Local Golf Report: Rotary week was more than fun

There are plenty of exciting weeks on the local golf scene. In fact, if you love the game, pretty much every week in the summer is exciting.

But this past week at Prairie Farms Golf Course was certainly one of the biggest, and best week’s of the local golf season.

Last Tuesday-Thursday, Prairie Farms played host to the Rotary Youth Golf Camp. The annual camp, put on by Jim Kato, attracted 34 golfers, including boys and girls ages 8-18. The camp has become a staple on the local golf scene, and kudos to Kato, Doug Sheppard, the Rotary Club, and everyone who volunteered their time to make it successful, and help advance youth golf in Havre and on the Hi-Line.

But the end of Rotary Camp on Thursday wasn’t the end of the big week that was at Prairie Farms. The Rotary Blast Golf Tournament was held Saturday-Sunday, and once again, it was an intense and tough golf tournament. It was also a fun weekend, and a big thank you has to go out to all the hard work of Kato, Doug Sheppard, the Rotary Club and everyone who donates their time to making the event one of the best golf tournaments in our area. I would also like to say thank you to Brett Gilman and his Prairie Farms’ crew. The course was in excellent shape and the setup was befitting of a competitive golf tournament.

As for the tourney itself, the Rotary Blast is an 18-hole, 2-person modified stableford scoring event. And the tough tourney was captured by Brett and Joanne Normandy, who finished with 16.5 points. Modified stableford scoring rewards players with six points for an eagle, four for a birdie, two for a par, one for a bogey and a half of a point for a double bogey. Finishing in second place was the duo of Kyle Sheppard and Doug Sheppard with 16 points, while the team of Trent and Don Normandy, and the duo of Brent Zanto and Barry Zanto each finished with 15.5 points, tying for third place.

Notice a theme? The top four teams in the Rotary Blast were all family-member pairings. Well done guys. In all, the Calcutta paid out the Top 10 scores in the Rotary Blast, while the top four teams in each flight were also rewarded.

Of course, my name is missing from the aforementioned winners, but in a shameless plug, I’ll just say, I cleaned house in Saturday’s always-fun, Rotary Pre-Tournament round. It was a very good day for this writer, but just don’t ask how Sunday went.

After the lengthy Fourth of July holiday, golf leagues got back to normal last week at Prairie Farms. On Thursday night, in ladies’ league action, Scharfe, Kate & Co. easily earned high-team honors, totaling 30 points. The team is composed of Carrie Kato, Shauna Albrecht, Davilynn McCormick and Ristina Wilting. Anna Toner and Melissa Oberquell each shot rounds of 42 for low gross, while Ginger Zanto was low net with a 29.5.

In men’s league last Tuesday night, Korb Construction was high team with 26 points. The team was made up of Matt Hedstrom, Pat Foster, Dave Boles and Billy Wagner. Hedstrom fired a 2-under-par 34 to earn low gross, while Tyler Gibson was low net with a 29. Last Wednesday night saw Havre Ford score 24 points to earn high-team honors. Brett Gilman, Kevin Harada, Dave Boles and Steve Steinmetz made up the squad. Jimmy Kirkpatrick shot an even-par 36 to be low gross for the night, while Brandon Moomey, Brian Jenkins and Jim Wirt shared low net, each with a 31.

The tournament slate at Prairie Farms is quiet for a few weeks, but will return with the annual Northern Montana Health Care Foundation Invitational on Aug. 2.

Prairie Farms Golf Leagues

Women's league standings

Patrick Construction 141.5, Havre Heating & AC 138, Makin Waves 133, Independence Bank 128.5, DA Davidson 117.5, Northern Montana Hospital 111.5, Scharfe, Kato & Co. 107, Schubert Agency 106.5, Western Drug 106, Prairie Farms 92, Columbia Grain-Rudyard.

Tuesday night men's league

standings

Bing-N-Bob's 48.5, Korb Construction 46, Rock Solid 40.5, Dan Wagner Plumbing 40, Lisa's 15 West 39, Tilleman Motor Co. 38, BKD Law 39, Stockman Bank 36.5, Patrick Construction 35.5, Hi-Line Drilling 34, Triple Dog Brewery/Schubert Agency 33.5, Northern Edge 33, Havre Muffler 32, Nalivka's 32, Havre Ford 27.5, Spencer's Highway Bar 27, Independence Bank 26.5, Hole 19 24.

Wednesday night men's league

standings

Independence Bank 47.5, Michelob Light 40.5, Mariani Insurance 40, Havre Ford 39, Hi-Line Audio/Video 37.5, Master Sports 36.6, Bear Paw Credit Union 36, Prairie Farms 35.5, Valley Furniture 35, DA Davidson 34.5, Koefod Agency 33.5, Tiger Woods 32, Taco Johns 31.5, Ruff Real Estate 31, Triangle Communications 31, Property West 30.