It depends on how far along and how hard they work. I am optimistic that we will improve as the season goes on and our players are going to have a nice season, that is for sure. We will just have to wait and see what we have. I think the ones I mentioned will make an impact. I feel like we will have golfers that will step up for us and have a great season.”