Loyola Spring Swing tests local golf teams

For local high school golfers, the Loyola Spring Swing, a two-day tournament at two Missoula area golf courses last week was a learning experience and an opportunity. 

With Montana spring weather on full display, both good and not so good, Florence-Carlton's girls and Jefferson High’s (Boulder) boys won team titles on what one coach described as one challenging course and one less challenging. 

“Larchmont (one of the golf clubs involved) course is a less challenging course with holes next to one another and not too many out of bounds or hazards”, said Thompson Falls head golf coach Doree Thilmony.  “Ranch Club (the other Missoula area course used for the tournament) is a very challenging course.  It is spread out and if you hit your ball off the fairway and into the fescue, good luck finding it or hitting out of it”. 

And in addition to a plethora of gopher and mole holes lining the fairways, the course features several “blind” holes where water was an obstacle as well, Thilmony added. 

“With the experience the golfers had this week, I think they will grow and learn from it and only get better”. 

Golfers from several area schools took part in the event, with Mia Nicholas of Seeley-Swan emerging as the girls’ individual champion with a two-day total 166 (82 and 84, +22). Second place went to Elise Munding of Loyola, who carded a 168 (82-86, +24). 

Senior Avery Burnham, St. Regis High, was the top finisher among Sanders/Mineral County girls with a score of 248, good for 21st place for the Lady Tigers, who did not have enough lady golfers to qualify for the team title chase. 

Olivia Nacarrini was the top golfer for Thompson Falls’ girls, shooting a 270. 

Superior’s boys were the top local golf team in the tournament, placing eighth with a team total of 821, while Thompson Falls’s boys were ninth at 883. 

The St. Regis boys were led by Dillon Thomas, who fired a 169 and was tied for sixth.  The boys individual champion was Zach Munding from Loyola, who had a two-day total of 145. 

Denver Thomas shot a 177 for St. Regis, putting him in a three-way tie for thirteenth place, while teammate Kaleb Park was 20th with a 182 score.  Henry Hanson had a 228 for the Tigers, good for 40th. 

Superior junior Phin Cataldo was the low scorer for Superior with a 170, ninth place overall. Also scoring for Superior were Bryden Drey (34th, 209) and Neil Orr (46th, 264). 

Thompson Falls had several golfers in the individual chase, topped by Tristan Kelly, who was 31st with a 207.  Also scoring for the Blue Hawks boys was senior Blake Shusterman (35th, 212), Weston Block (39th, 225), Nathan Baxter (43rd, 248) and Easton Helvey (44th, 251). 

Thompson Falls hosted its annual tournament, the Gary Thompson Invitational this past Saturday at River’s Bend golf course west of T Falls (see accompanying story). 

Next on the schedule for most local golfers is the St. Regis Invitational today (April 29) at Trestle Creek Golf Course in St. Regis. 

    Blue Hawks' golfer Tristan Kelly hits a shot out of the sand during the Loyola High Spring Swing event this past week in Missoula.  (Photo by Doree Thilmony)
  

    Thompson Falls' Olivia Nacarrini watches her putt approach the cup during this past week's Loyola Spring Swing golf tourney in Missoula.  (Photo by Doree Thilmony)