Whitefish girls win Kalispell Invite golf

The Whitefish girls weren’t far out of the lead after the first day of the Kalispell Invitational. 

On the second day the Bulldogs turned it into a runaway. 

With three golfers in the top 12, Whitefish turned a 3-stroke deficit into a 24-stroke victory Thursday, when the tournament finished at Buffalo Hill Golf Club. 

Missoula Sentinel held on to the boys title while Polson’s Max Milton was boys medalist once again, surging to a one-stroke win. 

Whitefish’s Karlee Brown shot the day’s best round for the girls, 81, and her two-day total of 168 was five strokes behind medalist Carmeron Burnett of Hamilton. Right behind Brown was her teammate Ryhlee Scott, who had a 170 total. 

Caroline Owens came in at 188 and Whitefish ended with 727 strokes. Hamilton was second at 751; First-day leader Glacier was third at 155. 

Maggie Mitton and Kendall Tkachyk finished in the top nine for the Wolfpack. 

Flathead, seventh among the 10 full girls teams, was led by Hayden Ward. Ward shot a 96 Thursday to finish 18th with a total of 199. 

There were more fireworks on the boys’ side. Milton birdied No. 14 and then No. 17 coming in to shoot a 71. Glacier’s Luke Nelson chipped in for birdie on 17 to stay within one stroke, and both players made par on 18. 

Meanwhile Nelson’s Wolfpack teammate Torren Murray drove the 18th green and ran in a 40-foot putt for eagle.  

Milton was 5-under 137 for the 36-hole event. Murray and Nelson tied for second at 138 along with Helena Capital’s John Gilbert, who followed his first-day 63 with a 75. 

Sentinel’s Jack Schaefer, Joseph Meusey and Hudson Goroski were steady at Buffalo Hill and the Spartans won the team title by two strokes over Glacier, 580-582. Capital was two back of Glacier in third. 

Flathead’s boys were ninth. The Braves’ top finish was Conner Gall, who fired an 83 for a two-day total of 171. That tied him for 42nd. 

Kalispell Invitational 

Sept. 10-11, Village Greens and Buffalo Hill 

Thursday 

BOYS 

Team scores — 1, Missoula Sentinel 278-302—580; 2, Glacier 282-300—582; 3, Helena Capital 282-302—584; 4, Polson 296-309—605; 5, Butte 293-315—608; 6, Missoula Big Sky 305-332—637; 7, Helena 321-325—646; 8, Whitefish 320-336—656; 9, Flathead 323-339—662; 10, Columbia Falls 323-351—674; 11, Hamilton 337-354—691; 12, Glacier JV 336-366—702; 13, Missoula Hellgate 339-372—711; 14, Flathead JV 383-393—775. 

Top 15 Individuals 

Max Milton, Polson    66-71—137 

Torren Murray, Glacier    66-72—138 

Luke Nelson, Glacier    66-72—138 

John Gilbert, Capital    63-75—138 

Jack Schaefer, Sentinel    66-73—141 

Joseph Meusey, Sentinel    66-75—141 

Hudson Goroski, Sentinel    70-74—144 

Jayce Belzer, Capital    74-71—145 

Chase Choquette, Butte    75-70—145 

Matt Gilbert, Capital    70-75—145 

Austin Kaufman, Helena    71-75—146 

Carson Emerson, Polson    76-74—150 

Jack Dale, Big Sky    71-79—150 

Karson McDonough, Big Sky    74-76—150 

Jack Muhlestein, Butte    71-80—151 

GIRLS 

Team scores — 1, Whitefish 364-363—727; 2, Hamilton 367-384—751; 3, Glacier 361-394—755; 4, Missoula Big Sky 404-392—796; 5, Helena 395-404—799; 6, Butte 399-403—802; 7, Flathead 423-398—821; 8, Helena Capital 416-412—828; 9, Polson 427-422—849; 10, Missoula Sentinel 434-446—880. 

Top 15 Individuals 

Cameron Burnett, Hamilton    79-84—163 

Karlee Brown, Whitefish    87-81—168 

Ryhlee Scott, Whitefish    82-88—170 

Zoey Loberg, Big Sky    86-86—172 

Charlotte Dale, Big Sky    88-87—175 

Bryn Cianflone, Hamilton    88-90—178 

Maggie Mitton, Glacier    89-89—178 

Kate DeShaw, Butte    90-90—180 

Kendall Tkachyk, Glacier    85-96—181 

Harlow Anderson, Capital    91-91—182 

Glaicia Lucchetti, Helena    95-93—188 

Caroline Owens, Whitefish    96-93—188 

Catlyn Helmer, Hellgate    96-94—190 

Mya Helvic, Helena    92-99—191 

Maci Reiff, Sentinel    95-97—192