Chief golfers crush competition in Frenchtown
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FRENCHTOWN — The Chief golfers seem to be peaking at the right time.
In their penultimate regular season tournament Monday, the Chiefs shot their lowest score since Rupe Paulson took over the team to win the Frenchtown Invitational.
Chiefs filled the top three spots at the tournament as they ran away with the team title, outshooting their closest competitor by 38 strokes. The four Chiefs combined for a 327.
“I hope they are peaking at the right time, and it wasn’t just a brilliant flash. I’ll know more tomorrow,” Paulson said, Monday night, speaking of the Polson Invite – Ronan’s final tournament before they host the divisional tournament Saturday.
Riley Dennis, Ronan’s number one golfer, shot a season-best 75 to capture his first title as a high school golfer. Heading into the season, Paulson said that Dennis had all the tools to be an elite golfer, he just needed to believe in himself. Paulson is hoping the Frenchtown title will go along way in doing that.
“Hopefully, it will give him a big boost for the divisionals, and he’ll be able to carry the momentum,” Paulson said.
Like most Chiefs, Dennis was coming off one of his worst performances of the season at Libby Friday. On a wet and slick Cabinet View Golf Course, Dennis shot a 94, which Paulson called an aberration.
The Chiefs combined for a 404 to finish seventh in a seven-team field.
Monday, Chief freshman Alex Killian recovered from a 98 at Libby by shooting a career-best 82. Lucas Conklin shaved 21 strokes off of his score at Libby to finish in third with a career-best 84. Payton Adams shaved 19 strokes off his score Friday to finish sixth with an 88. John Romero, who had to withdraw from the Libby Invite because of a bee sting, broke triple digits for the first time in his career, finishing ninth with a 97.
For the third straight tournament Maiden top golfer Alex Dulmes finished second. Dulmes shot a 93 to finish four strokes behind Frenchtown’s Brittnee Richardson. The senior also finished second in Libby with a 97. Paulson said that Dulmes is his most consistent golf and fully expects her to return to the state tournament this year.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s bright, sunny and warm or cold, cloudy and wet she shoots the same score,” Paulson said.
With only four girls at Frenchtown, the Maidens combined for a 419. Freshman Shyann Brum finished seventh with a 107 and Tiana Antoine followed right behind her with a 108. Payge Delaurenti came in ninth with a 111.
At Libby Friday, the Maidens combined for a 438 to finish third, just two strokes behind Columbia Falls. Besides Dulmes, Antoine was the only one to crack the top 10, finishing 10th with a 110.
Ronan will host the divisional tournament at the Mission Mountain Golf Course Saturday, starting at 9 a.m. The top three teams and top 15 individuals will advance to the state tournament.
