The Havre High golf teams are reaching a critical point in the 2012 season. And only two tournaments stand between the Blue Ponies and the all-important Central A Divisional meet, which is slated for Sept. 22 in Livingston.
On Thursday morning, the Blue Po
ny boys and girls will take to the Eagle Rock Golf Club in Billings for the annual Billings Central Invitational. Then, on Friday morning, Havre will close out the road trip with the prestigious Laurel Invitational at the Laurel Country Club.
Both tournaments will give Havre a chance to play against some unfamiliar teams, as well as two solid and challenging golf courses.
The Billings Central Invite will feature the host Rams, as well as junior varsity teams from all three Class AA schools in Billings. Laurel and Lewistown are also expected to be in attendance Thursday.
The action then shifts to Laurel on Friday, where most of the same teams will be in action. Golfers from Miles City and Glendive are also slated to compete in the Laurel Invite, which will be played on the scenic and difficult Laurel Country Club layout, a track known as one of the most difficult in Eastern Montana.
And both tournaments should serve to help the Ponies get ready for the postseason.
All five Havre boys making the trip this week, seniors Spencer Ross, Ramsey Drew and David Denny, and freshmen Jeff Miller and Jerod Boles, have, at one time or another, been the Ponies’ top golfer in a tournament this season. The most recent is Ross, who finished sixth at last Saturday’s Havre Invitational at Beaver Creek Golf Course. Miller has the most Top 10’s on the Havre team this season, but as a group, the Ponies have averaged three or more players in the individual Top 10 at each meet this season.
On the girls side, Boston Swensen and Katie Beck have been the Ponies’ most consistent players. Both have several Top 10’s to their credit, and both players are coming off solid rounds at BCGC last Saturday. Swensen finished third overall with a 97 and Beck shot a season-low 99 to finish sixth in Havre. Together, they have been lowering their scores each week, and both players could be strong contenders come divisionals.
Thursday’s Billings Central Invitational will get underway with a shotgun start at 9:30 a.m. at Eagle Rock Golf Club. Friday’s Laurel Invite is set to begin at 9 a.m. at the Laurel Country Club. The Central A meet is set for Sept. 22.
