Golf: Big Horns competitive in spring season, girls win pair of tournaments

By Merrick Parnell EBS CONTRIBUTOR

The Lone Peak High School golf program continues to thrive this year, with the girls winning two tournaments to carry on their momentum from last year. 

The young, seven-member team is led by a trio of sophomores: Cate Leydig won the 2023 Class C State Championship, Dylan Manka earned all-state honors in 2023, and Olivia Kamieniarz is back to provide some experience and leadership after a strong freshman season. Maddie Wilcynski, a sophomore who ran track last year, joined the varsity squad. Freshmen Penelope Brooke, Sabine Hurlbut and Carla Mansilla round out the side and are excited to play in their first high school tournaments.

This year, three boys turned out for the golf team. Isaac Bedway–who reached last year’s state tournament–Garin Staudt and Joe Gale are all juniors and back for another year on the boys team, along with first-year freshman Mac Bertelson.

This season, the team does not have any seniors, but do possess a strong corps of juniors to help lead the program; 2024 will be the first year the team will compete at the Class B level. 

“Locals know that LPHS golf has a great and successful history–I believe the program first started in the spring of 2012 under successful coach Mike King. There have been many others in the area who have helped coach or assisted,” said head coach Jenny Wilcynski, who has been helping LPHS golf teams since spring of 2015. 

“The program has always been strong,” said LPHS Athletic Director and assistant coach John Hannahs. “It boasts multiple state championships both on the boys and girls side, most recently a runner-up state champion finish from the girls last year. We have had some exemplary players come through our school, and it is exciting to see our name at the top of tournament leaderboards again.”

Despite the beautiful landscape in Big Sky, playing golf in the mountains does have its challenges, mostly weather-related. Golf in Montana Class C and Class B has always been a spring sport that begins in March, when Big Sky usually sees some of its biggest snowfalls, and it delays athletes from playing and practicing the short game on real greens.

The high school golf season in Montana is short and only runs until mid-May. However, the coaching staff and golfers have gotten creative in getting swings in and sharpening their games. They often drive to Bozeman for practice, and Wilcynski added that Moonlight Basin has been generous with their golf simulator. Coaches also thanked Big Sky Resort for allowing the Big Horns to use the course for practice before its official opening. 

“For many years, we have played our first round of golf on the grass at a tournament,” Wilcynski said. 

Scheduling can also be a challenge as several events are during school breaks, which causes golfers to miss several tournaments.

“Our teams and golfers still persevere through our spring winter and are very competitive at the postseason despite the challenges,” Wilcynski said.

A highlight of the program year after year is seeing players return to the team.

“This season, I would say highlights included many of our players posting personal bests … and the girls varsity team has placed first at all varsity events to date,” Wilcynski said. She said it’s been a personal highlight to coach her own daughters and close friends. 

Girls team wins at Cottonwood Hills, Headwaters Golf Course

Leydig, a sophomore, won the girls’ first tournament hosted by Manhattan Christian High School at Cottonwood Hills in Bozeman, shooting a 77. Leydig helped the girls team win the tournament, beating all 11 schools.

“I started the rough round with an eight on a par 4. I have a reputation for falling apart after I have a bad hole, but I had been playing really well leading up to this tournament, and I didn’t want one hole to ruin my round,” Leydig said. 

She parred the next hole, helping her get back into a good mindset. 

“I got into a rhythm and tried not to think too hard about every shot… I got four birdies on the round, which completely canceled my original quadruple-bogey. I shot a 77, my personal best,” she said. “This round helped me realize that one bad hole won’t define your round of golf unless you let it. I learned that golf is a more mental sport than physical and that keeping yourself and your mind in a good place is key to success.”

Another standout performance thus far in the season was by Dylan Manka who won a recent tournament at Old Baldy in Townsend on April 19. Manka battled bad weather and tough conditions to pull off a win.

“Dylan is always a solid player, consistent and keeps focus on her game,” said Wilcynski.

The team competed again on Tuesday, April 30, at Headwaters Golf Course in Three Forks and Tuesday April 23, with Hurlbut and Brooke tying amongst the top 10 at that level. Also, JV golfers competed with Old Baldy and Livingston early on May 2.

To conclude the season, the Class B divisional tournament will be held today, Monday May 6 for Lone Peak’s southeast division at Lake Hills Golf Course in Billings, with the state finals event in Shelby at Marias Valley Golf Course on May 13-15.

“Coach Hannahs and myself look forward to the success of both teams this season,” Wilcynski said. “Thanks to the players for persistence and flexibility of spring weather and creative practices.”