Four Libby golfers advance to state

With Logger senior Ryggs Johnston in first place by 10, the Libby High School golf team will send four individual qualifiers from the Western ‘A’ Divisional Tournament in Libby Saturday to the state tournament in Hamilton this upcoming weekend.

Senior Sammee Bradeen, who placed 8th with a 98, and juniors Allie Snyder (19th, 109) and Sydney Croucher (25th, 113) will round out the Libby players moving on to state.

“I just wish we could have had a few more kids qualify, but, you know, I’m so proud of the effort,” said Libby Head Coach Dann Rohrer.

With about half of the team new to golf this year, Rohrer said he has been impressed with the progress that has been made.

“They have just come miles, in their attitude, in their effort. I can’t question any of it,” he said. “I’m absolutely proud of them.”

Rohrer also said he was pleased with how the tournament went with the Libby as the host. The only real downside as a sprinkling of rain.

“All the parents, all the kids, all the coaches, the scorers, the counters: it went, really, almost without a hitch,” he said.

The community did well with supplying volunteers, and made a good showing overall, he said. “I think it showed a lot of class, and a great golf course, and a good test of golf for all the kids.”

Though Johnston did not break 60 — a goal Rohrer said he came within a single stroke of during practice — his 65 still put him far ahead of the field. While it’s easy to expect that kind of performance from Johnston, it’s important not to forget how amazing it is, Rohrer said.

Rohrer also talked about the other qualifiers, from Bradeen — who medaled and made all-conference — to Croucher and Snyder, who he said have cut around 70 strokes from their games since their freshman year.

“And that’s because of hard work and dedication, and I’m so proud of them,” he said.

But when it comes to goals and regrets, Rohrer said he places more emphasis on what is in front of them.

“I coach a little different way: Yeah, we can set goals and stuff, but it’s more important -- and what I pushed and hammered on them -- that’s one shot,” he said. “The only shot you can affect is the one you’re swinging at right now.”

“Sometimes, you accept what’s given you in the game of golf, and enjoy the ride and the process,” he said. “And that’s my goal with every one of these kids: It’s not bad to hurt if you didn’t do the best you can, but you’ve still got to appreciate it, because we’re pretty cotton-pickin thankful for the gift of golf as a game that we have to play.”

With a bogey on the 6th hole and par on the 9th, Ryggs had opportunities to be frustrated with how his game was going on Saturday.

But, he “made a heck of a comeback,” Rohrer said. “You know, to finish the tournament seven under, that’s playing one shot at a time.”

“The thing you have to understand about Ryggs, there’s nobody that has narrower tolerances for themselves,” Rohrer said. “The reason he’s as good as he is, is because he set a standard for himself different than anybody I’ve ever seen — The difference too is he can attain it. It’s realistic for him.”

There is no brag in the goals Ryggs sets his sights on, Rohrer said. There is just an expectation of doing the most he can with his talent.

When it comes to attitude, Rohrer said his admiration encompassed the behavior he saw across the field on Saturday.

“They just, they really showed a lot of class, the whole field — 105 kids — and what a classy field of young adults that we have to look forward to, in my opinion,” he said.

Western A Divisional

golf Tournament

Cabinet View Golf Course

Saturday, Sept. 22

(Top 30 individuals advance to state)

Girls

Whitefish 395 (1st): Ella Shaw 87 (3rd), Megan Archibald 96 (7th), Kendal Reed 100 (12th), Annie Nixon 112 (22nd), Anna Elm 114 (26th)

Corvallis 400 (2nd): Macee Greenwood 78 (2nd), Keelee Storrud 94 (4th), Sami Knapp 101 (14th), Signee Storrud 127, Kalie Patterson 130

Polson 422 (3rd): Cali Cannon 99 (11th), Amanda Farley 104 (17th), Esme Yarbrough 120, Ellie Thiel 99 (10th), Katelyne Druyvestein 123

Hamilton 433 (4th): Kelci Martin 96 (6th), Aly Rose 106 (18th), Sophia Doyle 117, Haile Spear 118, Hayley Bender 114 (28th)

Libby 440: Sammee Bradeen 98 (8th), Allie Snyder 109 (19th), Sydney Croucher 113 (25th), Kayley Svendsbye 125, Emily Carvey 120

Butte Central: Tricia Joyce 73 (1st)

Browning 446: Makayla La Buff 101 (13th), Jill Sure Chief 109 (20th), Sequoia Butterfly 120, Danalya Polk 116 (30th), Latasha Fitzgerald 135

Columbia Falls: Elizabeth Opalka 112 (23rd)

Dillon 476: Lindsey Huber 95 (5th), Kylee Pittman 98 (9th), Morgan Bowman 133, Jenn Horner 150

Frenchtown 477: Harper Armitage 120, Catherine Gustine 113 (24th), Kara Klietz 130, Grace Bintz 114 (29th), Madison Chesnut 131

Ronan 488: NA, Maco Jackson 104 (16th), Madyson Running Crane 111 (21st), Kylee Neimeyer 114 (27th), Aaliyah Decker 159

Stevensville: Jasi Oyler 102 (15th)

Boys

Hamilton 322 (1st): Zach Taylor 80 (6th), Tristan Hanson 79 (5th), Bryce Reed 81 (7th), Tanner Hanson 82 (9th), Brayce Clack 98

Stevensville 330 (2nd): Zel Frost 77 (3rd), Jayce Painter 88 (17th), Ivan Yazvac 83 (11th), Jacob Watters 82 (8th), Sean Craft 92 (27th)

Polson 340 (3rd): Matt Hobbs 75 (2nd), Trey Kelley 78 (4th), Calvin Nowlen 95, Colby Devlin 92 (26th), Jeff Devlin 100

Frenchtown 350 (4th): Derek Wolff 86 (13th), Ben Duhame 89 (20th), Colby Emmons 86 (12th), Mason Pyron 91 (25th), Nic Martello 89 (18th)

Libby 380: Ryggs Johnston 65 (1st), Andrew Freese 103, Trey Thompson 101, Alex Svendsbye 113, Landon Haddock 111

Browning 468: Mark Pollock 90 (22nd), Cameron Falcon 124, Ketton Crawford DQ, Benny Kittson 143, Chris Hall 111

Butte Central 378: Gator Yelenich 93 (29th), Cole Johnson 93 (30th), Austin Harrington 96, Gunner Yelenich 97, Ryan Wahl 96

Columbia Falls 405: Tyler Langton 91 (23rd), Trey Perrkins 113, Cody Brothwell 91 (24th), Marcus Kilman 110, Bobby DewBre 122

Corvallis 402: Luke Schlimgen 83 (10th), Michael Mc Kay 93 (31st), Matt Glenn 118, Ashton Pintok 108

Dillon 436: Mark Southam 88 (16th), Trent Wahl 101, Trace Gardner 123, Ryan Kepner 124

Ronan 443: Anthony Camel 99, Conner Cornwell 98, Dillon Pretty On Top 131, Payton Cates 146, Ruben Couture 115

Whitefish 353: Cameron Kahle 89 (19th), Jayce Cripe 90 (21st), Grant Kahle 87 (15th), Ryan Kemm 93 (28th), Andrew Brozek 87 (14th)