Local Golf Report: Rotary Blast still has openings

The Great Northern Fair closed on Sunday and for local golfers, that signals the stretch run of the summer golf season.

In the coming weeks, golf leagues will wind down the regular season, big tournaments will be held, and very soon, high school golfers will take to the courses for the start of the 2012 season.

And this week is a big one at Prairie Farms Golf Course as the Havre Rotary Club hosts two big events.

Today-Thursday, the Rotary Golf Camp takes center stage as youth golfers from all over can get quality instruction and plenty of fun over the next three days. The Rotary Camp offers two days of golf instruction, as well a fun tournament for the kids to play. The Rotary Camp has become a popular event in the summer and this week will be no exception.

Then, this weekend, the annual Rotary Blast Tournament will be held at Prairie Farms. The tournament is one of the few tournaments in Havre which is not a scramble, which makes it very popular among golf enthusiasts. The Rotary tourney is an 18-hold, two-person modified stableford scoring tourney, similar to the format which was used for this past weekend's Reno-Tahoe Celebrity Championship which was broadcast on NBC.

There is still room for teams to sign up for the Rotary Blast and anyone interested can do so by calling or visiting the Pro Shop at Prairie Farms.

This past weekend saw both the Montana State Men's and Women's Amateur Tournament's held. The men's tournament was held at Briarwood Golf Club in Billings, while the women's tourney was held at Whitefish Lakes Golf Club. In browsing the results, I didn't see any local golfers competing, but if I missed anybody, please feel free to send those results and I will publish them in next week's column.

League golf in the area is entering a critical time, especially men's league at Prairie Farms, as teams jockey for the eight remaining playoff spots. Last Tuesday night saw Stockman Bank score 21.5 points to take high-tea, honors, while Chase Hillman shot a one-under par 35 for low gross. Gary Stremcha was low net with a 29.5. On Wednesday night, Mariani Insurance scored a whopping 26 points to take high team. Jim Kato caught fire with a 3-under par 33 for low gross and Pat Foster and Murry Hurlburt each netted a 31.5.

There are only three weeks left before the men's league playoffs begin at Beaver Creek Golf Course. Last Thursday night saw Nalivka's Pizza take high-team honors with 24.5 points. The team was made up of Thomas Kline, Rob The Boy, Jacob Anderson and Shane Kemmer. Frank Henry shot an even-par 36 for low gross and Jerry Woods was low net with a 25.

Last Thursday night in ladies league at Prairie Farms, Northern Montana Hospital earned high-team honors. The team is composed of Carol Culp, Patti Nault, Kim Klein and Teri Earl. Ali Ward shot a stellar one-under par 35 for low gross and Jen Brandon was low net.

Prairie Farms Women's League

Standings

Stockman Bank 167.5

Schubert Agency 160

Havre Heating 158.5

Independent Inspection 157.5

D A Davidson 156.5

Northern Montana Hospital 152.5

Independence Bank 152

*Patrick Construction 135.5

Golden Spike 126.5

SM Construction 121.5

Western Drug 99.5

*Prairie Farms 79.5