Both Blue Pony golf teams are headed to state

The end of the golf season is near and the Havre High Blue Ponies are starting to heat up.

The Havre boys won their third straight divisional title, led by senior Nick Obie's 1-over-par 71 for his second consecutive divisional title.

"I've played the course before and I liked the course," Obie said.

Following Obie in a close second was senior teammate Kevin Harada with a 72. Adding the third top-five finisher for the Ponies was Jason Johnstone in fourth with a 75.

The boys cruised to the team title, beating Dillon by 16 strokes. Havre finished under 300 with a 297 while Dillon shot a 313.

Despite the title and the seemingly easy win, Havre head coach Keith Evenson was not completely satisfied with his team's performance.

"The boys took first and that was nice but we didn't play well," he said. "We need to play better. We're better than that. We are going to have to improve going to Whitefish" for the state tournament next weekend.

For the girls, Julie Wagner topped the Ponies with a second-place finish.

"I'm happy with what place I took," Wagner said. "The outcome was good for what place I took, but I played one of the worst rounds I have all year."

Wagner's 94 led the team to a narrow fourth-place finish, guaranteeing the entire girls team a trip to the state tournament.

"It's nice because we didn't know if we would make it or not," Wagner said. "It's better to have the whole team there."

The girls shot a combined 427, sneaking past fifth-place Anaconda, which had 428.

"We got them to state and that was our goal," Evenson said of his girls team. "It was by the skin of our teeth."

Wagner was the only top five finisher for the Ponies but senior teammate Katie Miller and sophomore Amanda Brock each shot one of their best rounds all season. Each finished the day with a 105.

The Havre teams will be in Whitefish for the state tournament starting Thursday. The boys team is one of the favorites and is seeking a second-straight state title.

"We are marked, as I think everyone is calling us the team to beat," Obie said.

The following are the results from the tournament:

Boys:

Team scores:

Havre 297

Dillon 313

Butte Central 316

Fergus 320

Belgrade 333

Individual placers:

Nick Obie, Havre, 71

Kevin Harada, Havre, 72

Nate Redfern, Fergus, 73

Jason Johnstone, Havre, 75

Camrron Alexson, Butte Central, 76

Other Havre placers: Trent Normandy 79; Troy Toner 83.

Girls:

Team scores:

Dillon 404

Livingston 416

Fergus 421

Havre 427

Anaconda 428

Individual placers:

Kaitlin Flament, Fergus, 87

Julie Wagner, Havre, 94

Robin Russell, Dillon, 96

Other Havre placers: Katie Miller, 105; Amanda Brock 105; Heather Bowker 123; Shannon Newth 125.