Prep golfers tested on Eureka course

In more ways than one, the Tobacco Valley Invitational golf tournament this past week in Eureka was a sneak peek at post-season play.

The golf course, Indian Springs, is the site of the upcoming western divisional post-season tournament and many of the teams and golfers were able to get in some golf on the course that qualifies players for the state championship next month. 

The weather for the TVI was a mix of Montana spring conditions, with rain, hail, snow and wind wrapped around sunny skies, elements they may well face in post-season play. 

And, several top teams and golfers took part in the two-day tournament, providing a good look at who’s who in western Montana high school golf. 

With many schools coping with lower-than-normal player turnout this Spring, there were not enough players to qualify for the team title competition this year. 

Nonetheless, Three Forks’ boys and Florence-Carlton's girls were crowned team champs at the end of the tournament. 

Golfers from Sanders and Mineral counties were topped by the Superior boys, who finished eighth in the team chase, just ahead of ninth place Thompson Falls.  Three Forks won with a two-day total score of 681 (+109) on the par 72 course. 

In the girls’ team competition, only Florence-Carlton (847, +275), Anaconda (893, +321), Loyola and Darby had enough players to qualify for the team championship. 

Loyola golfer Zach Munding won the boys individual title with a total score of 148 (+5), including a fine 68 on the second day of the tournament, which was played under mostly sunny skies.  Florence golfer Brody Duchein was second with a score of 154. 

In the girls’ individual competition, Elise Munding was the low scorer with a total of 171 (+28), edging out Mia Nicholas of Seeley-Swan, who carded a 173. 

Top local golfers included Thompson Falls’ Solveig Nygaard, who had a 206, good for fifth place overall.  Olivia Naccarini was 28th with a score of 289. 

Plains golfers Eleanor Bush was 22nd with a score of 260, while Cheyenne LittleWhirlwind was 25th with a score of 266. 

Superior’s Phin Cataldo was the low scorer among local boys, placing sixth with a score of 170. Also placing for the Bobcats were Anthony Dodd, 31st (206), Bryden Drey (211), Henry Hanson (229) and Dalton Boyce (232).   

Thompson Falls’ boys were led by Tristan Kelly, who carded a 197 while finishing 26th, Blake Shusterman, 28th (200), Weston Block (232), Easton Helvey (241) and Billy Detlaff (302). 

 Plains’ Jarrett Weeks tied for eleventh (176). 

Thompson Falls head coach Doree Thilmony said the Tobacco Valley event was a good chance for the golfers as post-season play looms on the horizon. 

“The weather was rain, hail, snow, wind and down right cold,” Thilmony said. “But the golfers had the opportunity to golf the divisional course.  Thursday, the weather was better, and the team played better”. 

Next up for most area golfers is a pair of local invitationals, beginning with the St. Regis Invitational this Thursday (April 24).  Saturday (April 26) the golfers will converge on River’s Bend golf course near Thompson Falls for the Gary Thompson Invitational. 

Divisionals are scheduled for May 5-6 at Indian Springs, with the state meet in Shelby May 13-14.