Whole team provides strong individual showings despite weather delays
By Carli Johnson SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR
The Lone Peak High School golf team wrapped up a successful state tournament with impressive individual play by both the girls and boys teams, including the girls’ third place overall finish. The state tournament was held May 13 and 14 at the Marias Valley Golf Course in Shelby.
The girls team placed just two strokes behind second-place Shelby High School, with Florence-Carlton High School taking the state title. Lone Peak’s returning state champions Dylan Manka, Olivia Kamieniarz and Maddie Wilcynski finished among the top 15 in the individual standings.
Manka, a junior, led the way for Lone Peak, finishing in fourth place after a consistent two-day showing. Tied for second after day one, Manka maintained her composure through weather delays and shifting conditions.
“Dylan doesn’t let anything rattle her. She stayed in her game and played beautifully,” head coach Jenny Wilcynski told EBS.
Kamieniarz, also a junior, was in third place after day one and ended the tournament tied for ninth. A fellow junior, Wilcynski tied for 12th place overall. Already a long tournament for many players, a challenging weather delay on day two proved difficult conditions to keep up with the previous day’s scores.
“Sometimes the golf course just wins,” coach Wilcynski said of the hail and lightning delay that slowed momentum and challenged players.
Sophomores Penelope Brooke and Sabine Hurlbut rounded out the score for the Big Horns. Brooke, who began playing golf just last year, improved by six strokes between rounds, scoring a 123 on day two. Hurlbut shaved 10 strokes off her day one score, finishing with a 129.
“This course isn’t necessarily easy,” coach Wilcynski said. “But I’m just so extremely proud of them for stepping up to the varsity level after one season on JV.”
Boys score as individuals
In order to compete for a state title, a team needs a minimum of four varsity players. Although Lone Peak’s boys team did not have enough players to compete as a team, they were still represented individually by Mac Bertelson and Isaac Bedway.
Bertelson, a sophomore, tied for 22nd after rounds of 87 and 83. Bedway, a senior, tied for 32nd despite a weather-affected second round.
“They were hoping to crack the top 20, and they weren’t far off,” Wilcynski noted. “A hailstorm and a lightning delay on day two really threw off the rhythm.”
Wilcynski praised the team’s progress and pointed to promising years ahead. With several underclassmen gaining experience, she sees strong potential for future success. “This is a great team, and definitely has some promise for some future all-staters,” she said.
In the offseason, many players will take part in summer golf programs, including the Gallatin Valley junior tour that hosts tournaments weekly.
“I just want to thank Big Sky Resort for allowing us to be on the course before it’s even open,” Wilcynski said. “We wouldn’t be successful without all the community support.”
