State Golfers Bring Home The Hardware

For the first time in school history, a sports team has brought home to Broadus a state title. The accomplishment, which for many years seemed impossible. The Broadus girls golf team accomplished that feat no more than a week ago, at the state tournament in Hamilton.

Not to be outshadowed by the girls, the Broadus boys made history of their own, accomplishing a third place team trophy. Boys golf began as a sport in Broadus in 2018, and the sixth year of competition marks the first state trophy for the boys team.

Prior to the season, in talking with Broadus Head Coach Chad Gatlin he commented that this could be "the year" to win a state title. A combination of player experience, skill, and coaching was at the point where a title was in his sights.

"You always want your team to live up to the expectations you have in mind," he told us during an interview on Sunday, several days after the whirlwind trip to Hamilton, 550 some miles to the west. Chad drove the team back and forth in the school van, on top of his coaching duties.

Last season the girls came within a stroke of the title, and that loss on the second day of the state tournament was their only loss all season, and would prove to be the team's only loss in two years of tournaments – the entire 2023 season other than day 2 of state, along with the entirety of the 2024 season, the girls were unstoppable, including going up against larger schools at some of the season meets.

The benefit of experience helped out the team, Gatlin said, as they had plenty of experience in high pressure situations going into the tournament.

The course layout in Hamilton was also straightforward. "That's a good course for state. Everything is out in front of you, there's not a lot of specific course knowledge needed – you practice once then go out and play," Gatlin commented on the course.

That course had been a success to Broadus golfers in the past, when 8 years ago in 2016, Heather LaPlant won first in the state individually, and the Broadus girls bringing home third as a team.

This time around, after day one the Broadus girls sat in first place with a seven point lead over Manhattan Christian. At that point, the press descended on the girls, perhaps putting additional pressure on the team as their goal was in sight.

The girls remained unphased. Gatlin noted: "After the first round I commented that they just needed to go out the second day and play an average day. We had their scores from the entire year, and just golfing their averages would assure a win – they didn't need to go out for a course record."

That boost in confidence helped the girls in the second day, as their 277 in day one was supplemented with a 292 in day two. The result was an eight point win over second place, and a state championship trophy for the team, the school, and the Broadus community as a whole.

The boys meanwhile were going for a bit of an underdog victory of their own. After day one the boys were tied with Scobey for the team lead, golfing a 261. On day two the boys shot a 267, while Scobey and Manhattan Christian improved their scores to golf in the 240s. The boys total of 528 brought home the third place trophy. Scobey would maintain 1st to win with a 509, and Manhattan Christian was in second with a 510.

Individually for the girls, Emma Isaacs shot an 84 on day 1 and an 86 on day 2, for a 170 total and fourth place. Graci Barbero shot an 88 and 96 for a 184, and sixth place. Shyla Madsen shot a 105 and 110, tying for 20th place. Aspen Krantz shot a 110 and 120 for a 230 and 27th place. The field of girls totaled 47. In a connection with Broadus, top girls golfer Casha Corder of Fort Benton, who golfed a 156, has ties to the community, as Lester Stradtman's great-niece. Additionally, Paityn Curtiss from Plentywood, who won second with a 165, is the niece of Megan Curtiss of Circle, formerly of Broadus.

Cooper Zimmer shot an 81 on day 1 to top the leaderboard on the first day.

An anecdote from Coach Gatlin regarding Zimmer – in the days leading up to the tournament, Zimmer made a deal with Gatlin that if Cooper won the individual state title, Chad would have to cut off his storied curly locks of hair. On day 1 of the tournament, Zimmer hovered around third or fourth throughout the day, but when Chad went to the clubhouse suddenly he was in first, prompting questions as to whether Gatlin should shave half his head for one day of a win. Gatlin was able to keep his full head of hair after Zimmer shot an 85 on day 2, eventually placing sixth overall.

Grayson Arithson shot an 87 and 90 for a 177 total, placing 11th. Jeff Cahoon stayed consistent with a 93 and 92 for a 185, placing 17th. Jayce Schroeder tied for 30th, with a 101 and 106 for a 207 total.

As the golfers received their trophies and ribbons they met up with family members who had made the drive across the state to cheer them on – over twenty in total, with each team member having a parent present.

That show of support would be echoed as the team returned to Broadus the next day, with supporters lining the streets as the van pulled into town, escorted by local law enforcement, with Queen's "We are the Champions" blaring from the PA system of an escort PA system. Also escorting the champions were fire department officials, and the Anipro feed truck.

With the season now concluding, Broadus loses the majority of their team to graduation. Isaacs, Krantz, and Barbero graduated over the weekend, along with Arithson and Zimmer for the boys.

Grayson Arithson will continue his golf career for Mayfield State College in North Dakota.

The remaining core of the team now looks towards the future, with trophies under their belts and tournament experience.

"There's a strong core of young golfers in the program. I encourage them to get out to the course this summer and work on their game. Playing even once a week will work wonders," Gatlin commented as he looked towards the future. Junior golf is also in the works, likely beginning in July. Those budding golfers interested in the program are encouraged to call the clubhouse with questions.

Waxing philosophically about the season as a whole, Gatlin noted that his coaching, along with that of assistants Hattie Arithson and Rick Gatlin, helped the team, but the proof came down to the golfers themselves: "I can't play for them. They've gotta get out there on the course and make it happen, and they did just that. They're a talented bunch of kids."

Coach Gatlin commented on the win: "It felt good bringing home that big trophy."