Local teams tee off at season's first golf tourney
Thompson Falls golfer Aubrey Baxter, who placed fifth in the Florence-Darby Invitational last week in Hamilton, watches a putt roll toward the cup. (Photo by Doree Thilmony)
Thompson Falls golfer Tristan Kelly hits a tee shot during the Florence-Darby Invitational at Hamilton Golf Club this past week. (Photo by Doree Thilmony)
In what was the first area golf tournament of the 2025 season, golfers from 11 different western Montana schools hit the links in Hamilton for the Florence-Darby Invitational at the Hamilton Golf Club.
Jefferson High’s (Boulder, MT) won the boys team title with a 47+ score over the 18-hole course built in the shadows of the Bitterroot and Saphire mountain ranges.
The girls team title was claimed by tourney co-host Florence, which had a score of +127.
Local teams fared well in the one-day event last Tuesday with Thompson Falls’ girls third in the team chase with a +155, Superior’s boys sixth at +124, and T Falls’ girls eighth with a score of +159, one stroke behind Darby (+158).
Loyola Sacred Heart golfer Elise Munding was the girls’ individual titlist, while the boys’ top golfer was her brother, Zach Munding. Elise fired an 84 over the 18-hole course, while Zach finished with a tournament best 75, three strokes over the course’s par 72 layout.
Tops among local golfers from T Falls, St. Regis, Superior and Plains was Thompson Falls sophomore Aubrey Baxter, who carded a 97 to lead the Lady Hawks, while St. Regis golfer Denver Thomas tied for ninth with two other golfers who shot 87s.
Baxter, who was sidelined briefly at the start of preseason practices while she recovered from a leg injury suffered during basketball season, had one par hole, and three greens in regulation (GIR).
She was joined by teammates Solveig Nygaard, who finished ninth overall with a 102, including two GIRs and two pars, Sophia Chou, also 102 with two GIRs and one par, and Olivia Nacarrini, who had a score of 141 with two GIRs and one par.
The T Falls boys were paced by Tristan Kelly, who fired a 95 to place 25th, Jack Kull, 36th (104), Blake Shusterman, tied for forty-first (116), Will Grenda 51st (131) and Nathan Baxter 52nd (137).
Plains top male golfer was its only male golfer, Jarrett Weeks, who finished thirtieth (99).
In addition to Denver Thomas, Dillon Thomas tied for 13th for the St. Regis boys with a score of 89 and senior Kaleb Park tied for eighteenth (91).
Superior’s top boy golfer was junior Phin Cataldo, was placed twentieth with a score of 92, Brydon Drey, thirty-second (101), Henry Hanson, tied for forty-first (116).
Next on the schedule for local golfers is the Plains Invitational this Friday (April 11) at the Wild Horse Plains Golf Course just north of town on Highway 200.
Thompson Falls golfer Tristan Kelly hits a tee shot during the Florence-Darby Invitational at Hamilton Golf Club this past week. (Photo by Doree Thilmony)