Local Golf Report: MSU-N Diesel Tech results are in

If you love links golf like I do, then you must have loved Sunday’s final round of the 147th Open Championship. What an incredible and thrilling finish to what is the oldest golf tournament in the world.

But as much as I enjoyed watching Sunday’s final round, I’m also looking forward to getting some sleep this week.

Thanks to the Golf Channel’s first ball to last putt coverage of the first two rounds of the Open, I haven’t been getting much sleep. That’s right, I’m so addicted to the Open, I pretty much stayed up all night both Thursday and Friday watching golf, and I made sure to wake up early to watch the final two rounds, too.

I do the same thing for tennis’ Australian Open every year, and when the Ryder Cup is played in Paris in September, I’ll do it again. For now however, I’m glad that the Open is over, and I can go back to my normal routine of eating breadsticks at midnight and being asleep by 1 a.m., instead of eating a snack at 3 a.m. and staying up until my wife goes to work to watch golf.

Speaking of golf, it may not be local, but Libby’s Ryggs Johnston does play Class A high school golf, so I’d be remise not to mention how incredible his win at this weekend’s Montana State Am really was. Johnston, who will be a senior at Libby High School this fall, has won just about every tournament Montana has to offer, and he’s shattered tons of course records along the way. But the Arizona State-bound talent hadn’t played in a State Am yet — until this weekend in Butte. And not only did he dominate Montana’s most prestigious Amateur tournament, he set the Butte CC course record along the way.

I think it’s safe to say, at this point, Johnston is already the greatest amateur player Montana has ever produced, and the state has produced some good ones, including former Havre Blue Pony great Nick Obie.

Back on the home front, league at Prairie Farms Golf Course carried on last week. On Tuesday night, Kyle Sheppard fired a 3-under par 33 for low gross, while Dick Hanson was low net with a 29.5. Rock Solid was high team with 22.5 points, led by Gary Baltrusch, Mike Kellam and Rob and Jake Meyers.

Last Wednesday night saw Valley Furniture take high-team honors with 23.5 points. Hoover and Dave Peterson, Kerry Ward and Brent Reber composed the squad. Jeremy Jensen was low gross with an even 36, while Wayne Bolken was low net with a 30.5.

In ladies league last Thursday, Northern Montana Hospital scored 25 points for high team. Patti Nault Mary Pizzini, Terri Earl and Carol Culp composed the team. Ali Ward shot an outstanding even-par 36 for low gross, while Pizzini was low net with a 29.5. Reminder to all in ladies league, there is no league this week due to the Women’s State Am.

In men’s league play at Beaver Creek Golf Course last Thursday, former Havre Blue Pony tennis great Kellan Malone shot an even 36 for low gross, while another former HHS tennis player, Tim McLean netted a 31. New Concept Lawn, composed of Justin Hawley, Nick Turner, Bob Bergren Jr. and Dan Rayle scored 27 points for high team.

Last Saturday at BCGC was also the popular MSU-Northern Diesel Technology Scramble. A total of 18 teams competed in the four-person scramble with Stockman Bank taking first-place honors with a net score of 53.8. Independence Bank’s team was second, followed by A.J. Lamere’s squad in third. The tournament has become one of the top tournaments on the local golf schedule each summer, and from the pictures I saw, a great time was had by all.

Prairie Farms Golf League Standings

Tuesday Night Men

Tire Rama 44, Patrick Construction 43, Rock Solid 40, Stockman Bank 37, Cowan & Sons 35.5, BKD Law 35, Tilleman Motors 33.5, Wagner Plumbing 33, BA Ranch 33, Vic's Place 33, Hole 19 31.5, Misfits 26.5

Wednesday Night Men

Valley Furniture 62.5, Michelob Light 59, DA Davidson 58.5, Hub Insurance 57, BPCU 57, Master Sports 56, Korb Construction 52, Independence Bank 50.5, Harvest Moon Lanes 44.5, Havre Ford 43.

Ladies League

Independence Bank- 214.5

DA Davidson- 181

Double R- 176

Patrick Construction- 172

Prairie Farms- 169.5

Northern Montana Hospital- 167.5

Havre Heating & A/C- 157

Scharfe Kato & Co.- 156.5

Schubert Agency- 143.5

Western Drug- 131.5

Rock Solid- 114.5

BCGC Men's League Standings

Grip It n Sip It - 95.5

Grams - 89.5

Havre Rental - 84.5

New Concept Lawn Care - 83.5

Triple Dog Brewery - 82.5

Vine 19 - 75.5

Nalivkas - 73.5

Beaver Creek Golf Course - 72

Triangle Communications - 69

C&S Labs - 66.5

Plain Green - 65.5

Chvilicek Farms - 64.5

Oxford Bar - 61.5

Office Equipment - 61

Droppin A Deuce - 60.5

Independence Bank - 60

Border Dogs - 60

Team Kaare - 58.5

4 Shafts in 8 Balls - 44