By Jean Schurman
Last year, the Hamilton Broncs Boys Golf Team took the Class A State championship with three all-state players at the helm of the team. Max Toenjes led the team and won the individual championship. Two other seniors, Ky Burch and Blaine Wetzsteon, also made all-state and were strong leaders for the team.
But those players have moved on. Coach Owen Burch said he didn’t know how his young team would do, but he said he’s “been pleased with this year’s play so far.”
Unlike other fall sports who have two weeks of practice before any competition, the golf season begins right around August 15th. Hamilton has already had two tournaments and by press time, will have completed a two-day tournament in Missoula.
Hamilton edged Polson at the Butte Central tournament by one stroke, shooting a 324. Sophomore Tristan Hanson shot a 76, along with Matt Hobbs of Polson, Carson McDaniel also of Polson, and Stevensville’s Zel Frost. The tie was broken using established criteria and the player’s score cards. Hobbs finished first and Hanson was second. Frost finished fourth in the tournament.
The Broncs also won the Whitefish Invitational on August 18th. Sophomore Bryce Reed finished second in the play with a 74. Hanson tied for third with a 75.
Burch said his younger players are really stepping up. Tanner Hanson, a freshman, has been solid and two returning juniors, Cannon Hawkes and Zack Taylor, are playing strong.
“Zack is playing golf for the first time this year,” said Burch. “He played football the last two years and is doing very well for not having played in golf competition before.”
Another sophomore, Nick Draper, is playing for the first time. He has been playing baseball all summer and is just now getting going. Burch said he thinks Draper will be strong on varsity also.
There are a total of 12 boys and 11 girls playing for the Broncs.
Leading the pack for the girls are Kelsey Martin and Haley Spears. Burch said Martin shot in the 90s for the first time this season and he expects her to just get better. Spears has knocked 10 strokes off of her game every year and Burch also has high hopes for her.
This year, the Western Divisional Tournament will be in Hamilton while the state tournament will be in Sidney. Burch expects Laurel, Billings Central, and Polson will be tough.
But don’t discount his young Bronc team. They might just surprise a few.