By George Ferguson
While violent thunderstorms, strong winds and all-around nasty weather dominated the Havre golf landscape this past week, a former Havre High School golf standout was making headlines in another part of the state.
Havre's own Nick Obie capped off a tremendous week of golf on Sunday afternoon by capturing the Montana State Match Play Championship at Eagle Bend Golf Course in Bigfork.
In Sunday's 36-hole final match, Obie knocked off 14th-seeded Mike McNalley of Billings 5-and-4 to capture his first Montana State Golf Association amateur championship. Obie, who fired a 2-under-par 70 on Thursday to qualify as the fifth seed, began the match play tournament with a pair of victories on Friday to reach the quarterfinals.
On Saturday, Obie downed fourth-seeded Chris McConnell of Billings 2-up, and then later in the day he put away fellow Montana high school golf standout Jeff Dooley of Polson 3-and-2. The win over Dooley set up Sunday's final showdown with McNalley, who had defeated Missoula's Rick Reimers 3-and-2 in Saturday's other semifinal.
Obie, who will be a sophomore at Redlands College in Southern California, said after the event that winning a state amateur title like the one at Eagle Bend definitely gives his confidence a boost as he looks toward his golfing future.
"What winning this tournament did for me is give me a lot more confidence in different ways," Obie said. "My ball striking from tee to green was solid the whole week and that will help me to know that I can play well for an entire tournament."
"I was also down in a couple of my matches and I came back and was able to put guys away," he added. "That helps to know that I can get it together when I need to. Winning this championship is also important because it gives me a sense that I can play with just about anybody and that will really help my confidence down the road."
Meanwhile, the past week at BCGC could only be described in two words - nasty weather. Thunderstorms wreaked havoc with the Havre course for several days, finishing up on Friday with a hailstorm that left the course completely white, as if it were winter outside. But, despite the poor weather, both Tuesday and Wednesday night men's leagues were able to get their full rounds in.
On Tuesday, Tire-Rama captured high-team honors with 25 total points. Tire-Rama is composed of Dennis Murphy, Mark West, Barry Zanto and Jim Wirt. Tom Adams grabbed low-gross honors with a round of 36, and Scott McLean and Larry Sapp shared low-net score honors with a 32.
Wednesday night saw Tilleman Motors and Beaver Creek Golf Course share high-team honors with a total score of 21.5 points. Tilleman is led by Bruce Normandy, Dave Herman, Chuck Wimmer and Russ Earl, while BCGC is composed of Bob Breum, Dick Bohn, Matt Slade, Art Weyh. Jim Kato and Greg Munson shared low-gross honors for the night as they each fired an even-par round of 36. Lowell Swenson garnered low-net score honors with a 29.5.
This is the final week of the first half of the regular season and the playoff race is very tight on both Tuesday and Wednesday night. The top two places on both nights are separated by just a half of a point and there are several teams within striking distance of the coveted fourth place. The top four teams from each night will automatically qualify for the playoffs. This week Pizza Pro has the bye on Tuesday night and Stone Child College and Wells Fargo are out on Wednesday.
Thursday night's women's league was also hit by severe weather and golfers were called in after the completion of several holes. Final results were not available.
On tap on Sunday morning will be the Havre Men's Association's annual Calcutta Golf Tournament. The tourney will begin with a shotgun start at 9 a.m. and the format will be a two-person 18-hole best-ball event.
Montana State Amateur Men's Match Play Championship Saturday at Eagle Bend
Championship
Morning
(5) Nick Obie, Havre, def. (4) Chris McConnell, Billings, 2-up; (17) Jeff Dooley, Polson, def. (8) Mike Rider, Manhattan, 2-up; (2) Rick Reimers, Missoula, def. (10) Woody Spainhower, Bozeman, 5-and-4; (14) Mike McNally, Billings, def. (11) Conor Keenan, Bigfork, 4-and-2.
Afternoon
Obie def. Dooley 3-and-2; McNally def. Reimers, 3-and-2.
President's Flight
Morning
(3) Renzi Lee, Billings, def. (23) Sam Diemert, Billings, 5-and-3; (16) Adam Hober, Missoula, def. (28) Kelbi Lee, Billings, 5-and-4; (6) Brett Woods, Laurel, def. (19) Eric Murphy, Bozeman, 4-and-3; (25) Greg Matthews, Bozeman, def. (12) Paul Veroulis, Helena, 5-and-3.
Afternoon
Hober def. Lee, 2-and-1; Woods def. Matthews, 2-and-1.
First Flight
Morning
(40) Marcus Erickson, Helena, def. (33) Gary Thorsen, Lolo, 1-up; (45) Dave Streeter, Whitefish, def. (53) Ryan Linnell, Kalispell, 1-up; (34) Steve Curtin, Whitefish, def. (39) Taylor Madison, Bozeman, 1-up after 21 holes; (38) Corey Slocum, Missoula, def. (51) Derek Nuckols, Billings, 3-and-2.
Afternoon
Erickson def. Streeter 3-and-1; Slocum def. Curtin, 4-and-2.
Second Flight
Morning
(55) Blu Funk, Bigfork def. (35) Jon Johnstone, Havre, by default; (48) Nick Schwinden, Helena, def. (47) Josh Zimmerman, Billings, 4-and-3; (44) Casey Erickson, Clancy, def. (57) Casey Ridge, Missoula, 4-and-3; (52) Jeff Swonson, Missoula, def. (61) Wade Coplin, Missoula, 1-up after 19 holes.
Afternoon
Funk def. Schwinden, 1-up; Swonson def. Erickson, 1-and-1.
Men's League Results
Tuesday, June 17
1. Tire Rama 25 pts. (Dennis Murphy 42, Mark West 43, Barry Zanto 45, Jim Wirt 46); 2. Hole 19 24.5 pts. (Eric Fee 38, Mike Purkett 41, Gerry Veis 47, Tim Keating 52); 3. Drivers Choice 21.5 pts. (Larry Johnson 40, Bob Breum 47, Steve Burstock 42, Dave Hamilton 50); 4. Stockman Bank 20.5 pts. (Bruce Normandy 41, Dave Herman 46, Chuck Wimmer 43, Tom Adams 36); 5. Bing-n-Bobs 20.5 pts. (Lunar Evans 42, Howie Stromberg 44, Dick Scharfe 40, Bill Evans 44); 6. Farnik Bin Sales 20 pts. (Rod Spicher 53, Mike Farnik 47, Pat Foster 42, Rob Spicher 46); 7. Pizza Pro 20 pts. (Russ Luke 49, Kelly Benson 41, Lyle Miller 46, Jeff Jensen 41); 8. Shanty Bar 19.5 pts. (Steve Johnstone 41, Don Christopherson 45, John Tibbetts 48, Scott McLean 40); 9. Golden Spike 19 pts. (Ryan McLean 50, Lee Farmer 56, A.J. Keller 52, Matt Corcoran 51); 10. Cavaliers 17 pts. (Larry Sapp 44, Doug Ross 49, Gene Oveson 51, Patrick Winderl 45); 11. Wagner Plumbing 16.5 pts. (Dan Kiederowski 44, Greg Baltrusch 42, Russ Earl 47, Dan Wagner 42); 12. Hi-Way Bar 16 pts. (Don Miller 43, Dennis Kannberg 58, Craig Patrick 50, Dick Hanson 51); 13. Elks 16 pts. (Bill Schilling 48, Steve Granell 48, Nathan Pitcher 48, Ron Surber 57); 14. Schubert R&R 15.5 pts. (Dan Weidinger 46, Rick Ervin 47, Jerry Schubert 50, George Ferguson 40); 15. Boxcars 15.5 pts. (Tracy McLain 43, Ed Schmidt 54, Steve McLain 50, Jimmy Jackson 47); 16. Havre Laundry 14.5 pts. (Ed Barsanti 52, Dave Boles 47, Jim Welter 50, Neil Brenna 54); 17. Corner Bar 11.5 pts. (Keith Maristuen 61, Travis Burchard 60, Bob Blazer 55, Gene Harada 50); 18. Frontier Lawn 11 pts. (Steve Chivilicek 64, Kory Nelson 54, Ron Konesky 58, Kraig VanVoast 59).
Tuesday Standings (thru 9 weeks)
1. Hole 19 160.5, 2. Drivers Choice 160, 3. Stockman Bank 155, 4. Wagner Plumbing 152.5, 4. Shanty Bar 152.5, 6. Farnik Bin Sales 151.5, 7. Elks Club 150, 8. Bing-N-Bobs 149.5, 9. Boxcars 148.5, 10. Cavaliers 147.5, 11. Hi-Way Bar 147, 12. Schubert R&R 145, 13. Tire Rama 141.5, 14. Pizza Pro 140.5, 15. Hi-Line Drilling 138, 16. Golden Spike 132.5, 17. Havre Laundry 131, 18. Corner Bar 123, 19. Frontier Lawn 108.5.
Wednesday, June 18
1. Beaver Creek Golf Course 21.5 pts. (Bob Breum 49, Dick Bohn 43, Matt Slade 49, Art Weyh 48); 2. Tilleman Motors 21.5 pts. (Bruce Normandy 39, Dave Herman 44, Chuck Wimmer 41, Russ Earl 45); 3. Taco Johns 21 pts. (Tom Reynolds 39, Kraig Greenwood 39, Steve Burstock 46, Dave Greenwood 48); 4. Koefod Insurance 19 pts. (Jim Wirt 45, Steve Johnstone 41, Tom Healy 49, Larry Obie 43); 5. Office Equipment 19 pts. (Steve Granell 46, Bob Blazer 48, Bill Schilling 45, Dave Hamilton 53); 6. Wells Fargo 19 pts. (Brian Jenkins 46, Powell Becker 52, Scott Leeds 47, Pat Foster 41); 7. Bear Paw Credit Union 18.5 pts. (Lowell Swenson 44, Steve McLain 49, Ron Evanson 51, Al Vukasin 46); 8. Boxcars 18 pts. (Jerry Mellem 42, Brian Lilletvedt 45, Dan Wagner 40, Terry Sheppard 45); 9. Erickson/Baldwin Insurance (Bud Baldwin 39, Brad Baldwin 46, Larry Martinson 51, Tom Adams 40); 10. Valley Furniture 18 pts. (Dave Peterson 46, Mike Purkett 40, Tom Haas 44, Mike Peterson 44); 11. Stone Child College 18 pts. (Tim Rosette 44, Lloyd Henry 42, Frank Henry 40, Steve Galbavy 51); 12. Mariani Insurance 17.5 pts. (Greg Munson 36, Jim Omlie 47, Steve Mariani 48, Chris Young 41); 13. Independence Bank 17 pts. (Dennis Murphy 45, Mark West 45, Bill Keller 47, Gene Harada 44); 14. D.A. Davidson 17 pts. (Steve Strand 45, Max Erickson 43, Mike Mazurkiewicz 39, Vance Blatter 47); 15. U.S. Bank 17 pts. (Greg Drummer 42, Mark Hedstrom 44, Kerry Ward 59, Irish Ireland 44); 16. Michelob Light 15 pts. (Dick Scharfe 44, Barry Kato 43, Jim Kato 36, Rick Reynolds 47); 17. Havre Ford 14.5 pts. (Kyle Sheppard 39, Steve Steinmetz 50, George Ferguson 46, Ryan Divish 49); 18. Havre Credit Bureau 11 pts. (Shawn Huse 46, Brett Preeshl 45, Jim Evans 49).
Wednesday Standings (thru 9 weeks)
1. Beaver Creek Golf Course 178.5, 2. Stone Child College 178, 3. Taco Johns 174.5, 4. Bear Paw Credit Union 174, 5. Koefod Insurance 173.5, 6. Boxcars 172, 7. Michelob Light 170.5, 8. Tilleman Motors 170, 9. Independence Bank 169.5, 10. Valley Furniture 168.5, 11. Havre Ford 167, 12. Clausen & Sons 162.5, 13. Master Sports 160, 14. D.A. Davidson 157, 15. U.S. Bank 151.5, 16. Erickson/Baldwin Insurance 149.5, 17. Office Equipment 148, 17. Wells Fargo 148, 19. Havre Credit Bureau 137.5, 20. Mariani Insurance 126.5.
