Champion!

Libby frosh destroys state record en route to championship

HUNTLEY — Libby freshman Ryggs Johnston made quick work of the Johnny Walker course at Pryor Creek Golf Club on Wednesday, shooting an 8-under-par 63 to pull away from the field at the Class B state golf championships, winning medalist honors by six strokes. 

Johnston shot 4-under on both the front and back nine to finish with a 36-hole score of 131, setting an all-class state record, topping the mark of 136 set by Glacier’s Larry Iverson III in 2008 at Green Meadow Country Club in Helena. Both records were on a par 71 course.

The Class B record was at 139, set by three golfers, most recently Missoula Loyola’s Tom Swanson in 2012 and Loyola’s Daniel Cloninger in 2010, both at Pryor Creek. Malta’s Gordon Webb was the only golfer of the three to set the mark at a par 72 course, winning the 2008 title at Cottonwood Hills in Bozeman.

“I figured (I needed) a low round,” Johnston said. “I knew it was out there, so I figured I could do it.

“It was a pretty consistent round, I didn’t have any bogeys. I hit the ball in good spots and took advantage of opportunities when they came.” 

Johnston’s record setting round was also enough to extend his lead on a talented field that included a pair of state champions and a load of accomplished seniors.

Anaconda senior Caleb Stetzner, the 2014 Class A state champion in the Copperheads’ last prep season, entered the day one stroke back of the lead and shot 3-under-par 68 in the final round to finish in second place at 137. His mark would’ve been good enough to top the previous Class B record but settled for second place. 

Defending Class B champion Joey Peter of Manhattan finished tied for sixth 15 strokes back.

“I felt pretty good (playing against the competition),” Johnston said. “It was a little nerve-racking at some parts because it got close for a little while. It was a fun round of golf. We pushed each other.

“I started making putts today that was really the difference.”

Bigfork senior Joseph Potkonjak had trouble with his putter on the final day but ended up a winner, finishing 2-over on the back nine to finish at 1-under for the tournament, in third place.

The round was enough to help the Vikings hold off host Huntley Project to win the team title, the first golf championship in school history. Bigfork finished with a total of 657 to beat the Red Devils by four strokes on their home course. First-day leaders Shelby finished in third. The top four teams were separated by nine strokes.

“It wasn’t my day,” Potkonjak said. “I’m just glad the team won.” 

Also pointing for the Vikings were Colton Stodghill (81-79—160), Augie Emslie (90-87—177) and Jonathan Landon (88-96—184). Bigfork’s Jacob Haberlock shot 95-91—186.

All three Libby golfers that made the trip were all-state finishers. Loggers senior Jonny Cielak finished in 15th for the boys and Lily Feeback in 12th for the girls.

Eureka’s Popla Swangsawai shot 100-104—204 and Darian Truman 112-105—217.

The Three Forks girls ran away with the team title, placing three girls all-state to separate themselves by 49 points. 

Big Timber’s Tanna Campbell overcame a three-shot deficit to force a playoff with Townsend’s Lynzee Dexter, each shooting 36-hole totals of 164. Campbell, who finished the season undefeated, won on the first playoff hole, sinking a three-foot putt for par to claim medalist honors. 

Shelby freshman Skyler Martin finished in third two strokes back.

Class B State Golf Championships

Wednesday

Final Round

BOYS

At Pryor Creek GC, Johnny Walker Course

Huntley

Yardage: 6,263; Par: 71 (35-36)

Team scores ­— 1. Bigfork 327-330—657, 2. Huntley Project 337-324—661, 3. Shelby 325-337—662, 4. Colstrip 329-337—666, 5. Manhattan 332-337—669, 6. Missoula Loyola 341-329—670, 7. Big Timber 341-331—672, 8. Anaconda 345-336—681, 9. Conrad 342-350—692, 10. Choteau 366-365—731, 11. Red Lodge 382-375—757, 12. Malta 409-367—776.

Top 15 Indviduals — 1, Ryggs Johnston, Libby, 68-63—131; 2, Caleb Stetzner, Anaconda, 69-68—137; 3, Joseph Potkonjak, Bigfork, 68-73—141; 4, Danny Friez, Forsyth, 73-70—143; 5, Jaden Graveley, Townsend, 145; T6, Joey Peter, Manhattan, 71-75—146; T6, Billy Miller, Big Timber, 74-72—146; 8, Colton Hudson, Huntley Project, 72-75—147; T9, Bucky Crippen, Missoula Loyola, 78-72—150; T9, Bridger Martin, Shelby, 77-73—150; 11, Peter Brown, Colstrip, 75-76—151; T12, Bryce Mocabee, Huntley Project, 78-74—152; T12, Caleb Bates, Thompson Falls, 70-82—152; 14, Blake Finn, Big Timber, 78-75—153; 15, Johnny Cielak, Libby, 79-77—156. 

BIGFORK (657) — Joseph Potkonjak 68-73—141, Colton Stodghill 81-79—160, Augie Emslie 90-87—177, Jonathan Landon 88-96—184, Jacob Haberlock 95-91—186.

HUNTLEY PROJECT (661) — Colton Hudson 72-75—147, Bryce Mocabee 78-74—152, Daylon Richard 88-85—173, Wyatt Selman 99-90—189, Chad Geck 103-114—217.

SHELBY (662) — Bridger Martin 77-73—150, TJ Reynolds 80-89—169, Aaron White 85-86—170, Brock Whitted 84-89—173, Jarod Anderson 92-93—185.

COLSTRIP (666) — Peter Brown 75-76—151, Lane Bradley 79-79—158, O’Shon OldMouse 84-88—172, Ty Bradley 91-94—185, Justin Cape 104-126—230.

MANHATTAN (669) — Joey Peter 71-75—146, Josh Neth 83-85—168, Nathan Van Dyke 90-88—178, Steven Catalupo 88-96—184, Nathan McCormick DQ—89—NS.

MISSOULA LOYOLA (670) — Bucky Crippen 78-72—150, Bryan Swanson 80-83—163, Thomas Sellman 89-82—171, Sean Kaleva 94-92—186, Sam Bryan 105-108—213.

BIG TIMBER (672) — Billy Miller 74-72—146, Blake Finn 78-75—153, Cliff Weller 90-97—187, Weston LaVoy 99-92—191, Carter Brownlee 100-92—192.

ANACONDA (681) — Caleb Stetzner 69-68—137, Ethan Peterson 85-85—170, Bryce Napier 91-88—179, Ricco Ungaretti 100-95—195, Dusty Gervais 101-102—203.

CONRAD (692) — Logan Garman 85-77—162, Trace Jochems 87-83—170, Cale Ostrom 85-91—176, Kyle Vanderacre 85-99—184, Reese Spears 94-99-193.

CHOTEAU (731) — Derek Durocher 82-86—168, Trenton Durocher 88-89—177, Jordan O’Dell 98-83—181, Steeler French 99-107—206.

RED LODGE (757) — Drew Meyer 86-91—177, Dawson Loewen 93-90—183, Tucker Kane 101-90—191, Hunter Boos 102-104—206, Gunnar Nelson 103-104—207.

MALTA (776) — Keenan VanWichen 89-83—172, Cru Darrah 100-89—189, Landon VanWichen 107-88—195, Grant O’Brien 113-107—220, Grayson Waters 118-128—246.

LIBBY (NS) — Ryggs Johnston 68-63—131, Johnny Cielak 79-77—156.

FORSYTH (NS) — Danny Friez 73-70—143.

TOWNSEND (NS) — Jaden Graveley 145, Scott Demars 81-78—159.

THOMPSON FALLS (NS) — Caleb Bates 70-82—152, Dylan Beckman 85-75—160.

RONAN (NS) — Fisher Niemeyer 79-80—159.

COLUMBUS (NS) — Ryland Stampfel 81-81—162.

FAIRFIELD (NS) — Paxson Swartz 83-85—168.

ROUNDUP (NS) — Jayce Griffith 88-88—176.

SHEPHERD (NS) — Chad Nebel 89-89—178.

ROCKY BOY (NS) — Chris Arkinson 97-91—188.

BAKER (NS) — Brittan Schell 96-93—189.

CUT BANK (NS) — Wyatt Harwood 112-114—226.

GIRLS

at Eaglerock Golf Course

Billings

Yardage: 5,114; Par: 72

Team scores — 1. Three Forks 364-367—731, 2. Shelby 389-391—780, 3. Roundup 397-404—801, 4. Missoula Loyola 423-401—824, 5. Thompson Falls 398-431—829, 6. Ronan 409-423—823, 7. Columbus 416-424—840, 8. Conrad 425-419—844, 9. Huntley Project 424-443—867, 10. Glasgow 449-469—918, 11. Forsyth 479-466—945, 12. Wolf Point 492-473—965.

Top 15 Individuals — 1, Tanna Campbell, Big Timber, 83-81—164 (won playoff); 2, Lynzee Dexter, Townsend, 80-84—164; 3, Skylar Martin, Shelby, 84-82—166; 4, Sydney Rockford, Three Forks, 86-85—171; T5, Tana House, Columbus, 84-88—172; T5, Brooke Jacobs, Thompson Falls, 83-89—172; 7, Shainy Mack, Three Forks, 85-95—180; 8, Mariah Marquez, Three Forks, 91-90—181; 9, Madison Larson, Roundup, 89-95—184; 10, Michaela Larson, Roundup, 91-95—186; 11, Kyleigh Salois, Conrad, 95-95—190; 12, Lily Feeback, Libby, 98-93—191; 13, Katy Fagg, Missoula Loyola, 100-93—193; T14, Kaitlin Angel, Roundup, 100-97—197; T14, Emma Cranford, Huntley Project, 97-100—197. 

THREE FORKS (731) — Sydney Rockford 86-85—171, Shainy Mack 85-95—180, Mariah Marquez 91-90—181, Makayla Rowan 102-97-199, Taylor Jones 104-108—212. 

SHELBY (780) — Skylar Martin 84-82—166, Abbey Aklestad 98-106—204, Maddy Hellinger 102-102—204, Hannon Stevens 105-101—206.

ROUNDUP (801) — Madison Larson 89-95—184, Michaela Larson 91-95—186, Kaitlin Angel 100-97—197, Bailey Mihalovich 117-118—235, Noreine Neumiller 120-117—237.

MISSOULA LOYOLA (824) — Katy Fagg 100-93—193, Madison Purdy 110-96—206, Emily Burt 108-106—214, Jordan Huffman 111-106—217, Rosie McCormick, Missoula Loyola, 105-WD.

THOMPSON FALLS (829) — Brooke Jacobs 83-89—172, Jessica Bronner 105-99—204, Julia Vanicek 136-112—248, Whitney Micklon 123-131—254, Elsie Brown 87-DQ.

RONAN (823) — Kaitlyn Woirhaye 102-101—203, Tania Ulutoa 100—104—204, Brooklyn Olson 101-104—205, Lauryn Hales 106-114—220, Heather Pospishil 106-120—226. 

COLUMBUS (840) — Tana House 84-88—172, Bailey Johannes 100-104—204, Olivia Hess 101-103—204, Karsen Marjerison 131-129—260.

CONRAD (844) — Kyleigh Salois 95-95—190, Megan Vandenacre  99-100—199, Jenae Johns 108-102—210, Keeley Burnes 123-122—245, Kari Nelson 130-132—262.

HUNTLEY PROJECT (867) — Emma Cranford 97-100—197, Claudia Familiari 101-104—205, Emily Ley 116-121—237, Andi Crane 110-128—238, Ashton Albrecht 128-118—246.

GLASGOW (918) — Amy Nelson 97-105—202, Lauren Runningen 110-121—231, Heidi Moon 120-119—239, Lexie Pehlke 122-140—262, Taylor Palm 139-124—263.

FORSYTH (945) — Katie Friez 101-106—207, Reana Pederson 115-110—225, Laura Hein 108-119—227, Hali Adams 155-131—286.

WOLF POINT (965) — Hailey Brunelle 103-103—206, Anamarie Long 116-102—218, Loverty Lindsay 129-132—261, Trinity Whitmus 144-136—280.

BIG TIMBER (NS) —Tanna Campbell 83-81—164. 

TOWNSEND (NS) — Lynzee Dexter 80-84—164. 

LIBBY (NS) — Lily Feeback 98-93—191. 

BAKER (NS) — Megan Slagter 100-100—200.

CHOTEAU (NS) — Katie Bieler 100-100—200;

EUREKA (NS) — Popla Swangsawai 100-104—204, Darian Truman 112-105—217.

SHEPHERD (NS) — Sarah Hoen 98-111—209.