Pony golfers fire solid scores

Havre High's Katie Beck swings at a shot on the No. 5 hole at Beaver Creek Golf Course during Saturday's Havre Invitational golf tournament. Beck shot a personal season low.

Blue Pony freshman Jeff Miller putts uphill during Saturday's Havre Invite at Beaver Creek Golf Course.

Blue Pony David Denny tees off on the third hole at Beaver Creek Golf Course in Saturday's Havre Invitational golf tournament.

Havre senior Spencer Ross watches a putt during Saturday's Havre Invitational golf tournament.

It is always nice to golf at home, and not have to travel. The Havre High golf team got that chance again on Saturday, and took advantage of a nice day on the links.

On Saturday the Central A Blue Ponies held their second Havre Invitational of the season. This time at the Beaver Creek Golf Course in Havre, the Ponies played host to Browning, Lewistown and Swift Current out of Canada.

The HHS boys finished behind Lewistown by just four strokes, with a team score of 356 for a third-place finish. Lewistown was second with 252, and Swift Current dominated the field with a team score of 335. In the girls field, the Ponies finished second overall with a score of 221. Lewistown finished first with a score of 412, while Browning was third with 505.

"It was a beautiful day and we had a lot of great competition," Havre High head coach McKinsey Rodriguez said. "Browning and Lewistown are two teams that we have to watch for on the boys and girls side at divisionals, so it was nice to see them again. But we had a lot of good competition today."

Spencer Ross had a standout day for the Ponies, while the rest of the HHS boys also had a decent 18-hole outing.

Ross paced the boys with an 87, and finished as the No. 6 golfer overall. Ross shot a 42 on the first nine, and followed with a 45 on the back nine, saying he felt good from the start.

"The first hole went pretty good," Ross said. "So I just kept going from there. I hit the ball solid and just kept trying to get as close as I could to the pin. Today I was just focused on striking the ball, because yesterday (in Lewistown) I was either hitting it fat or hitting it thin. Today I just concentrated on swinging through the ball. It feels good to be back up at the top."

Jeff Miller also had a solid afternoon, finishing with an 88 and an 8th place finish. David Denny also finished in the Top 10, earning an 89 and finishing just behind Miller in ninth place. Ramsey Drew finished with a 92, while Jerod Boles finished with a 95 for the varsity. The rest of the HHS golfers included Chance Pitkanen (107), Brad Bender (107), Michael Bakke (121), Trey Scofield (105), Austin Christianson (118), Jesse Lieberg (132), Garret Dolezal (150), Kody Hickman (112), Jacob Holden (124), Chris Steinmets (122), and Garret Hentchel (109).

"Spencer (Ross) had a great day," Rodriguez said. "And that was his personal low for at least the three years I have coached him. David Denny also stepped up, and it is definitely nice to see those two step up."

And once again, Boston Swensen, shooting a 97, and finishing as the No. 3 girl, led the HHS girls. But Katie Beck wasn't too far behind, as she shot a 99 and finished as the No. 6 golfer on the day. This was Beck's best score of the season, and Swensen's second best score, as they led the Ponies to a No. 2 finish.

"It was a good day and everybody golfed well," Beck said. "I felt like I golfed amazing, I got a 99 and that is my lowest score this year. And the team got second place, so that was good."

Payton Howard also finished with a score of 112, while Randi Gabrielsen finished with a score of 113, and Julie Kadrmas scored a 137 for the

Havre's Payton Howard hits a shot during Saturday's Havre Invite at BCGC.

HHS varsity. Other HHS girl included Katlyn King (130), Dani Murphy (115), Dani Friede (122), Kelly Reynolds (175), Megan Cline (120), and Taylor McLain (132).

"The girls need to drop maybe 10 strokes as a team," Rodgriquez said. "And then we will be sitting in pretty good position for state. And for the boys, each golfer also needs to drop a couple of strokes individually as a personal goal, and they too will be in good position.."

The Ponies will return to the road on Thursday, when they travel to the Eagle Rock golf course to compete in the Billings Central Invite.

Havre Invite

at BCGC

Boys

Swift Current 335, Lewistown 352, Havre 356

Top 10

1. Jesse Kynett, LEW 80; 2. Blake Morrow, SC 82; 3. Ian Hays, SC 82; 4. Jessey-Lee Lacker, SC 84; 5. Preston Kynett, LEW 85; 6. Spencer Ross, HHS 87; 7. Kelton Braun, SC 87; 8. Jeff Miller, HHS 88; 9. David Denny, HHS 89; 10. Tyrel Walter, LEW 91.

Other Havre Individuals

Ramsey Drew 92; Jerod Boles 95; Trey Scofield 105; Chance Pitkanen 107; Brad Bender 107; Garret Hentchel 109; Kody Hickman 112; Austin Christianson 118; Michael Bakke 121; Chris Steinmets 122; Jacob Holden 124; Jesse Lieberg 132; Garret Dolezal 150

Girls

Lewistown 412, Havre 421, Browning 505

Top 10

1. Hannah Thomas, LEW 92; 2. Rachel Cronan, SC 92; 3. Boston Swensen, HHS 97; 4. Marlee Thomas, LEW 97; 5. Sidney Smith, LEW 98; 6. Katie Beck, HHS 99; 7. Summer Kennerly, BRO 102; 8. Terryn Williamson, BRO 103; 9. Theresa Lautsch, SC 107; 10. Emily Bugera, SC 111.

Team scores -- Lewistown 397, Browning 414, Havre 436, Great Falls JV 503, Great Falls CMR 568.

Top 10 -- Marlee Thomas, Lew, 86; Sydney Smith, Lew, 94; Hannah Thomas, Lew, 96; Terryn Williamson, Bro, 97; Summer Kennerey, Bro, 100; Boston Swensen, Hav, 101; Abigail Davidson, GF, 102; Jessica Magee, Bro, 102; Katie Beck, Hav, 107; Randi Gabrielsen, Hav, 112.