Lady Hawk Golf Team Is Highest Placing Girls Team In School History

Last weekend, the Lady Hawk golf team achieved something which hasn't been accomplished by a girls team from Broadus. Until now. Their second place trophy from state golf is the first time a Broadus girls team has achieved a second place trophy at state in any sport.

Last year the girls golf team won third, and in 2014 and 2015 the girls volleyball team won third. Sharing the glory with second place state team titles were the 1973 and 1976 wrestling teams, the only boys teams which have received such a high honor from Broadus.

The state tournament was held last week at Anaconda Hills Golf Course in Black Eagle (located just across the Missouri River from Great Falls), in one of the windiest sections of the state. Broadus Head Golf Coach Chad Gatlin told us that the conditions were surprisingly pleasant for the meet, with temperatures climbing into the low 80s and conditions remaining relatively calm.

The lack of wind was an asset on the course; Gatlin told us the front nine holes featured tight playing conditions and a number of blind shots, while the back nine consisted of steep hills with a lot of chances for balls to roll.

"Course knowledge was a big benefit; more than pure golf skill," Gatlin commented on the setting for the tournament.

The Broadus team had not golfed at the course prior to the tournament, but did get out on the course for a practice round when they arrived last Monday, before beginning the first of a two day competition on Tuesday.

At the end of day one, the top three Broadus girls golfers scored a 295, five strokes ahead of the second place Lone Peak team, and six strokes ahead of Manhattan Christian. Meanwhile, after day 1, the boys sat in 9th place with a 306.

At that point, Emma Isaacs and Graci Barbero were both tied for fifth, with Lauryn Billing tied for 15th place, and Aspen Krantz in 42nd, while for the boys, Cooper Zimmer was in 22nd, Jayce Schroeder 35th, and Grayson Arithson 44th, and Jeff Cahoon in 47th.

On day two, the Broadus girls picked up their game, improving their team score by 8 strokes. Unfortunately for the Lady Hawks, Manhattan Christian and Lone Peak also improved their scores.

Coach Gatlin commented that near the end of the day, one of the Manhattan Christian girls faced a tough shot where she had to shoot through the branches of a tree. The ball somehow found a clear pathway, and hit the pin, falling next to the hole. The ensuing putt was made, and Manhattan Christian would eventually win the state title....by one stroke.

"That's golf. That's how it goes sometimes," Gatlin commented, noting that had that shot hit a tree limb or missed the pin and kept rolling, the results may have been different. Still, Gatlin was not perturbed, noting that Broadus could have potentially made up a shot somewhere along the line. "I'm super proud of the team. They played their hearts out," he said.

Broadus would tie with Lone Peak with a 162 over par for second place, while Manhattan Christian won the girls title, with a 161.

Scoring 5th place individually at State was Graci Barbero, who golfed a 94 on day one, and a 90 on day two for a 184 total. Emma Isaacs placed sixth, golfing a 94 both days for a 188 total. Lauryn Billing placed 15th with a 107 and 103 for a 210 total. Aspen Krantz tied for 31st with a 126 on day one, and improved to a 107 on day 2 for a 233 total.

For the boys, Broadus improved their standing in day two to golf a 185 over par for 8th place. Highwood placed first overall, with a 90.

Individually for the boys, Cooper Zimmer tied for 13th, golfing a 95 and improving to an 84 on day two to golf a 179. Grayson Arithson tied for 43rd, golfing a 108 and 107 for a 215 total. Jayce Schroeder placed 46th with a 102 and 115 for a 217 total. Jeff Cahoon placed 48th, with a 112-109 for a 221 total.

Speaking to the season as a whole, Gatlin said that despite the poor weather for golf early in the season which precluded most of the early meets, the season went very well, and the team had fun.

Chad encouraged the team to hit the links this summer and get into golf tournaments if they have the chance, saying that "golf is such a mental game. If you can control your emotions during those stressful moments, you have a huge advantage."

He noted that during the state tournament, at the first hole there was often forty or fifty people watching the kids tee-off, and some athletes handled that pressure better than others. "Competing in the off-season helps overcome those nerves."

Experienced golfer Lauryn Billing graduates this year; Gatlin says her experience on the team will be missed. Other graduating Senior golfers include Ezra Gotfredson and Colton Playle. Chad said he hopes all of the graduating seniors continue to golf in the future.

Chad wanted to thank his coaching staff, Hattie Arithson and Rick Gatlin, for all their help during the season, as well as Rolling Hills Golf Course for providing facilities to practice and compete. He also wanted to thank the golf parents, who helped get the kids to and fro during early mornings and late nights; for example, the golf team didn't return home until around 2 AM last week from their trip to State.

Gatlin is optimistic about the future of Broadus golf, as a solid core remains for next season, and younger golfers in the youth league will soon begin to filter into an eligible age to play at the high school level in the coming years.