The fourth-year Broncs coach hasn't forgotten last October. Hamilton had high hopes going into Montana's Class A showcase and finished a disappointing sixth.
The Broncs will try to use their 2006 experience as a positive Wednesday when they tee it up for state at Anaconda's Old Works Golf Course. The senior-dominated team boasts a 9-1 record, with its only loss coming last week when No. 1 player Paul Petersen sat out with strep throat.
Plenty of things.
For starters, Petersen is one of three Broncs that battled strep throat and was on antibiotics last week. The others are key contributors Jake Wilson and Josh Grenier.
Then there's the unpredictable weather at Old Works.
“The wind is always blowing and you just never know what it's going to be like,” said Burch, whose divisional champion squad is shooting for its first state title in 21 years. “We've played at Anaconda the last four or five years and had all kinds of conditions. It snowed a little bit a few years ago. There's also been some hail, lightning and some beautiful days.”
Hamilton can draw confidence from its meet win at Anaconda earlier this season. The fact Old Works is so close to home is also beneficial.
“I played horribly at Anaconda earlier this year, but it's probably my favorite course,” said Grenier, who took fourth individually at state last season. “It's lined with the black (slag) bunkers all over the place, and there's practically no trees.
“We just need to put ourselves in contention the first day. We've had a lot of compliments on the (Missoulian feature) article last week, but I don't want people to expect too much out of us. Whitefish is the team to beat and will be until they get beat.”
The Bulldogs have won three straight state titles. But they've lost to Hamilton on several occasions this season, and their only win over the Broncs was when Petersen was sidelined.
“There's not much pressure on us,” Whitefish coach Terry Nelson said. “We've gotten better, and the kids shot 304 at Frenchtown last week, so they're getting there.
“It's just the right timing. We know we have players that can do it. If they all get it together, we'll be right there.”
Burch feels the same way about his squad. One of his seniors, Grenier, has proven he can elevate his game under the state spotlight.
“I think our whole team has a pretty positive attitude about state this year,” Grenier said. “It was all-new to everybody except me last year.
“I've talked to Paul (Petersen), Jesse (Porch) and Brian (Richichi) about staying calm after a bad shot. That's what it comes down to.”
Nelson looks for a close finish in team and individual competition.
“I think the boys is a four-way battle between us, Hamilton, Billings Central and Glendive,” he said. “The battle for medalist honors could come down to (defending champion) Sam Krause (of Whitefish), Jim Mee of Libby and a couple boys from Billings Central.”
The girls' meet could be a two-horse race between the last two state champions. Defending champ Whitefish holds a 3-2 edge over 2005 champion Polson in five meetings this season.
“It will be close between the two schools,” said Nelson, whose team sent a message on Friday in beating Polson by 33 strokes in divisional competition.
Polson coach Bill Owen is excited about the recent efforts of two of his players: junior Julia DiGiallonardo and sophomore Natalia Arlint. Digiallonardo posted the best score of prep career with an 80 in Hamilton recently. Arlint has been a consistent player for the Pirates.
Nevertheless, Owen considers Whitefish the team to beat.
“Golf is kind of a heady game, and the less pressure I put on our girls the better,” he said. “I'm hoping they go in and play nice and loose. If they do, we've got a shot at Whitefish. I think we can hang with them and have a great shot of finishing top-2.”
The race for individual honors may go down to the wire. Whitefish senior Chelsea Ray took second last year behind Havre's Ali Ward, who now plays for Montana State-Northern.
However, Ray was upstaged by DiGiallonardo and two of her Whitefish teammates in the Flatfish Invitational this past weekend. The duo included Keeley McConnell and Quinn Micklewright. A third Bulldogs teammate, Breanna Cameron, matched Ray's two-day score of 184.
The state meet is a 36-hole event held over two days. Champions will be crowned Thursday afternoon.
Reporter Bill Speltz can be reached at 523-5255 or be e-mail at bill.speltz@lee.net.
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