By Tiffany L. Rehbein
During a thrilling finish, Nick Obie sunk a 15-foot putt on the 36th hole for a first-place tie at the State Class A golf tournament on Wednesday.
During the four-hole playoff, Obie's opponent, Jeff Dooley of Polson, chipped in the first shot for the gold medal.
Obie finished the tournament at 73-74-147 in second place.
Obie led a Havre Blue Pony team that outshot the entire field on the second day en route to a third-place trophy at the Whitefish Lakes Golf Course.
The Blue Pony boys' golf team finished with a 633 and placed third for the second-straight year.
The Ponies were in fifth place after an inconsistent first day on the course, but all five players shot better the second day to improve their finish.
"We didn't have a very strong first day," Havre Head Coach Keith Evenson said. "We didn't have the consistency the first day."
After the first 18 holes, the Ponies fired 324 and were 11 strokes from a trophy and 15 strokes out of first place.
"I told the boys, We're not here for fun. We are here for a trophy or first place,'" Evenson said. "They went out and played exceptionally well the second day. No one beat us."
The team, comprised of all sophomores, shot 309 on Wednesday.
"It was great for Nick to perform under that pressure," Evenson said.
Troy Toner went into the tournament with the mindset of finishing in the top 10. Toner placed ninth, firing 79-77-156.
Jason Johnstone aided in the team effort with a 77 on the second day. He shot an 84 on opening day for a 161.
Kevin Harada shot an 81 on the second day to improve the team score. He fired an 89-81-170 during the two-day tournament.
Kyle Sheppard improved his day-to-day scored, shooting an 88-85 for a 173.
The team score is determined by the top four golfers each day.
"All the kids put up a great effort," Evenson said. "They needed to tighten their belts a little and play consistent as a team. They all did that."
The girls placed seventh at 427-417-838.
Lisa Wagner, the lone senior on the team, placed third overall to lead the Ponies.
She fired an 84-89-173.
"Lisa got in there and played very well both days," Evenson said. "Some of her best golf was played at divisional and state."
Wagner was a gold medalist at the Central A divisional tournament last Saturday.
Jessica Sande fired a 100 yesterday, improving from the 114 she shot on opening day. She finished with a 214.
Julie Wagner fired a 120 during the last 18 holes and finished with a 225.
"She had an outstanding first day for a first-time varsity player," Evenson said. The sophomore fired a 105 on opening day.
Jenni Solomon shot a consistent 114-112-226 at state.
"She is steady all the time and her finish was respectable," Evenson said.
Katie Miller, another first-time varsity player, fired a 129-123-252.
"I was pleased to get the girls there in the first place," Evenson said. "I thought we had a very successful season. Our goal was to get the girls to state and get the boys taking first. We just didn't have a good first day, but we certainly did the second day."
Both the boys and girls placed first at the divisional tournament. With just one graduate, the future looks bright.
"We have the tools," Evenson said. "We just need to have the consistency the first day."
Class A Results
Whitefish Lakes Golf Course
Havre finishes
BOYS
(324-309-633) Nick Obie 73-74-147, Jason Johnstone 84-77-161, Kevin Harada 89-81-170, Troy Toner 79-77-156, Kyle Sheppard 88-85-173.
Team scores: Whitefish 309-310--619, Billings Central 313-319--632, Havre 324-309--633, Dillon 309-325--634, Lewistown 318-344--662, Bigfork 334-329--663, Polson 326-345--671, Belgrade 342-338--680, Sidney 346-340--686, Columbia Falls 350-343--693, Colstrip 366-365--731, Laurel 365-369--734
Top Individuals
x-Jeff Dooley, Polson 71-76--147
Nick Obie, Havre 73-74--147
Colt Vanderwerker, Bil. Central 77-71--148
Mark Dolven, Whitefish 72-77--149
James Russell, Dillon 73-79--152
John Nielsen, Bil. Central 73-80--153
Kyle Duty, Whitefish 77-76--153
Raymond Pitman, Col. Falls 78-75--153
Monte Jenkins, Ronan 153
Robert Sullivan, Whitefish 77-77--154
Cooper Warren, Bil. Central 76-79--155
Jon Allen, Dillon 80-75--155
Troy Toner, Havre 156
James Dayton, Bigfork 78-79--157
x--Won title on fourth playoff hole
Selected team results
WHITEFISH (309-310-619) Mark Dolven 72-77-149, Kyle Duty 76-77-153, Robert Sullivan 77-77-154, Brandon Rohrer 87-80-167, Steve Curtin 83-91-174.
BILLINGS CENTRAL (313-319-632) Colt Verderwerker 77-71-148, Cooper Warren 76-79-155, John Nielsen 73-80-153, Mitch Wilbert 87-90-177, Kyle Thelan 91-89-180.
HAVRE (324-309-633) Nick Obie 73-74-147, Jason Johnstone 84-77-161, Kevin Harada 89-81-170, Troy Toner 79-77-156, Kyle Sheppard 88-85-173.
POLSON (326-345-671) Jeff Dooley 71-76-147, Kiel Duckworth 80-82-162, B.J. Hamann 75-83-158, John Fayle 108-108-216; Brett Fors 100-104- 204.
COLUMBIA FALLS (350-343-693) Raymond Pitman 78-75-153, Micah Shaffer 86-86-172, Ryan Doran 94-89-183, James Thompson 96-93-189, Justin Buck 92-94-186.
BIGFORK (334-329-693) James Dayton 78-79-157, Steve Carnes 85-88-173, Sean Purcell 84-77-161, Ian Udell 94-92-186, Dan Agnew 87-85-172.
GIRLS
Havre finishes
(417-421-838) Lisa Wagner 84-89-173, Jessica Sande 114-100-224, Julie Wagner 105-120-225, Jennie Solomon 114-112-226, Katie Miller 129-123-256.
Team scores: Miles City 363-361--724, Whitefish 371-3 64--735, Laurel 386-376--762, Billings Central 384-397--781, Glendive 414-390--807, Bigfork 416-417--833, Columbia Falls 436-401--837, Havre 417-421--838, Dillon 427-417--844, Libby 452-424--876, Belgrade 436-447--883, Livingston 487-463--950
Top Individuals
Brianne Woods, Laurel 77-80--157
Amber Griffith, Miles City 84-86--170
Lisa Wagner, Havre 84-89--173
Ashley Griffith, Miles City 89-86--175
Mandy Gunville, Bil. Central 85-91--176
Kelsey Jensen, Whitefish 87-91--178
Lacy Schlegel, Col. Falls 93-95--178
Tia Morasko, Glendive 84-97--181
Becky Hancock, Livingston 90-91--181
Linda Blank, Sidney 95-90--185
Kim Kreiter, Bil. Central 90-95--185
Donna Mae Standly, Miles City 93-93--186
Katy Stevens, Colstrip 93-94--187
Selected team results
MILES CITY (363-361-724) Ashley Griffith 89-86-175, Donna MacStanley 93-93-186, Andrea Griffith 121-96-217, Jodi Robinson 97-109-206, Amber Griffith 84-86-170.
WHITEFISH (371-364-735) Lisa Winslow 89-84-173, Kelsey Jensen 87-91-178, Melissa Hearn 103-92-195, Kate VonLindern 92-98-190, Annalee Moore 104-97-201.
BILLINGS CENTRAL (384-397-781) Mandy Gunville 85-91-176, Amanda Nielsen 100-97-197, Kim Kreiter 90-95-185, Eli Spang 109-166-225, Kelly Gunville 113-114-227.
BIGFORK (416-417-833) Katy Hullett 101-104-205; Kate Groenke 104-97-201, Jocelyn Nelson 101-101-202, Paige Ueland 110-115-225, Drew Cable 133-128-261.
LIBBY (452-424-876) Brook Kambel 115-110-225, Katie Pfeifer 103-93-196, Kelly Cassidy 121-105-226, Kallie Schutz 113-116-229.
COLUMBIA FALLS (436-401-837) Lacy Schlegel 93-85-178, Miranda Thompson 122-109-231, Kyla Hanson 105-93-198, Moe Baker 116-114-230, Emily Bowne 121-130-251.
