Western A divisional golf

LIBBY’S JOHNSTON, WHITEFISH GIRLS TAKE DIVISIONAL GOLF TITLES

HAMILTON — Libby junior Ryggs Johnston and the Whitefish girls captured titles on Saturday at the Western A Divisional golf tournament at the Hamilton Golf Club.

Johnston shot a 63 for medalist honors and an 11-shot victory.

Carson McDaniel of Polson, 76, was third.

The Whitefish girls took the team title thanks to Gracie Young placing second with an 89 and Ella Shaw tied for third with a 92.

Tricia Joyce of Butte Central was the medalist with a 77.

The Polson boys and girls finished second.

The top two teams along with the top 15 individuals with the lowest scores qualify for state play, which begins Thursday in Sidney.

 • Libby's Ryggs Johnston took care of business at the Western A divisional, firing a 9-under 63 at the Par 72 Hamilton Golf Club to win the boys title. The two-time defending Class B champion and all-class state record holder for lowest state-tournament round won the divisional by 11 strokes. The Hamilton boys, Class A's defending champions, won the divisional on their home course. Tristan Hansonwas the highest placer for the Broncs. He finished in a three-way tie for third place with Polson's Carson McDaniel and Frenchtown's Derek Wolff. Whitefish won the girls title with a team score of 406, and Gracie Young had the lowest score for the Bulldogs at 89. She was 12 strokes off the pace of Butte Central'sTricia Joyce, who won the individual title. Frenchtown's Courtney Ockler tied for third with Whitefish's Ella Shaw.​

Tierney Messmer, Liam Clancy win Eastern A golf titles

HARDIN – Sidney’s Tierney Messmer and Billings Central’s Liam Clancy added to their fall accolades on Saturday afternoon, winning the Eastern A golf invitational medalist honors at Fort Custer Golf Course.

Messmer, who has won numerous invites this fall, shot 39-36 for a round of 75. She defeated teammate Kaelyn Volk by four strokes for the divisional crown. Volk’s 79, along with Torrey Dahl’s fifth-place finish, helped Sidney to the girls team title.

Clancy has also enjoyed a fine fall schedule, earning the top mark at a handful of events. The Billings Central standout has consistently been in the top five at invites across eastern Montana. His 71 Saturday was good for a two-stroke victory over Sidney’s Chase Morehouse and Laurel’s Paul O’Neil.

Laurel teammates O’Neil, Cash Golden, Carson Hackman and Ryan Kallem paced the Locomotives to the team title. O’Neil tied for second place, Golden finished fourth, while Kallem and Hackman tied for fifth.