Butte High’s Muhlestine, DeShaw on fringe of top 10

KALISPELL — Windy conditions made the Village Greens Golf Course play extra long Wednesday during the first round of the Kalispell Invitational.

That, however, did not slow down Polson’s Max Milton or Hamilton Cameron Burnett.

Burnett shot a 4-over-par 74 to take a six-stroke lead in the race for girls’ medalist honors, while Milton shot a 4-under 66 to take the boys’ lead.

Milton, a junior, matched par with a 35 on the front nine. He carded a 4-under 31 on the back side, and that includes a bogie on the 18th hole.

Austin Kaufman of Helena High sits in second at 70, while Sam Alke of Gallatin shot a 72 and is holding down third place.

Butte High junior Jack Muhlestine fired a 76, and that puts him in a tie for 12th place in a field of 70. He is one shot out of the top 10.

Bulldog freshman Lane Lisac hit an 83, while sophomores Miles Choquette and Beckham Kinsie each shot an 85. Junior Teague Yelenich finished at 90.

Polson took the first-round lead with a 300 team score. That is one better than Helena Capital and three better than third-place Bozeman. Butte High sits in eighth place at 329. The first day of the tournament saw 14 boys’ teams with scores.

Burnett followed a 36 on the front with a 38 on the back to take command of the girls’ race. Aerin Ryan of Gallatin and Jillian Wagner of Whitefish are tied for second at 80.

Bulldog senior Kate DeShaw shot a 93 and is tied for 14th place. She is currently four shots out of the top 10.

Junior Sage Leber shot a 102 for the Bulldogs, while sophomore Lilly Sandoval shot a 109 and freshman Lilly Carden carded a 110. Sophomore Julia DeShaw shot a 114.

Gallatin’s 333 leads team scores for the girls. Whitefish is five back at 348, and Polson is a distant third at 385. Butte High holds down eighth place at 414.

Things will not get any easier Thursday when the tournament moves to the Buffalo Hill Golf Club for the final round. Play begins with a 10 a.m. shotgun start.

Follow all the tournament scores on the Golf Genius app. The GGID is GRBKR7.