Boys and girls golf will start the fall sports season off for Sidney with the Sidney Triangular on Friday. With four girls and 12 boys on the roster, the small team looks to continue the positive play that resulted last year. The girls team took first in divisionals and the boys placed in the top five. Last year’s Class A state golf tournament in Hamilton proved successful for the girls squad, who placed fourth as a team and had one top-ten finisher, Kaelyn Volk, who will be returning as a sophomore. Two of last year’s boys also competed at state, Andrew Hansen and Luke Beenken.
This year, the team will be led by PGA Professional Ryan Troxel. Many might have seen him staying busy at the Sidney Country Club this year. Before moving to Sidney, Troxel coached basketball at the freshman and assistant varsity levels, and is excited about the opportunity to serve as head coach for the golf team.
“I’m just excited to see how they grow and how they compete and to see them develop through golf, to learn life lessons and develop on the golf course itself,” Troxel said.
Sidney is also the host of the Class A state golf tournament this year. While the country club and community are excited to be hosting, Troxel also mentioned how excited he, as a first-year coach, is about the opportunity to host as well as see his golfers represent their home course well.
“Your players perform better on their home course and it gives them a little something harder to work at,” Troxel said. “They’ll be able to play here and represent their hometown. Hopefully that will provide a little more motivation for them this year.”
Being at the club year round, Troxel sees players who come to play and has high hopes for the season.
“I’ve already sensed this year, from those who have been coming out this summer, that they realize that the stage is set for them,” Troxel said.
Their first tournament will be the Sidney Triangular on Friday starting at 8 a.m. at the Sidney Country Club.
BUTTE CENTRAL
Sophomore Tyge Yelenich is back to lead the Butte Central boys’ team. He capped a strong freshman season by finishing two shots out of All-State honors at last year’s Class A State tournament.
Sophomore Cameron Johnson and junior Frank Dwyer also competed at State for the Maroons last season.
Seniors Tyler Kump, Bryan Arnold, Sam Joyce and Zach Luebeck saw varsity time for the Maroons last season.
Promising freshman Tricia Joyce, who has experience competing in state-level tournaments, will be the lone player for the Butte Central girls’ team.
BC activities director Chad Petersen said every BC golfer out for the team will compete — either as a varsity or junior varsity player — at the Maroons’ home meet.
Billings Central Rams
• 2014: (Boys) second at state, first in division; (girls) third in division.
• Head coach: Mark Hutchinson.
• Key players: (Boys) Jackson Boos, Sr.; Liam Clancy, So.; Kaiden Caraveau, Sr.; Samuel Berry, Jr.; Harrison, Fagg, Sr.; (girls) Sophia Mascarena, Jr.; Chloe Michaelson, Jr.; Kindra Kuper, So.; Breanna Bodine, So.
• Coach says: “We have a strong boys team returning, and after finishing second at state, they’re motivated to take the next step. … The girls are a young team with a lot of potential. I think they have a shot at making the state tournament.”
• Etc.: Clancy placed third at state last year, while Boos was fifth. Central finished 10 strokes behind Hamilton in the team title chase.
Laurel Locomotives
• 2014: (Boys) fifth at state; (girls) second at state.
• Head coach: Amber Griffith.
• Key players: (Boys) Garrison Allen, Sr.; Robbie Nardella, Sr.; (girls) Morgan O’Neil, Sr.; Madi Tucker, Sr.; Kallie Linse, Jr.
• Coach says: “We’re excited about both teams. Both participated in the state tournament last season in Hamilton and we’re looking forward to building on those experiences.”
• Etc: O’Neil finished second at state last season, shooting 87-88—175, four shots behind first place. Tucker was 10th at state. … Allen tied for 26th at state, the top finish last season for Laurel’s boys.
Sidney Eagles
• 2014: (Boys) did not qualify for state; (girls) fifth at state.
• Head coach: Ryan Troxel.
• Key players: Luke Beenken, Chase Morehouse, Cristian Seitz, Andrew Dansen, Cam Berka, Peyton Beyerie; (girls) Kaelyn Volk, Tierney Messmer, Tory Dahl, Shaelyn Bowlds.
• Coach says: “It’s a team weighted with underclassmen that have the potential to achieve some great things this season.”
• Etc: The girls team finished fifth at state last season and first at divisionals. Volk won the individual divisional title, while Messmer was fifth. … Beenken was fifth at divisionals for the boys.
Read more: http://billingsgazette.com/sports/high-school/golf/capsule-previews-prep-golf/article_932668b6-a28d-58ae-a0d3-299e97d2c83d.html#ixzz3jld9GITf
WESTERN MONTANA 'A'
Hamilton regained its position atop the boys’ A standings last year as the Broncs topped Billings Central by 10 strokes for the school’s sixth state title and first since 2011.
With three All-State golfers returning, Hamilton is likely to challenge for a repeat. The Broncs have already won one tournament and finished second in another this season. Hamilton was bested only by Bozeman’s junior varsity, keeping the Broncs undefeated against Class A competition.
Max Toenjes, Josh Heath and Ky Burch will give Hamilton a trio of golfers to compete against Havre, Billings Central, Livingston and Sidney from the east.
“If we work as hard as we normally do, we’ll be right there with those four teams to maybe bring home a trophy,” Hamilton coach Owen Burch said.
Burch will be mentoring a young girls’ team he expects will make improvements, especially with Sydni Rose’s leadership, but Hamilton will need to overcome depth issues to compete with Whitefish and Frenchtown.
Whitefish, the reigning champs adding their 17th trophy to the case, return Coral Schulz and Katie Fyall.
Schulz won the Class A title by four strokes, while Fyall was fifth.
Frenchtown brings back all-state placer Dani Flynn as it looks to duplicate its third-place finish at state.
