Golf: Libby qualifies 4 for state meet
Zach Watson and Louis Cielak for the boys, and Chelsey Oedewaldt and Candace Hendrickson for the girls qualified for the Class A state golf tournament this past Thursday with top 15 finishes at divisionals.
Whitefish’s Reed Platke easily won the boys’ title with a round of 73 on the challenging Meadow Lake Golf Resort course at Columbia Falls. Platke’s score in the 70s was a surprise with poor weather impacting other golfers.
“I think the golf course won … it was typical fall golf,” Libby coach Dann Rohrer said. “We have beautiful golf all summer and then you get to the playoffs and it’s ugly.”
The Class A state tournament runs Friday and Saturday at the Village Greens Golf Course in Kalispell.
“The kids are never really prepared for the poor weather; it’s a different kind of golf when you’re cold,” Rohrer said. “I think the kids persevered with what they accomplished.”
Watson played solid with a round of 91 – good for eighth place. Cielak placed 14th with a 96.
“Louis played well, he’s starting to come on,” Rohrer said. “Zach, we expected it because he’s been playing well. He’s in a position now to make a run for the state championship or top 5 or top 10. He put himself in a position where he wants to be.”
For the girls, Oedewaldt shot a 132 for 12th place and Hendrickson’s 134 put her in 14th.
“Candace has played pretty well this year so that’s not a real surprise to me,” Rohrer said. “Chelsea is just getting better and better. She’s a good example of perseverance. She stayed with the game and continued to practice and improve. It’s a real accomplishment for her to go to state.”
The top three teams and top 15 individuals advanced to state. Both the Libby boys and girls finished fourth in the team race.
Others competing for the Logger boys were Chris Campbell (107), Seth Volkenand (124) and Byron Benefield (129). For the girls, rounding out the squad were Taylor Barton (141) and Sara Kristiansson (144).
Libby’s state qualifiers head to Kalispell for practice rounds on Thursday before the actual tournament on Friday and Saturday.