Whitefish's Nix surges to win Kalispell Invite
Sep. 16—Whitefish's Billy Smith and Glacier's Tyler Avery were set to duel for medalist honors Thursday, at the Kalispell Invitational golf tournament at Buffalo Hill Golf Club.
Then Johnny Nix surged past them both.
Firing a 73, the Whitefish senior edged his teammate Smith (78 Thursday) and Avery (77) by one stroke, with a total of 145.
It was a career-best two-day total for Nix, who also helped Whitefish take the boys team title by two strokes over Glacier, 607-609.
Bulldogs' coach Tait Rocksund noted that the big-hitting Nix drove the green on No. 10 Thursday, setting up a tap-in birdie. He added that the performance came on the heels of a 72 at Northern Pines Wednesday, in which Nix played the last six holes 5-under.
"I think that gave him a lot of momentum going into today," Rocksund said. "I think he's peaking at the right time, and the team is peaking at the right time. It's just good to see the energy in practice pay off. They've been grinding.
"We're definitely on an upward trajectory heading to the postseason, so that's exciting."
Polson was third in the boys team race, seven strokes off the pace. Hunter Emerson (148) tied for sixth to lead the Pirates, and Carson Hupka tied for 10th with a 155 total.
Flathead, with Nick Dubois shooting 149 to place eighth, was fourth in the team race.
Avery, who opened with a 69, ended up second via scorecard playoff; Smith, who shot a 68 on Wednesday, was third. Helena Capital's Joe McGreevey (147) was fourth, and Trevor Cunningham of Glacier won a scorecard playoff to take fifth from Polson's Emerson and Great Falls CMR's Eli Groshelle.
Polson was the runaway girls team winner, by 45 strokes over Missoula Hellgate; Hellgate was led by medalist Anna Stensrud (151).
Polson had Ashley Maki (162) finish third, Kylee Seifert (171) fifth and Clare Konen, eighth.
Great Falls High's Hanna Boyd was third, winning a scorecard playoff with Chloe Tanner of Glacier. Both finished at 167.
The golf whirlwind continues for Whitefish, which travels to the Hamilton Invitational Saturday.
The Western A Divisional is a week from Saturday at Libby's Cabinet View Golf Club.
The Western AA Divisional is next Thursday (Buffalo Hill) and Friday (Northern Pines).
"They put on a great tournament," Rocksund said of the two Kalispell layouts. "It's a treat to be able to be so close to home and play such quality golf courses."
Kalispell Invitational
Wednesday
Buffalo Hill Golf Club
BOYS
Team scores — 1, Whitefish 607; 2, Glacier 609; 3, Polson 614; 4, Flathead 628; 5, Helena Capital 629; 6, Great Falls CMR 646; 7, Missoula Sentinel 651; 8, Hamilton 652; 9 (tie), Great Falls 709; 10, Glacier JV 709; 11, Missoula Big Sky 713; 12, Columbia Falls 721; 13, Missoula Hellgate 743; 14, Whitefish JV 746; 15, Columbia Falls JV 766; 16, Flathead JV 794.
Individual Top 15
Johnny Nix, Whitefish '72-73—145
Tyler Avery, Glacier* 69-77—146
Billy Smith, Whitefish 68-78—146
Joe McGreevey, Capital 71-76—147
Trevor Cunningham, Glacier* 74-74—148
Hunter Emerson, Polson 73-75—148
Eli Groshelle, CMR 73-75—148
Nick Dubois, Flathead 75-74—149
Kaden Yeager, Big Sky 76-77—153
Carson Hupka, Polson 74-81—155
Dylan Morris, Flathead 75-80—155
Riley Brown, Whitefish 78-78—156
Torrin Ellis, Polson 76-80—156
Dutch Teders. Capital 76-80—156
Jonah Wynne, Glacier 78-79—157
*-won scorecard playoff.
GIRLS
Team scores — 1, Polson 723; 2, Hellgate 768; 3, CMR 769; 4, Glacier 796; 5, Hamilton 830; 6, Flathead 865; 7, Sentinel 913.
Individual Top 15
Anna Stensrud, Hellgate 75-76—151
Ashley Maki, Polson 82-80—162
Hanna Boyd, Great Falls* 83-84—167
Chloe Tanner, Glacier 79-88—167
Kylee Seifert, Polson 85-86—171
Kendra Thayer, CMR 89-93—182
Ashlee Owens, Big Sky 93-92—185
Clare Konen, Polson 92-95—187
Emma Hollingsworth, Hamilton 90-98—188
Brooklyn Brown, Hamilton 94-95—189
Bella Cory, Hellgate 91-100—191
Ryann Walker, CMR 98-96—194
Kenna Sandler, Glacier 98-96—194
Olivia Martello, CMR 99-98—197
Olivia McGreevey, Capital 103-94—107
Lev Heaney, Big Sky 95-102—197
