FINDING THEIR PLACE

Leaving behind a legacy at the state golf tournament was the Thompson Falls girls golf team with their fourth-place finish. It all went down last Tuesday and Wednesday at the Marias Valley Golf and Country Club in Shelby. Out of 12 teams competing, both Thompson Falls and Three Forks girls scored a total +270 in two rounds to tie for fourth. The championship went to Shelby with a +223 total to par gross.

Playing like a pro was Ellie Baxter, who won third place with a 166 stroke total in two rounds and two days. Last year's champion, Celi Chapman, placed second with a 164 and this year's champion Keni Wade hit a 161. Baxter came out ready to compete with a birdie at the first hole in the first round and then went on to make a stellar six pars for the day.

"Ellie's second round was amazing," said Coach Doree Thilmony. Baxter got the lowest score for the day with an 80, just eight over par. She faced a challenge on the 17th hole facing a water hazard, but came back with a par on the 18th hole. "It was such an amazing group to watch, all three girls pushed each other the entire round," said Thilmony.

Thilmony shared that Baxter's leadership role was very beneficial to the younger girls on the team and that she will be missed tremendously, leaving behind a large hole in the program.

Falling skillfully into the family tradition of golfers was Aubrey Baxter with a 114 on her first day, placing her in the middle of the pack. Thilmony said that it was a great showing for an eighth grader in her first state golf tournament. Baxter came back strong with a 109 on the second day achieving a par on the ninth hole. "She contributed to the team's third place finish and we look forward to watching her points drop over the next four years," said Thilmony.

Addi Pardee proved to be at home with the game. "I was very impressed with Addi's consistent tee shots and driver distance," shared Thilmony. She shot a 117 the first day, knocking that down to 104 in the second round. Thilmony said that Pardee was very solid with her driver, seizing the longest drive and owning the fairway for most shots in her group.

"I look forward to Addi in the next three years. She has a lot of Ellie's demeanor with fun and smiles but the competitive edge along with it," said Thilmony.

Grabbing a par on her first hole of the first round was freshman Emma Claridge. She shot a 120 on day one and a 130 on day two at her first state golf tournament. "Emma has shown tremendous growth for the season," A highlight for her at the tournament was striking the longest drive in the fairway of the 18th hole in her group.

"Emma is going to be a solid contributor to our team in the next three years. She uses the correct techniques and is a model of how to let the club do the work with correct swing path and ball contact. She will definitely be someone to watch for the future," said Thilmony.

Addy Deal came out with a 133 on her first day, reducing her strokes to 116 on the second day of the tournament and earning a par on hole 11. "She felt very comfortable in this round and I watched her get into the tempo she needed all season. She sets high expectations and competes in a very focused manner," said Thilmony.

Deal's last hole was a double bogey but a near green in regulation. Thilmony said that she walked off the green excited to play more golf, which is the ultimate goal for the sport.