On to state for Pony linksters

The first step in postseason play is now in the books for the Havre High golf teams. And the Blue Ponies left the Livingston Golf and Country Club happy with the way the 2017 Central A Divisional tournament went.

The Havre High girls finished second to Lewistown in the team title race Saturday in Livingston, with four Blue Ponies earning Central A All-Conference honors.

"The girls performed really well," HHS head coach Brett Gilman said. "They shot about what I expected them to, considering the weather and never having played the course before. They did a really good job."

Havre scored a 409, led by junior Teagan Fee, who finished with an 89. Fee came in second place, behind only Lewistown star Kinsey Irvin. Regan Lammers also had a strong day for the Ponies, shooting 108 to finish fifth, while fellow senior Grace Litzinger was seventh at 108. Junior Kinzee Peterson also earned All-Conference honors with a ninth-place finish at 111, while freshman Jocelyn Staples rounded out the scoring for the Ponies with a 125.

On the boys side, Havre took five first-time players to the Central A tourney, and while HHS didn't place, the Ponies qualified two of the five freshmen for the state tourney, leaving Gilman more than pleased with how his young team performed.

"I'm very proud of the boys," Gilman said. "They all played very well. They shot numbers that were much more reflective of the progress they've made this season. They've come a long way in a short amount of time."

Nolan Lotton and Caleb Chambliss paced the Ponies, with Top 15 finishes. Lotton shot 107 and Chambliss finished with a 108. Clint Owens shot 112, missing out on a state tourney berth by just one stroke, while Josh Warp finished at 115 and Hunter Velk came in at 121. Livingston won the boys tournament, while Belgrade finished second.

Now, the seven Blue Ponies who qualified, will get ready to play in the grand finale this weekend. The Class A state tournament runs Friday-Saturday in Sidney.