By Kim Staudinger
The Havre High School boys golf team, winner of the divisional and state titles last year, has shown no signs of fading this season.
The boys set a goal at the beginning of the season of winning each tournament they golfed in. While they have fallen just short of that goal, the weekends that matter are the two coming up.
Saturday the Havre boys and girls teams will be in Butte to golf in the Central A Divisional Tournament. Both teams left this morning for Butte and will have a practice round today before tournament action begins on Saturday. Next Thursday and Friday, they will be in Whitefish for the state tournament.
The girls team lost key players due to graduation last year but two seniors have led the team throughout the season. Julie Wagner has won medalist honors at various tournaments this season and has placed in the top five at many others. Wagner is joined by senior teammate Katie Miller, junior Heather Bowker, and sophomores Shannon Newth and Amanda Brock.
"I think (the girls) have a very respectable chance," Havre head coach Keith Evenson said. "I just want to get them to state. I don't have any big aspirations for them."
Four seniors lead the boys team Nick Obie, Jason Johnstone, Kevin Harada and Troy Toner. The fifth player is sophomore Trent Normandy.
Obie, Johnstone, Harada and Toner have golfed together all four years of high school and are shooting for their second straight state title this season. Although only one of the Havre boys has golfed on the Butte course, Evenson feels very confident in his team's ability.
"I have no question at all as to how we'll do. I very strongly feel that we have a chance to win considering the way we've played at the (Class) AA tournaments," Evenson said. "I'm very confident for my boys. The kids have a great attitude and have confidence, but they are not overconfident."
Evenson said the Butte course is a shorter course than most they've golfed on, with a lot of "finesse holes."
If either team is unable to place in the top four, individual players can still qualify for the state tournament by placing in the top 20.
