By Jason Shoot
With what head coach Keith Evenson considers the greatest boys golf team in the history of the school, Havre is on a mission to end this season with a Class A state title.
Junior Nick Obie, who lost in a playoff for the boys' individual crown last year, paces the Ponies' effort this season.
"He is extremely dedicated to the whole game, but he really works on his short game because he knows that's where he can pick up a stroke or two," Havre coach Keith Evenson said.
"I saw him in state two strokes down going to the last hole, and he picked up the two strokes with a birdie and the other guy bogeyed," Evenson said. "He made an 18-foot putt to force the playoff."
Obie has a great deal of experience, including winning the state amateur tournament as a freshman, and that should bode well for the Ponies' chances of improving upon their third-place finish at state last year.
"He's been in the pressure cooker several times and come through quite well," Evenson said.
Obie is joined on the course by fellow juniors Jason Johnstone, Troy Toner and Kevin Harada, all of whom are "very dedicated to golf," Evenson said.
"We have an extremely strong boys team and lots and lots of depth on the team," Evenson said. "This is the best team in the history of Havre."
That foursome also gives Evenson some free time to attend to other duties.
"What it does is help me and my assistant coach go out and help the younger kids," Evenson said. "They just go out and teach each other."
Despite Evenson's enthusiasm to get this season rolling, he understands a lot stands in the way of where the Ponies hope this season goes.
"We play a lot of Class B and C schools, and every year those B and C schools from the North Central area do well at state," Evenson said. "This year we're the kingpins, and they're looking to knock us off."
