Serving Proudly As The Voice Of Valley County Since 1913
Serving Proudly As The Voice Of Valley County Since 1913
Golf Defends Home Greens
Braden Barstad drives one into the fairway during the Glasgow Invitational on Saturday.
From left to right, coach Dave Riggin, Braden Barstad, Jared Smith, Boyd Sinclair, Luke Gunderson, Wyatt Holzworth and Betty Truscott pose with the first-place boys’ team trophy for the meet.
Jared Smith admires an iron shot.
Luke Gunderson fist pumps after draining a 12-foot putt.
Makkell Baillargeon follows through after a drive.
Luke Gunderson studies a long putt.
Tamrah Pewitt using the 'big stick' during the Glasgow Invite on April 26.
A patented Tiger Woods fist pump finished Luke Gunderson’s day at the windy but sunny and warm Sunnyside Golf Course on Saturday.
Standing over a long putt to finish off a team-low round, Gunderson knew that sinking the putt would help take the sting out of a bad start to his day, a four-putt on the first hole of his round. He only needed one putt this time to end his day with an 86, good enough for fourth overall and best on his team to lead the Scotties to the top team score.
“We had a good day,” said Head Coach Dave Riggin. “One of our best days as far as weather wise. We were right where we need to be.”
The Scotties finished with a 355, 12 strokes ahead of second-place Plentywood.
Following Gunderson’s 86 were Boyd Sinclair and Wyatt Holzworth, who both shot 89. Gunderson, Sinclair and Holzworth all needed low back nines to get there, though. Gunderson, who started his day on a sour note, shot a 44 on the front and Sinclair shot a 45. Holzworth really struggled, shooting a 48, the worst front nine score for the Scotties. However, Holzworth also had the best back nine score with a 41 to get to sub-90 territory, right where Riggin has said he needs his top three golfers to be on any given day.
Braden Barstad’s 91 and Jared Smith’s 97 rounded out the Scotties’ day.
“We were happy to be where we were as a team,” said Riggin. “We need to keep competing at that same level and get ready for state.”
Plentywood’s Bryan Ordahl took the top spot for the boys, shooting an outstanding 77 on the day. Wolf Point’s Easton Copenhaver was second with an 83.
On the girls’ side, Wolf Point’s T’elle Evens shot the best score, a 92.
Tamrah Pewitt and Makkell Baillargeon also competed for Glasgow on the girls’ side but scores were unavailable at time of publication.
The Scotties have a busy week full of meets cancelled earlier this year due to weather only to be rescheduled for this week ahead of them. The Scotties will head to Harlem on Friday, Malta on Saturday and Wolf Point on Wednesday, May 8. They may also travel to Scobey on Monday, May 6, if the course is ready.
The most important of those meets may be Saturday in Malta. The Northern B Divisional meet is in Malta this year and Riggin noted that experience on that course is key.
The course forces golfers to make tough decisions as to lay up or go for it during the round that are best solved through practice.
“You may not be able to use the big stick sometimes,” he said. “We’ve got to have some more smart golf.”
Even though the Scotties will be heading to Malta once more on May 10, the day before the divisional tournament, that extra time on the course is important.
“That’s the whole secret,” Riggin said. “That’s the only way to get better is to play."
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