by Scott Sacry, Sports Editor
The Florence girls won the 2025 Class B Golf State Championship, and Florence golfer Kipley Solari won the 2025 Individual Girls State Championship at the Class B State Golf Tournament at the Marias Valley Golf & Country Club in Shelby on Tuesday, May 13 and Wednesday, May 14.
This was the first team state championship in golf for Florence, and Solari’s victory was the first ever individual state championship for Florence in golf. The Florence golf program started in the spring of 2017.
“It was so amazing to have won,” said Solari. “I feel really happy and excited. I had so much help from my coaches and my teammates. It was good to win individually, but it was huge for our team to get a state championship, so to have the two wins is so great.”
The Florence girls golf team won the 2025 Class B State Golf Championship. Florence golfer Kipley Solari, third from left, won the 2025 Girls Individual State Championship. Photo from Florence Carlton School Activities.
Solari, a sophomore at Florence, shot an 88 on day one and was four strokes back of the leader going into day two. Solari caught fire in the second round and shot a 77 to vault her into first place – the round was her lowest of the year. Her total of 165 bested second place by four strokes.
“At the start of the second day I felt really calm,” said Solari. “I hit a nice smooth drive to start the round and from there I felt really comfortable and confident.”
The Florence girls team consists of Solari, Reese Briney, Lexi Danczyk, Lacie Ketelhut, and Jordan Kidd. In high school golf tournaments, all five team members golf and they take the score from the top four.
The Florence girls had an incredible season, taking first place in every tournament they played. At the state tournament, they finished 44 strokes ahead of second place Shelby.
“It was such a surreal moment,” said Florence head coach Scott Marsh. “To have it all come together at state was special. With spring golf we don’t have as much time to get the kids at their top form, so it was extra special to see them do so well at state.”
Individually for the Florence girls, Briney finished 8th (185), Danczyk tied for 21st (203), Ketelhut tied for 27th (207), and Kidd tied for 46th.
The Florence boys also had a successful season and finished in 7th place at the state tournament. Individually for Florence, Brody Duchien finished 12th, Rollie Fisher finished 20th, Ian McLean tied for 24th, and Mason Brossman tied for 63rd.
“Our success this year was definitely a team effort from everyone involved,” said Marsh. “From the assistant coaches, to the parents, to the administrators, and to the teachers. Everyone came together for the sake of the kids. They always say it takes a village, and it’s true in this case.”