Polson freshman Max Milton won the 2024 Class A boys state golf tournament Oct. 5, 2024 in Polson.
BILL SPELTZ 406 MT Sports
Medalist honors on the boys side went to Polson’s Max Milton, a 14-year-old freshman whose father, Cameron, is the club pro at Polson Bay. Max posted an 8-under score of 36, which was three strokes better than runner-up Sam Norman of Laurel.
Milton’s lead was just one stroke with two holes to play. That’s when the freshman delivered his best, recording a birdie on the par-3 No. 17 hole.
“Me and my dad looked at the (online) scoreboard and I saw that I was up one,” he said of his mindset prior to stepping on the No. 17 tee box. “We had to wait for a while so I drank some water, ate a snack and then I felt ready to go and made birdie. (Norman) made bogey.
“It was 185 (yards) and I had 6-iron,” he said of the scenario on No. 17. “I was telling my dad I played this hole many times and I was ready. I knew the shot I had to hit and I hit it and it worked out well. I rolled in a long putt and made 2.”
Winning on his home course made Saturday extra special for Milton.
“It was super good having all my family and friends come out and watch,” he said. “It was nice to feel supported in front of everyone. And I definitely couldn’t be here without my dad.”
State A golf: Frenchtown’s Katie Lewis 3-peats; Polson’s Max Milton prevails
By: Montana Sports
Posted 6:07 PM, Oct 05, 2024 and last updated 10:26 AM, Oct 07, 2024
POLSON — Frenchtown’s Katie Lewis was back in familiar territory Saturday — on top of the Class A girls golf mountain.
Lewis capped a wire-to-wire weekend at Polson Bay Golf Course by winning her third consecutive individual state championship. Lewis shot 4-over 76 in the second and final round to secure the title by nine strokes over the field.
Meanwhile, Polson’s Max Milton held on to his Day 1 lead to win the boys individual championship. Up by one stroke entering Saturday, Milton fired a 2-under 70 to win the crown by three shots.
In the team competition, Laurel’s boys outlasted rival Billings Central to capture the program’s 14th title and its first since 2022 behind Sam Norman’s second-place showing. The Locomotives came from behind and shot a two-day score of 598, two better than that of 600 for the Rams.
The girls team trophy went to Billings Central, though, behind top-six finishers Berkley Park and Jordan Nielsen. The Rams’ cumulative score of 685 was tops by 42 strokes over second-place Whitefish.
In winning her third consecutive title, Lewis was again consistent. She registered nine pars and two birdies, and also had six bogeys. There were no big blow-up holes for Lewis.
Livingston’s Anna Lende shot 80 for the second straight day to finish in second place, nine strokes off the pace. Hamilton’s Cameron Burnett shot an 81 on Saturday for a two-day score of 161 good for third place.
Milton’s winning scorecard included five birdies on Saturday, along with 10 pars. He finished with just three bogeys in the final round.
Laurel’s Norman had the day’s best round at 3-under 69 and finished with a two-day total of 136 to finish three back of Milton. Livingston’s Sawyer Gentry, with a 2-under 70, matched Milton on Saturday and came in third place.
Class A state golf tournament
Final round
Saturday at Polson Bay Golf Course
BOYS
Team scores: Laurel 297-301—598, Billings Central 292—308—600, Corvallis 309-297—606, Whitefish 306-314—620, Livingston 328-318—646, Sidney 326-326—652, Frenchtown 334-334—668, Columbia Falls 324-348—672, Havre 359-367—726.
Top 15: Max Miilton, Polson, 66-70—136; Sam Norman, Laurel, 70-69—139; Sawyer Gentry, Livingston, 70-70-140; Caleb Fornshell, Billings Central, 68-74—142 Colin Jensen, Billings Central, 67-77—144; Tyce O’Connell, Hamilton, 75-71—146; Aden Rickels, Whitefish, 74-74—148; Tate Jessop, Corvallis, 76-73—149; Brady Powell, Corvallis, 79-70—149; Mason O’Neil, Whitefish, 70-80—150; Royce Taylor, Laurel, 79-71—150; Tag Jessop, Corvallis, 76-76—152; Gab Glassing, Laurel, 75-78—153; Isaa Flamand, Browning, 77-78—155; Silas Zetterberg, Frenchtown, 78-77—155.
GIRLS
Team scores: Billings Central 341-344—685, Whitefish 367-360—727, Frenchtown 369-370—739, Dillon 380-374—754, Hamilton 372-385—757, Livingston 381-389—761, Bigfork 401-392—793, Sidney 425-408—833, Havre 441-447—888.
Top 15: Katie Lewis, Frenchtown, 75-76—151; Anna Lende, Livingston, 80-80-160; Cameron Burnett, Hamilton, 80-81—161; Keni Wade, Bigfork, 80-83—163; Berkley Park, Billings Central, 82-82—164; Jordan Nielsen, Billings Central, 82-83—165; Karlee Brown, 82-83—165; Stella Jaffe, Whitefish, 86-85—171; Skylar LaPierre, Dillon, 89-84—173; Kiya Ford, Billings Central, 86-90—176; Camille Poncin, Livingston, 89-87—176; Bryn Cianflone, Hamilton, 89-88—177; Ava Flotkoetter, Miles City, 91-86—177; Alivia Kuhr, Laurel, 86-93—179; Anna Prill, 91-89—180.