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Bulldogs favored again in divisional golf

October 1, 2009

Northwest Montana A Conference

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Bulldogs favored again in divisional golf

By DAVID LESNICK/The Daily Inter Lake

Published: Wednesday, September 30, 2009 12:05 AM CDT
Who's going to the Class A state golf tournament and who's staying home will be decided Thursday with one trip around the links at Meadow Lake Golf Resort in Columbia Falls.

Play is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. for the five participating schools - Columbia Falls, Libby, Polson, Ronan and Whitefish. Not in the mix this year is Bigfork, now in the Class B golf ranks.

The top three teams and top 15 individuals move on to the season finale Oct. 9-10 in Kalispell.

The Whitefish boys and girls are the divisional favorites again, while the next two positions are up for grabs on both fronts.

Whitefish's Bulldogs are the defending Class A boys state champions, winners by 30 strokes last October in Polson. The Bulldogs have captured eight state titles under coach Terry Nelson and 11 total in school history. Heading into this season, they've won state four of the last five years and finished second in 2007.

"It will be an interesting tournament," Columbia Falls coach Gene Marcille said.

"I think the Whitefish boys have a good chance of winning a state championship. Reed Platke is a legitimate state contender."

Platke finished second at state last year, one shot off the pace, and has had another banner season this fall for the Bulldogs.

Also back from the state championship team are Joel Mallams and Zach Maassen.

Marcille said the Columbia Falls boys "have a real good chance of being one of the three teams (advancing to state).

"We're playing on our home course. Meadow Lake is a great golf course. It's about the toughest we play. A pretty tight course in places, lots of out of bounds, lots of hazards."

Tanner Lineberry, a senior, is expected to carry the banner for the Wildcats.

"High expectations," Marcille said for Lineberry.

"He's excited, he's done well in tournaments. Consistently in the top five."

In girls play behind Whitefish, Polson will push hard for second place leaving the other three to fight for the remaining berth to state.

Kelsey DeWit, a Columbia Falls senior, missed out on a state trip last year by one stroke.

"She's pretty focused (for divisional)," Marcille said.

Whitefish's Kiley McConnell and Polson's Natalia Arlint will contend for medalist honors while Whitefish's BreAnna Cameron is a top five contender, along with Polson's Amy Williamson.

McConnell finished second at last year's divisional, three shots off the mark. Cameron was third.

Marcille said weather, which has been perfect to date, could be a factor. Temperatures are expected to be in the mid-50s. That's a far cry from the 80s golfers have played in for much of the fall.

"That will present a challenge for all the kids," Marcille said.

"It will be interesting to see. I'm hoping the course is the bigger challenge (than the weather)."

Following Thursday's action, many of the divisional teams will compete in the Flatfish Invitational on Friday and Saturday.

"Unfortunately, it's a tricky tournament for us, more time out of school," Marcille said of the Flatfish.

"What we do is leave it up to the kids. If they don't qualify for state, they want to play. It's their last shot at golf. We respect that.

"Our plan right now, we will be in the Flatfish - boys and girls."

CONTENTS

News / Home

General News

School Top 20

Calendar 2009-10

SPORTS

Boys' Basketball

All-State/Conference

Bracket--Divisional

Bracket--State

Conference Scores/Standings

Power Poll

Records BBB

State Champions BBB

State Scores

Stats/Schedules

Top Ten

Archives

Girls' Basketball

All-State/Conference

Bracket--Divisional

Bracket--State

Conference Scores/Standings

Power Poll

Records GBB

State Champions GBB

State Scores

Stats/Schedules

Top Ten

Archives

Cross Country

Records BXC

Records GXC

Results XC

State Champions BXC

State Champions GXC

Football

All-State/Conference

Conference Scores/Standings

Playoffs

Power Poll

Football Records

State Champions FB

State Scores

Stats/Schedules

Top Ten

Archives

Boys' Soccer

Playoffs

Records BSoc

Scores

Standings

Stats

State Champions BSoc

All-State/Conference

Archives

Girls' Soccer

Playoffs

Records GSoc

Scores

Standings

State Champions GSoc

Stats

All-State/Conference

Archives

Track & Field

Records BTF

Records GTF

Results

State Champions BTF

State Champions GTF

Girls' Volleyball

All-State/Conference

Bracket--Divisional

Bracket--State

Records VB

Conference Scores/Standings

State Champions VB

Stats/Schedules

Top Ten