Local golfers post low scores at State B
Thompson Falls golfers Sophia Chou (left) and Solveig Nygaard display their medals after finishing eleventh (Solveig) and twelfth at this year's State B golf championship in Shelby. (Photo by Doree Thilmony).
Thompson Falls senior Blake Shusterman watches a put head toward the cup during this past week's Class B state golf championships in Shelby. (Photo by Doree Thilmony)
The Jefferson High (Boulder) boys golf team won their second consecutive boys’ Class B state championship this past week in Shelby, while Florence girls reigned supreme in the girls’ team title chase.
A pair of local girls’ golfers, Thompson Falls’ Solveig Nygaard and Sophia Chou finished eleventh and twelfth respectively in the individual competition held this past Tuesday and Wednesday at the Marias Valley Golf and Country Club’s par 72, 18-hole course.
Nygaard shot a two-day total of 191 (96,95) over the two-day run, three strokes ahead of Chou, who carded a 194 (97,97).
The girls’ individual champion was Florence-Carlton's Kipley Solari, who fired a 165 with rounds of 88 and 77, giving her a four-stroke win over runner-up Logan McKay of Anaconda (169). Pre-tournament favorite Elise Munding of Loyola was third at 170.
Solveig and Chou were the only local girls to qualify for the state finals following their finishes in the Western divisional the week before.
Superior’s Phin Cataldo was the top boys’ golfer among Sanders and Mineral County entrants, recording a 178, good for a six-way tie at 40th place. Cataldo shot an 88 on the first day of the meet and a 90 on day two.
The only other local golfer in the tournament was Thompson Falls senior Blake Shusterman, who was tied for 56th with a total of 187 (94-93).
None of the local schools who play golf, (Superior, T Falls and Plains) had enough participants to qualify for the team title chase.
The boys’ individual crown was won by Loyola’s Zach Munding, who posted a two-day total of 146, shooting 74 on the first day and even par (72) on the second day.
That was just one stroke ahead of Jefferson’s Tyson Lee, who finished with a 147 total on rounds of 71 and 76.
“It was a great two days”, said T Falls golf coach Doree Thilmony. “The weather was good for the most part, with a lightning delay on the second day. The pace was a bit slow at times, but the kids handled it well.”
Thompson Falls senior Blake Shusterman watches a put head toward the cup during this past week's Class B state golf championships in Shelby. (Photo by Doree Thilmony)