With so many teams in the mix for the State AA golf title, the difference between winning hardware and leaving empty-handed could be a matter of a few strokes.
And with Missoula Country Club and Phantom Hills as the venues for the 2006 state tournament Friday and Saturday, the Missoula golfers' local knowledge could give them the advantage they need to break through.
Friday's first round will be played at the par-71 MCC starting at 10 a.m., while the final round will be at Phantom, a par-72, at the same time. Players will be sent off using tee times.
Big Sky, led by seniors Kyle Terrell and Jason Johnson, and Sentinel, featuring defending individual champion Logan Ward, figure to put their teams in contention come Saturday afternoon.
“I think Sentinel and Big Sky have a decent shot at it,” Sentinel head coach George Martin said. “Both teams will have to be on their games and play the best they have all season, though. If they can do that, they'll be right there.”
But expect a fight from a number of teams, including deep squads from West and Senior.
Kalispell, winner of the Missoula Invitational earlier this season, will also be in the hunt.
“Our boys have done so well,” Braves coach Alice Ritzman said. “The key is to continue to have confidence in themselves.”
She's also impressed with the depth of this year's field.
“I haven't seen a team race this close in five years,” Ritzman said. “These aren't the types of courses where you can get on the tee and just rip a driver - you must play them with discipline.”
The Braves are led by super sophomore Larry Iverson, one of the top players in the state.
Of the five tournaments this season, Iverson - who played in four - won two of them and finished second and third in the others. In those two, only golfers from the Class A ranks defeated him.
“Every part of Larry's game is strong,” Ritzman said. “He hits it straight, putts well - he'll be in the running.”
Along with Iverson, Terrell, Johnson and Ward, other players that should vie for the individual title are West's Tyson Bickford and Jake Hedge, Senior's Geoff Oliphant and Bozeman's Grant Doorn.
Ward, who won state last year in Great Falls in a playoff, suffered a broken right thumb four weeks ago and was forced to take some time off.
“Even though he's still recovering from the injury,” Martin said, “I think he'll surprise some people and be in contention.”
Missoula Hellgate's Sam Brown has placed in the top 10 throughout the season.
On the girls' side, Helena High's Lindsay Erickson has dominated, winning four straight tournaments heading into state, and should be tough to beat again.
The only other winner was Helena Capital's Alyssa Biskupiak, who won the Great Falls Invitational in August.
Hellgate's Whitney Lamb is peaking at the right time, coming off of a fourth-place finish at the Flatfish Invitational last week. Teammate Sadie Russell has shown promise this season, and has the ability to post a top-10 finish.
“For our girls,” Henthorn said, “the goal is to try and steer clear of big numbers. If we can do that, things will be interesting for sure.”
The Billings West girls have to be the favorite in the team race, winning four times this season. Bozeman will give the Bears a run for their money, and both Helena schools and Great Falls CMR will compete.
“It's going to be a dogfight for all the titles,” Henthorn said. “The difference is who'll be able to conquer their nerves and sink some putts.”
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