The Chinook High School Girls and Boys Golf teams were in Fort Benton on Wednesday, May 6 playing at the Signal Point Golf Club in the Fort Benton Invitational. Friday, May 8, they were back on the Signal Point course, this time as part of the Highwood Invitational.
Wednesday the 'Beeter boys contingent consisted of Senior Braden Eoff, freshman Brockton Elliot, junior Daniel MacLeod, junior Ryan Meneely, senior Oskar Pula and freshman Jacob Metcalf, Kohen Sullivan and Lance Pitkanen.
Eoff paced the way for the 'Beeter boys finishing his round with a score of 105 to finish 13th in the tournament. Elliot scored a 117, Meneely shot a 123 and Pula a 130. The top three scores determined the team score for the tournament.
On the girls side Chinook saw junior Morgan Friede, freshman Cayla Hofer and senior Shay Hauer tee off for the 'Beeters. Friede led the 'Beeter contingent with a score of 110, earning a seventh place finish in the tournament. Hofer completed her eighteen holes with a score of 128 while Hauer recorded a 145.
Friday the 'Beeter boys and girls were once again back in Fort Benton but this time things were considerably different. The tournament was once again played at the Signal Point Golf Course and was hosted by the Highwood Mountaineers.
Any thoughts of building on a round from Wednesday disappeared before one tee shot was hit. The weather was nearly unbearable with cooler temperatures in the 40's on again off again rain and heavy gust of wind that often exceeded 40 miles per hour. Players had as much trouble keeping their push carts upright as they did hitting into the wind.
The scores reflected the difficult conditions, but hats off for staying on the course and completing the round. The 'Beeter boys were led on the day by Meneely with a 111, Eoff turned in a card with a score of 119. Pitkanen improved his score from Wednesday by an incredible 27 shots to finish with a 122. MacLeod finished his round with a score of 131.
For the girls the 'Beeter contingent once again included Friede, Hofer and Hauer as well as sophomore Hallie Kralich. Friede turned in another top 10 finish, firing off a round of 127 to finish ninth. Kralich was in with a 132, Hofer one shot back with a 133. Hauer signed her card for a 146 to complete the 'Beeter scorers.
The 'Beeters headed to Sidney on Sunday to compete in the Eastern C Divisional on Monday, May 9. In previous years golfers had to record a marked score of 125 for girls and a 100 for boys to qualify for the State C Boys and Girls Golf Tournament. In an effort to limit a rapidly growing field at the state tournament site, the MHSA made some considerable changes.
Qualifying standards for the boys were adjusted down to an 85 while the girls new mark became 100. In addition schools were divided into an Eastern and Western Division. The top 25 individuals as well as the top 5 teams would qualify for the State Tournament.
Those individuals and teams that do qualify will then head to the State C Boys and Girls Tournament being played in Sidney on May 17-18. The Class B Divisional was also played this past Monday with the Harlem Wildcats taking part. The Class B State Boys and Girls Golf Tournament will be held at Fairmont Hot Springs, May 17-18.