County golfers begin year in Missoula

MISSOULA – County golf teams were busy last week, kicking off their spring campaigns with the Loyola Invitational in Missoula.

The two-day tournament took place on Thursday and Friday of last week and featured golf teams from throughout the region.

On the first day of the tournament golfers competed at the Larchmont Golf Course in Missoula and on the second day they went to the Missoula Country Club for the tournament’s final round.

On the boy’s side of the competition the Bluehawks of Thompson Falls had a successful couple of days on the links, finishing fifth in the team competition with a total score of 727, with a total of 360 for the first round and 367 on the final day of golf.

The Bluehawks were led by Dalton Hooten who ended the two days of competition tied for seventh with Josh Benda of Superior.

Hooten ended the first day with a round of 85 and his second with a round of 82 to end the competition with a total score of 167.

Hooten and Benda had a chance to finish sixth in the tournament but Bryan Swanson of Loyola Sacred Heart finished ahead of them in a chip-off to break the tiebreaker.

Caleb Bates of Thompson Falls also had a top 15 finish in the tournament, ending the week tied for 14th with a final score of 174.

Bates shot an 87 on both days of the competition.

The Plains Horsemen golf team was led by Cole Benson who shot a round of 93 on both days of the invitational to finish with a final score of 186.

In the girls competition Jade Ladeaux of Plains played well on the links ending the tournament with a tenth place finish.

Ladeaux shot a 103 on the first day of the invitational and a 106 on the second day to finish with a final tally of 209.

According to Plains Head Coach Rich Magera the team consists of four golfers this year.

Cole Benson, Fame Lopez and Alan Ihms make up the boys squad, while Jade Ladeaux represents the Plains Girls.

Magera was pleased with the team’s performance in their first tournament of the season.

“I thought it went quite well,” Magera said.

Magera noted the second and final day of the tournament, Friday, was a great day for golf. The fog, which shrouded the course in the morning hours gave way to sunshine and warm temperatures for the afternoon of the round.  

Two golfers from the Lady Hawks also had successful days on the links, inking top 15 finishes.

Brooke Jacobs of Thompson Falls finished right behind Ladeaux with a final total of 212.

Jacobs shot a 97 on the opening day of competition and 115 on the second and final day.

Abby Croft of Thompson Falls finished the invitational in 15th, ending with a final round total of 232.

Croft shot a 123 in day one and a 109 during day two.

Both teams will meet again on the links in Bigfork.

The Bigfork tournament is scheduled to take place on Thursday, April 9.