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LHS golf tees off this weekend

by Brad FuquaWestern News
| September 1, 2009 12:00 AM

Missing a placing by just one shot at the Class A State Golf Tournament last fall, Libby High School’s Zach Watson no doubt wants to improve in his final season and earn a medal by finishing among the top 15.

Watson had two rounds of 85 on the course at Polson Bay Club to serve as the perfect example of consistency.

“I figure Zach stands a great chance next year,” Libby golf coach Dann Rohrer said following last fall’s state tourney. “He’s got to be one of the top 10 best players (returning). If he puts in time on the links and practices, he has the game to play with them.”

Watson, who made all-conference last year, represents the lone state returnee on the Logger squad.

“If he plays solid, he should be right there and one to contend with every week,” Rohrer said. “He has the potential to be in the top 10 every week.”

Two years ago as a sophomore, Watson had rounds of 85 and 86 at state in Anaconda.

“He’s got his game going pretty good right now,” Rohrer said. “He’s just a good athlete … and is pretty much committed to it.”

Noticeably absent from the Logger lineup this season is Jackie Mee. After placing seventh at state, Mee is devoting her fall sports attention entirely to the volleyball squad.

Joining Watson will be what Rohrer described as a “slew of guys that I think will compete.”

Senior Eric Grotjohn, sophomore Louis Cielak, junior Chris Campbell and junior Seth Volkenand all return. Dan Leggins and Micah Germany also could be right there for a spot on varsity, and Carson Whitmarsh, Byron Benefield, Andrew Smith and Caleb Wilson find themselves in the running as well.

“I think we’ll be competing for spots,” Rohrer said. “It’s pretty wide open with the exception of Zach. The other ones will just trade off; it depends on how they play. Everyone has the same opportunity. We’ll see what kind of game they put together.”

For the girls, juniors Taylor Barton and Candace Hendrickson along with seniors Chelsea Oedewaldt and Jona Pelitier all return to compete for low scores. Foreign-exchange student Sara Kristiansson is also on the roster.

The Loggers open the season on Aug. 28 at the Glacier-Browning Tournament.

“We’ll see what we have, you never know until you throw them into a tournament,” Rohrer said. “A tournament setting can change things. It’s just a nice group of kids to work with and we’ll see where they’re at.”

The program’s goal this season is to qualify both the full boys and girls squads for the state tournament – which will be staged Oct. 9-10 in nearby Kalispell. In Class A, defending champion Whitefish returns four all-state golfers to its boys squad and is also considered a frontrunner among the girls.

The Libby Invitational is scheduled for Sept. 19. The event will be staged only on the new nine holes with the old nine expected to be in the midst of a cleanup project.

Schedule

Aug. 28 at Browning, 9:30 a.m.

Sept. 3 at Ronan Invite, 9 a.m.

Sept. 5 Browning Invitational at East Glacier, 9:30 a.m.

Sept. 19 Libby Invitational, 10 a.m.

Sept. 24 at Polson Invite, 9 a.m.

Sept. 26 at Hamilton Invite, 9 a.m.

Sept. 28 at Frenchtown, 10 a.m.

Note: The Northwest Divisional meet is scheduled for Oct. 1 at a site to be determined; Columbia Falls is the tournament host. The Class A State Golf Tournament is scheduled for Oct. 9-10 at Village Green in Kalispell at a time to be announced.