AT ST E M O N A T S N S O A O I N CIAT A 1917-2017

ATE M ST TATE M O S O N GOLF GOLF A N A T S N S N A T S IO S O N O T A O I CIA N CIAT A A th 1917-2017 100Anniversary 1. 2.

M TATE O S N GOLF T A A S N S IO N OCIAT A

Caleb Stetzner

2017 State AM Champions Teigan Avery Reflecting On 100 Years of Montana State Golf Jim Opitz, MSGA Executive Director In 1917, Butte, Montana was the birthplace for the Montana State Golf Association. The same year, Butte and its citizens suffered a horrendous tragedy with mine explosions and numerous deaths. Still, the spirit of Butte and the love of golf endured. Tournaments were held, champions were crowned and golf was at the center of rejuvenation and joy. The MSGA was joined later as golf grew in popularity in the state with the good stewards of women’s golf establishing the MSWGA. Names like Sarsfield, Barnett, Jones, Cook and Hedge have dominated the men’s amateur. Just as impressive are the names of Tremper, Anderson and Schneider in the women’s amateur. These are players who inspired amateur golfers throughout Montana. We all wanted to be like Gene or Helen didn’t we? As the golfers names have changed so has the MSGA/MSWGA role in all of this. Besides putting on annual championships, the associations have been busy rating courses, administering handicaps, encouraging junior programs and in general -- promoting the game we all love. This project, to capture some of the history of Montana Golf, is a major undertaking. A great deal of gratitude is given to George Geise for embracing this task. As we read the text of his work, most of us will have vivid memories of watching these players “do their thing” and coming away amazed. At the same time, all players who have volunteered to host a junior event, or to work at a state event have added their own contribution to the promotion of golf in Montana. You are to be thanked for your generous support. It is the spirit of the game that keeps us coming back, even after having one of those challenging days on the . With the help of all of you who support the MSGA/MSWGA, we will continue our mission to promote and grow the game of golf in Montana. Carla Berg, MSWGA Executive Director As I write this forward, I am watching the 117th U.S. Open Championship. I pause to reflect that just 17 years after the first U.S. Open Championship our state association held their first Men’s and Women’s State Amateur Championships. Golf in America was in the infant stages and so too, it was in Montana. Your state associations share the common mission “to preserve and protect the game of golf.” George has done a very good job trying to compile some important history of Montana Golf and our championships. Over the past 100 years, we have seen many changes in the development of equipment and courses. Science has played an important role in the agronomy of courses with turf grass research and water use. Equipment and ball technology have changed the game more rapidly than we ever thought possible. The old method of pacing yardage is gone forever. The game that one time was considered for the elite, is now for everyone. Our state golf associations have been the “guardians” of the game in our state for the past century. Under their guidance and tutelage, the game has flourished for everyone. The state associations operate independently from the USGA and rely primarily on its volunteers and members. Because of these shared goals and the relationship of the members and the state associations for the past 100 years, the game of golf has grown in Montana—all “for the good of the game.” In this modern 21st century it is important to remember and remain grounded in these golf traditions, with the time honored value of volunteerism. Please continue to support the work and mission of the MSGA & the MSWGA with your membership. Obtaining your , purchasing state golf license plates and supporting the junior grants program through raffles and fundraising efforts will permanently secure golf’s future in Montana for those who will learn the game as we have – under the Big Sky. We must all thank those volunteers who came before us for their wisdom and their dedication to the game. With the continuing dedication of our state associations, I do believe the game we love is in good hands for our future generations. By GEORGE GEISE MSGA Board Member Any organization or business that manages to operate successfully for 100 years must be doing something right, and we happen to believe that the Montana State Golf Association has done quite a few things right over the past century. To celebrate ten decades of service to the game of golf in the Treasure State, we are taking a long look back at the good old days, beginning in 1917 when the MSGA sponsored its first state tournament. We discovered quite a few things about our association -- and our sport -- that we wanted to share with the state golf community. We also reinforced the notion that hundreds of dedicated volunteers – men and women -- have served the game of golf extremely well in our great state. To be sure, the goal of our project wasn’t to write a comprehensive history of golf in Montana. While that is a noble ambition, it’s a target that exceeds our modest research resources. However, since this is the 100th anniversary of the Montana State Golf Association – and its vital partner, the Montana State Women’s Golf Association -- we believe there is no better time to examine the role of our groups in the development of golf in Montana, and also to look at the role we ought to play in growing the sport in the future. We feel quite comfortable reporting most of the data published in these pages. For example, it’s a matter of public record that E.J. “Ted” Barker of Butte won the first seven men’s amateur tournaments conducted, on his way to a record nine titles. We also can report in full confidence that Helen Schroeder Tremper of Missoula was the dominant player of her era, winning 15 championships in a 20-year period beginning in 1955. However, we are far less comfortable reporting the scores that Barker shot while winning his first championship 100 years ago, and we can’t accurately tell you what brand of golf clubs Tremper used in 1975 to earn her final state title. But we’re going to give

6 7 it our best shot, and we hope this text serves as a template for In the formative years of Treasure State golf, the game was discussions that lead to an even more definitive history of golf in contested on “sand” greens, a surface that would be oiled, then the Treasure State. smoothed with rakes. The first “grass” green didn’t arrive in THE EARLY YEARS (1917-1936) Montana until 1931, when the Missoula Country Club built one on the site of its current 16th hole. The seeds of golf in Montana were planted in Butte, which was the largest city in the state a For the first few decades – actually, for the first 48 years – match century ago, an industrial center powered by play was used to determine state champions. The men and women copper mining and related businesses. The usually had qualifying rounds of medal play, followed by two or Butte Country Club was formed in the early three days of . The men generally determined their part of the 20th century, and the first State champion with a 36-hole final match, while the women went 18 Amateur Tournament was contested there holes. in 1917. As you might expect, Butte golfers E.J. “Ted” Barker and Mrs. I.M. Wheeler The earliest state tournaments were come-one, come-all affairs, won the inaugural men’s and women’s with adult men and women, junior boys and girls, senior men and championships. sometimes even professionals competing during the same week. And those events weren’t restricted to Montana golfers only; That was the first of seven straight titles in the third men’s State for Barker – who won a record nine overall Amateur in 1919, Barker in 11 years – and it was the first of three defeated a Salt Lake City, consecutive crowns for Mrs. Wheeler. Utah player in the final match. Butte played host to the first four state tournaments, before clubs in Helena and The youngest men’s then Anaconda took their turns. champion in Treasure State history was 17-year- old Rudy Merhar of Butte, Those a former caddy who won communities his first title in 1932. Two were joined years later at the Billings as a host site Golf and Country Club, by Great Falls Rudy shot a 6-under- (Meadow Lark 62 in a qualifying round, Country Club) but he failed to win the in 1924, but it wasn’t until championship. 1934 that a state meet was played in Billings. Kalispell didn’t host the tourney until 1947, and Missoula didn’t join the rotation until 1950. 8 9 BEFORE AND AFTER WORLD WAR II (1937-1956) The game of golf obviously was popular in cents per club member from each member club – in addition to Montana in the years following the Great the club fees, which ranged from $15 to $100 annually, depending Depression. In 1940, a survey of participation on the size of the club. at the state tournament in Butte revealed that It was during the post-war years that the nearly 300 golfers competed in the week-long first dominant female golfer in Montana rose event. to prominence. While Miss Grace Barnett There were 223 men of Missoula (1923 through 1935) and Mrs. entered (at a $5 fee), along Frank Tucker of Anaconda (1925 through with 55 women (at $3.50 1937) had each claimed five state titles, apiece), and there were neither won more than two consecutive other entrants in a senior tournaments. men’s division, a junior When Edeann Anderson of Helena arrived on girls’ division, and even a the scene in 1944 as a 14-year-old phenom, separate pro division (at 10 she immediately won six championships in a bucks a head). row. She continued her spectacular career as Montana, like most other states, saw a an adult, winning numerous sharp decline in the number of potential titles around the Northwest golfers after World War II began. as Edeann Ihlanfeldt. She continued as a top-flight The Treasure State managed to conduct a state tourney in 1942, player the rest of her life, but suspended play in 1943 – for the first and only time. and won the USGA Senior Women’s Championship in 1982 – When state events almost 40 years after she won her first were resumed in 1944, Montana title. winning players were rewarded not with prizes It was also during this period that the or gift certificates, but second great Montana male player with War Bonds. emerged, and he also came from Butte. Gene Jones won the first of his six state At the administrative championships in 1937, and he kept level, major changes also winning until he collected his final came after the war. For trophy in 1949. the first 30 years of the MSGA, the association During most of that period, Jones’ biggest raised operating money mostly by charging fees to member clubs. competition came from fellow Butte Country Club But starting in 1949, the dues structure was revised to collect 10 star George Sarsfield, who himself was a state champion four times between 1935 and 1956. 10 11 The men also were runner-up to each while Cook was a muscular power hitter who could the ball other several times over the years. more than 300 yards – in an era when a 250- yard shot was considered extremely long. The fees to compete at the state tournament had remained stable over the From 1957 through 1970, Zemljak won six state period, but were raised from $5 to $7.50 championships. From 1967 through 1978, Cook in 1953, but only for the men. That doesn’t also won six crowns. In several of those years, sound like much of a hike, they battled each other down the final holes in but imagine the uproar search of the big trophy. if fees were raised 50 percent in one year today. During these same decades, Helen Schroeder Tremper was exhibiting even more dominance Another major off-the-course development in the women’s game. The Missoula standout occurred in 1950 when the Montana State won 15 state titles from 1955 through 1975, Women’s Golf Association filed for State Articles frequently winning by huge margins. of Incorporation. Women who signed that historic document included pioneers like Doris Luck, Jane Hibbard, It took the MSGA several years of discussion – and Peggy Jerraw, Helen Hawke, Lucey Holliday, Frances Wilson and experimentation – before medal play became the accepted Cecelia Case. It would be a few more years before the women format for totally separated from the determining men in the operation of state state tournaments, but champions. this was the beginning of The association debated that move. the switch for several years before trying medal play in championship flight in 1964, then made the change A TIME OF MORE CHANGE (1957-1976) permanent in all flights in 1965. It was during these two decades Another significant change occurred in that Montana’s greatest head-to-head 1969 when the Montana State Women’s rivalry took center stage. Butte carpenter Golf Association conducted its own Ed Zemljak and Great Falls school teacher tournament apart from the men. Fittingly, Gene Cook had vastly different styles, but Tremper won the championship, her they both knew how to get the ball into fourth straight victory. the hole. Zemljak was a precise, controlled ball-striker who rarely missed a fairway, 12 13 It was also during this period that the MSGA finally got serious about the junior golf business. For many years, the only major in Montana high school programs, and also gained experience at junior event in the Treasure State was put on by the Montana the State Junior Tournament, began to star at nationally known Jaycees (Junior Chamber of Commerce). But in 1967, the first college programs. State Junior Tournament sponsored by the MSGA was played at Elks Country Club in Havre, and it stayed on the Hi-Line – either in Havre or Cut Bank – for several years.

Toward the end of the sixth decade, a man named Barnett finally In 1979 and again in 1981, Louie was crowned as a state champion. Mike Barnett of Missoula, a Bartoletti of Butte won state titles, 22-year-old Arizona State University player, shot a then-record while competing for the nationally score of 8-under-par 280 prominent program at UCLA. at Butte Country Club to collect the 1974 state title. A few years His grandfather, Dr. Don later, Mike Grob Barnett, and his father, Dr. of Billings – John Barnett, had combined who competed to play in all previous 57 for the strong State Amateurs without collegiate posting a victory. program at Arkansas – won Another new organization three consecutive state titles. Both of those serving golf in the state guys turned pro, and remain successful emerged in the late 1950s. professionals today. Grob became the The Montana State Senior leading money winner on the Canadian PGA Tour, and played Golf Association, for players well enough at age 51 to qualify for the lucrative Champions Tour. aged 55 and over, conducted its first event in 1958 in Bartoletti chose the club pro route, and worked many years at top Helena. The MSSGA sponsored an official state tourney for men, clubs in Florida and the Northeast. He currently serves as director and unofficial events for women who were married to senior men. of golf at the prestigious Rock Creek Cattle Company near Deer Lodge. The state senior tournament began with only a few dozen players, but has since grown into the biggest annual golf outing in the The women’s side also was dominated by young athletes who Treasure State. The latest senior events have involved upward of started in state junior programs, then went on to success at the 320 men – and about 50 women – and require the use of two or college and professional levels. three courses over a three-day, 54-hole format. Sisters Cathy and CeCe Studer of Billings each won three state NEW EVENTS, MEMORABLE CHAMPIONS (1977-1996) championships between 1978 and 1988, and both played college It was during this period when golfers who had learned the game golf.

14 15 16 17 It wasn’t long before young phenoms like Judi Schneider (Pavon) It wasn’t long before the Mid-Am became just as popular as the of Helena and Leslie Spalding of Billings came along, combining State Amateur, attracting fields of 180 or more players. for four state championships between 1986 and 1992. Both of Cook, who enjoyed so much success at the State Amateur, proved those players had successful college careers at the University just as tough to beat at higher age levels. The husky redhead of Alabama, and Spalding became a regular on the LPGA Tour. added two Mid-Amateur titles before dominating the State Today, both are head coaches at major college programs, proving Senior ranks with seven that even golfers who learned championships in eight years the game in a sparsely populated starting in 1989. Western state can enjoy success on a national stage. This might have been the Golden Age for male golfers It was also during this period that from Great Falls. While Cook the Montana State Golf Association was beating guys aged 35 to realized that college-age golfers 65, cousins Todd Kernaghan were dominating the State Amateur and Kelly Gilligan were scene, and it was time to add a new defeating the younger generation. event for the “working man.” Kernaghan, who played his college golf at Arizona State, won The first State Mid-Amateur three State Amateur titles Tournament, for men aged 35 and older, was played in 1987 in in four years beginning in Billings, and was won by former professional Milt Klungness. 1987. He went on to turn pro and won the Montana Open in his first event, but he rejoined the amateur ranks a few years later. Gillligan, who played at Washingon State,

19 collected three straight State Ams from 1993-95 before staying in the golf business, becoming a course superintendent.

In the early 1990s, several other Montana milestones were achieved. In 1991, the Montana State Women’s Golf Association established a Senior Division at its state tournament, with Helen McMeel of Great Falls capturing the first “official” state senior crown. The from the top players during Pro-Am events in both the Western Senior Division grew Montana and Yellowstone sections. rapidly after that, and eventually more In its history, the state of Montana had never hosted an event women aged 50 and sponsored by the United States Golf above entered the state Association, but in the summer of 1994 tourney than younger the Treasure State was fortunate enough players. to handle two such tournaments. Also in 1991, the first The U.S. Junior Girls Tournament was Montana Cup golf played at Meadow Lark Country Club in matches were played. Great Falls, and a committee chaired by The event used a Ryder Sonja Dehn and Maggie Boyd put on a Cup-style format with 12 top Montana terrific event that was won by Texas high male amateurs competing against school standout Kelly Kuhne. a dozen professionals in a two-day, 54-hole competition. The That event had been awarded to Montana Treasure State amateur team originally included the top finishers several years earlier, but the U.S. Public from the State Amateur Tournament, but the selection process Links tourney was given to Montana has been altered a few times over the years. The pros were chosen much later when another venue cancelled 20 21 its contract. So the Publinx tournament was played at Eagle Bend in Bigfork, where USGA board member Paul Caruso of Helena guided the successful event. I inVESTING FOR THE FUTURE (1997-2016) As a new century arrived, it became obvious to both major golf associations in the state that developing more – and better -- junior golfers was the key to a stronger future. The MSWGA had begun awarding Montana has scholarships to graduating high school rarely been a senior girls back in 1990, and the contender at MSGA had been greatly increasing these Junior its funding of junior tournaments America’s to include five regional events each Cup events, since June, qualifying states like boys and girls for California and Arizona have huge advantages in population, the State Junior financial resources and weather. But in 2002, Team Montana’s tourney. boys finished third at the Junior America’s Cup, represented by Mike Rider, Casey Keyser, Kelbi Lee and Josh Hedge. The two associations also Just three years later, Hedge – a collaborated to Billings standout – would win the send teams to first of three consecutive State Amateur titles. Three years after that, another former Billings-area junior star, Nathan Bailey, would win three the Junior America’s Cup matches, straight state championships. annual events that bring together the best junior players from 15 Western It was during this period that states, plus Mexico and western Montana and its sister province Canada. Sending four boys and to the north began an annual four girls to places like Hawaii is an series – the Montana-Alberta expensive proposition, but the MSGA Cup. Using a format, believes that the competition is worth the investment. 23 Even though the association spends in the Treasure State excess of $40,000 annually on junior and Alberta squared golf programs – such as the State off at a variety of Junior, the Junior America’s Cup and courses in three separate age the Montana-Alberta Cup – the MSGA groups. Montana first won the board decided a few years ago that Cup in 2000, and has been the investment in junior golf needed competitive most years since to go well beyond that scope. After then. The annual event has considerable deliberation, the MSGA settled on alternate years playing approved a special fundraising project with proceeds earmarked in Whitefish and Lethbridge. specifically for development of golf programs serving boys and In 2002, the MSGA increased girls in grades K-8. its annual contribution to In 2016, the board started selling raffle tickets for sports-related the MSWGA from $5,500 to trips, with the goal of raising $60,000. Although the MSGA fell $8,000, and a year later the short of that goal the first year, the association was able to allocate men’s association began selling nearly $10,000 in grants to nearly a dozen personalized license plates. The communities, many of them small towns extra revenue generated by that with limited resources. funding source allowed the MSGA to also increase financial support for golf As the first century of programs at the state’s universities, four- Montana golf came to a year colleges and junior colleges. close, it was obvious that the players – like the equipment For most of the past 50 years, the main and the facilities – were funding for the association budget becoming better than ever. has come from individual members purchasing The last three Men’s State handicaps from an Amateur champions – MSGA-approved vendor. Brandon McIver of Billings By 2010, the association in 2013-14, Tom Swanson of had nearly 20,000 men Missoula in 2015, and Ryan and women paying about Porch of Kalispell in 2016 $13 apiece for handicap – were college standouts services. No golfer recognized both regionally can compete in a MSGA- and nationally. sanctioned event without a certified handicap. McIver, perhaps the most decorated Montana junior

24 25 A PREP SEASON FOR THE AGES player in state history, played four years at the University of Oregon, We can’t let the junior section end without putting the fall 2017 and competed at the U.S. Open prep golf season into perspective. at Pinehurst National in 2015. It’s been documented that West High senior Moore fired rounds Unfortunately, he slumped during of 67-66 on Sept. 26-27 for a 133 total at Buffalo Hill his senior season and didn’t play in Kalispell, enough to break his own scoring record for Class AA. at the NCAA Championships when the Ducks won the title in 2016. He Just a few days later at Sidney Country Club, Libby junior turned pro in 2017 and has already Johnston shot rounds of 68-66 to earn the all-time scoring record qualified to compete on the Canadian for Class A. PGA Tour. Those numbers are astonishing for any young player in any state, Swanson has played three solid years but particularly for a state like Montana, which has relatively few in the Big Ten for the University courses (less than 100), and offers one of the shortest golf seasons of Michigan, while Porch was the in the nation. 2016 Big Sky Conference champion while competing for Idaho. Porch To be sure, switching high school golf from the spring to the fall also turned pro this year and won – at least for Class AA and Class A schools – has provided better his first event, the Lake City Open scoring conditions for prep boys and girls. Not only are the golf in Polson. courses in better shape in August than they would be in April, but the athletes also should be in sharper form, coming off their busy The next wave of summer tournament schedules. talent has already arrived. But there’s no simple way to explain the kinds of seasons enjoyed Ryggs Johnston of Libby is the highest-ranked by Moore and Johnston -- other than to say that talent and sheer junior golfer Montana has ever produced, and determination can produce exceptional results, no matter where at age 16 he set the all-time Montana high you live. school scoring record with a 36-hole total of 131. He and High school golf has been played at Treasure State schools since Joey Moore of Billings have 1928, but until this year, only one Montana boy had ever averaged dominated the junior under 70 for a full competitive season. Back in 2011, McIver of scene in our state, and Billings West averaged 67.1 strokes per round. That’s the same they look like the next McIver who went on to win two State Amateur titles, and who great rivalry in the played four seasons at the University of Oregon, and who now men’s game. plays professionally on the Canadian Tour. Moore, who grew up admiring McIver as a young Billings player, is now the most accomplished high school golfer in AA history.

26 27 The husky, long-hitting Moore averaged 66.2 strokes for his 11 national junior schedule, playing events in Illinois, South Dakota rounds during the August-September stretch, with a low round and Kansas. of 61 at Peter Yegen Golf Course in Billings. He broke par each of those rounds, and his WORST score was a 1-under-par 71 at the With one more season of high school golf ahead of him, Johnston tough Meadow Lark Country Club layout in Great Falls. has a chance to become the fifth boy in the United States ever to win four straight high school championships in the same state. Moore finished his prep career in grand style, driving the green on Moore finished his prep career with two titles and two second- the 330-yard 18th hole at Buffalo Hill and sinking his 4-foot putt place finishes. for an eagle deuce, enough to break his own state 36-hole record by one stroke. Both young men are headed to outstanding NCAA Division I programs down the line. Moore will play at San Diego State But as well as Moore performed, Johnston was even better. starting in the fall of 2018, while Johnston has signed to compete at Arizona State University starting in 2019. The lanky right-hander from a remote corner of Northwest Montana averaged an incredible 65.1 strokes per round in his fall campaign, winning all seven tournaments and setting records at many sites. He established a new course record of 11-under-par 61 at Whitefish Lake’s North Course, and fired 63s at both Polson Bay and Hamilton Golf Club. He carded a 9-hole total of 29 on his way to a 64 at The Ranch Club in Missoula. That performance came on the heels of his record-setting effort last spring, when he set a new Class B scoring record with rounds of 61 and 67 at Marias Valley in Shelby. Johnston won State Class B titles in 2016 and 2017 before Libby was promoted back to Class A for the 2017-18 school year. Remarkably, the Treasure State standouts rarely competed against each other in 2017. Their only head-to-head matchup was at the prestigious Whitefish Lake Fourth of July tourney, where Moore edged Johnston on the first hole after they had tied for first place after 54 holes of medal play. That was one of several major victories against adult competition for Moore, who also won the Lake City Open in Polson, and the Gallatin Valley Open in Bozeman. He also finished runner-up at the State Amateur at Missoula Country Club, while winning his second straight MSGA State Junior crown. Johnston skipped most in-state tournaments to concentrate on a

28 29 HALL OF FAMERS There are about 18,000 golfers who are serious enough about the game to purchase MSGA-approved handicap cards. Golfers are Nobody can say that Montanans don’t love to required to hold an approved handicap to compete at most major recognize the best among them. Even though tournaments. our state has fewer people – and golfers -- than most other states, we have had 68 men While the majority of rounds in and 51 women enshrined in our two halls of this state annually are played fame. by Treasure State residents, there is a substantial – and The MSGA inducted its first hall of fame growing – segment of the golf class in 1986, and all of the multiple state business that is part of the champions were honored. Over the years, the tourism trade. Much of the rules were changed to allow induction of any golf activity played by visitors man who has won at least two major titles occurs in the Flathead Valley, (State Amateur or Mid-Amateur), or three State Senior crowns. that scenic portion of northwest Montana stretching from Polson The women have similar rules for their honorees. on the south end of Flathead Lake to Whitefish, Kalispell, Bigfork and Columbia Falls at the north end of the lake. Both associations also have honored many volunteers who have made significant contributions to the sport. A list of hall-of-fame Indeed, the busiest golf course in Montana each year is the members is available on the association web sites. Whitefish Lake Golf Club, a publically operated 36-hole facility WHERE WE PLAY THE GAME that is owned by the city of Whitefish and the Whitefish Lake Golf Association. Each year the two courses host around 70,000 No survey of the Montana golf scene would be complete without a rounds of golf, of which more than 35 percent are played by out- look at the courses where we play. of-town golfers – many of them Canadians. When the first championship tournament was played in the Buffalo Hill and Village Greens in Kalispell also attract lots of Treasure State in 1917, there was only one place to play the event tourist traffic, as do semi-private facilities in Columbia Falls and – the Butte Country Club. Bigfork. The public Polson Bay Golf Course at the south end of Today, there are 94 golf courses operating within this huge state Flathead Lake also is a popular golf destination for visitors. – everything from 9-hole courses located in tiny towns, to 36-hole However, over the past 20 to 30 years a different type of golf facilities that lure thousands of tourists each year. facility has been introduced to Montana, and most of these The vast majority of our courses are available to the general courses are enjoyed mainly by an exclusive membership. These public. Even many of the top private country clubs have reciprocal “gated golf communities” feature courses designed by some of the agreements with other clubs, and golfers who compete at our top architects in the golf industry, and many of their designs have various state tournaments get to play nearly all the top-notch received national recognition by golf publications. courses at bargain prices. Unfortunately, the average Montana golfer may never know just There are an estimated 90,000 Montana residents -- men, women how good these courses are. and children – who play at least one round of golf each year. 30 31 Jack Nicklaus, known not only as the best player in the history of the game but also one of its best designers, had a hand in building Champions three of Montana’s most interesting golf courses. Nicklaus and Men’s State Amateur Champions his son built the third nine at the superb Eagle Bend Golf Club YEAR PLACE WINNER CLUB in Bigfork, and also designed the super-exclusive Reserve at 1917-20 Butte E.J. Barker Butte CC Moonlight Basin near Big Sky. 1921 Helena E.J. Barker Butte CC But Nicklaus is best known for taking a contaminated tract of land 1922 Anaconda E.J. Barker Butte CC 1923 Butte E.J. Barker Butte CC in Anaconda and transforming it into the popular Old Works Golf 1924 Great Falls Martin Kall Butte CC Course, a public facility that made Montana a golfing destination 1925 Helena E.J. Barker Butte CC almost 20 years ago. The Arco corporation spent well over $20 1926 Anaconda A.J. Rolfe Anaconda CC million to turn an old copper smelter into a clean facility that 1927 Great Falls E.J. Barker Butte CC serves local golfers and visitors alike. 1928 Butte Martin Kall Butte CC 1929 Anaconda Carl Loeb, Jr. Anaconda CC Several other world-class designers have put their stamp 1930 Great Falls Steve Seaman Belleview Club, Butte on Montana golf. Tom Weiskopf built the super-exclusive 1931 Butte Martin Kall Butte CC Yellowstone Club and Spanish Peaks courses in Big Sky, as well as 1932 Anaconda Rudy Merhar Lakeshore CC, Butte the private Black Bull facility in Bozeman. 1933 Helena Chas E. Magner Malta GD 1934 Billings Rudy Merhar Lakeshore CC, Butte Tom Fazio built one of the first “gated community” courses with 1935 Great Falls Geo. Sarsficld Highland View Club, Butte his Stock Farm facility in Hamilton, and later built the upscale 1936 Butte Geo. Sarsfield Highland View Club, Butte Horse Golf Club in Whitefish. 1937 Anaconda Eugene Jones Butte CC 1938 Helena Eugene Jones Butte CC One of Nick Faldo’s first important 1939 Great Falls Lloyd Skedd University of MT, Missoula designs was The Wilderness Club 1940 Butte Eugene Jones Butte CC north of Eureka, a facility that is more 1941 Anaconda Pauly Sechena Missoula CC accessible than most of the exclusive 1942 Helena Russ Swanson Butte CC courses we have mentioned. 1944 Butte Eugene Jones Butte CC 1945 Great Falls Guy Owen Cut Bank GD Wherever we play, and 1946 Anaconda Eugene Jones Butte CC whatever scores we 1947 Kalispell Guy Owen Cut Bank GD post, we should try to 1948 Butte Gene Fehlig Green Meadow CC remember WHY we play. 1949 Butte Eugene Jones Butte CC 1950 Missoula Pauly Sechena Missoula CC Even though the MSGA and MSWGA have 1951 Great Falls Joe Boboth Meadow Lark CC sponsored countless tournaments over the past 1952 Butte Danny Kane Butte CC 100 years, we don’t do it for the trophy hunters 1953 Missoula Don Welch Havre CC – we do it for the men, women and kids who love 1954 Great Falls Jerry Cloninger Caldwell, Idaho the game and hope the sport gets nothing but 1955 Butte Geo. Sarsfield Butte CC better over the next century. 1956 Missoula Geo. Sarsfield Butte CC

32 33 Champions Men’s State Amateur Champions Men’s State Amateur Champions YEAR PLACE WINNER CLUB YEAR PLACE WINNER CLUB 1957 Great Falls Ed Zemljak Butte CC 1993 Helena Kelly Gilligan Meadowlark CC 1958 Butte Danny Kane Butte CC 1994 Whitefish Kelly Gilligan Meadowlark CC 1959 Missoula Maury Colberg Hilands CC, Billings 1995 Great Falls Kelly Gilligan Meadowlark CC 1960 Great Falls Don Welch Havre CC 1996 Missoula Colin Bork Missoula CC 1961 Billings Ed Zemljak Butte CC 1997 Laurel Robb Bergeson Yellowstone CC 1962 Butte Ed Zemljak Butte CC 1998 Bozeman Eddie Kavran Beaverhead GD 1963 Missoula Ed Zemljak Butte CC 1999 Butte Rich Lyons Butte CC 1964 Billings Ed Zemljak Butte CC 2000 Billings Scott Ostrum Yellowstone CC 1965 Great Falls Bob Meek Yellowstone CC 2001 Kalispell Justin Dorr Buffalo Hill 1966 Butte Danny Kane Butte CC 2002 Billings Tyler Erickson Riverside CC 1967 Missoula Gene Cook Meadowlark CC 2003 Helena Brandon Davidson Laurel CC 1968 Billings Gene Cook Meadowlark CC 2004 Whitefish Scott Anderson Meadowlark CC 1969 Great Falls Bob Thomas Kalispell CC 2005 Shelby Josh Hedge Yellowstone CC 1970 Butte Ed Zemljak Butte CC 2006 Missoula Josh Hedge Yellowstone CC 1971 Missoula Gene Cook Meadowlark CC 2007 Laurel Josh Hedge Yellowsonte CC 1972 Billings Gene Cook Meadowlark CC 2008 Bozeman Gordon Webb Marian Hills GD 1973 Great Falls Gene Cook Meadowlark CC 2009 Butte Bill Dunn Missoula CC 1974 Butte Mike Barnett Missoula CC 2010 Billings Nathan Bailey Forsyth 1975 Laurel Mike Barnett Missoula CC 2011 Missoula Nathan Bailey Yegen 1976 Missoula Nick Fullerton Riverside, Bozeman 2012 Billings Nathan Bailey Yegen 1977 Billings John Graham Cabinet View, Libby 2013 Helena Brandon McIver Yellowstone CC 1978 Great Falls Gene Cook Meadowlark CC 2014 Whitefish Brandon McIver Yellowstone CC 1979 Butte Louie Bartoletti Butte GD 2015 Great Falls Tom Swanson Missoula CC 1980 Laurel Rick Kloepfer Yellowstone CC 2016 Laurel Ryan Porch Northern Pines 1981 Bozeman Louie Bartoletti Butte CC 1982 Missoula Mark Metzger Laurel GD 1983 Billings Mike Grob Yellowstone CC 1984 Helena Mike Grob Yellowstone CC 1985 Great Falls Mike Grob Yellowstone CC 1986 Butte Brad Forbis Larchmont CC 1987 Laurel Todd Kernaghan Meadowlark CC 1988 Bozeman Aaron Bengoechea Briarwood CC 1989 Missoula Todd Kernaghan Meadowlark CC 1990 Billings Todd Kernaghan Meadowlark CC 1991 Kalispell Gary Durham Riverside CC 1992 Billings Jon Heselwood Missoula CC

34 35 Women’s State Amateur Champions Women’s State Amateur Champions Year ...... Champion...... Home Club Year ...... Champion...... Home Club 2016 ...... Maggie Crippen ...... Missoula CC 1980 ...... Cathy Studer ...... Yellowstone CC 2015 ...... Dorsey Addicks ...... Big Sky GC 1979 ...... Cathy Studer ...... Yellowstone CC 2014 ...... Kyla Clancy ...... Laurel GC 1978 ...... Cathy Studer ...... Yellowstone CC 2013 ...... Amber Lundskog ...... Bridger Creek GC 1977 ...... Shanda Imlay ...... Mt. Sentinel GC 1976 ...... Mona Clark ...... Yellowstone CC 2012 ...... Katelyn Frank ...... Sidney CC 1975 ...... Helen S. Tremper ...... Missoula CC 2011 ...... Maggie Crippen ...... The Ranch Club 1974 ...... Helen S. Tremper ...... Missoula CC 2010 ...... Darah Newell ...... Marias Valley GC 1973 ...... Alice Ritzman ...... Yellowstone CC 2009 ...... Joanne Steele ...... Missoula CC 1972 ...... Alice Ritzman ...... Yellowstone CC 2008 ...... Rachel Warren ...... The Briarwood CC 1971 ...... Mrs. Henry Hibbard ...... Meadow Lark CC 2007 ...... Rachel Warren ...... The Briarwood CC 1970 ...... Helen S. Tremper ...... Missoula CC 2006 ...... Tina Bickford ...... Laurel GC 1969 ...... Helen S. Tremper ...... Missoula CC 2005 ...... Jasi Acharya ...... Laurel GC 1968 ...... Helen S. Tremper ...... Missoula CC 2004 ...... Jasi Acharya ...... Laurel GC 1967 ...... Helen S. Tremper ...... Missoula CC 2003 ...... Cathie Williamson ...... Marias Valley GC 1966 ...... Helen S. Tremper ...... Missoula CC 2002 ...... Brittney Hayes ...... Valley View GC 1965 ...... Jewell Gronley Lee ...... Butte CC 2001 ...... Joanne Steele ...... University GC 1964 ...... Helen S. Tremper ...... Missoula CC 1963 ...... Helen S. Tremper ...... Missoula CC 2000 ...... Jennifer James ...... Madison Meadows GC 1962 ...... Helen S. Tremper ...... Missoula CC 1999 ...... Kaylee Barton ...... Northern Pines GC 1961 ...... Helen S. Tremper ...... Missoula CC 1998 ...... Jennifer McGregor ...... Madison Meadows GC 1960 ...... Helen S. Tremper ...... Missoula CC 1997 ...... Kylee Mouliet ...... Riverside CC 1959 ...... Mrs. Henry Hibbard ...... Green Meadow CC 1996 ...... Paula Nelson ...... Whitefish Lake GC 1958 ...... Helen Schroeder ...... Missoula CC 1995 ...... Jen McGregor ...... Pryor Creek GC 1957 ...... Mrs. Henry Hibbard ...... Green Meadow CC 1994 ...... Brandy Casey ...... Larchmont GC 1956 ...... Helen Schroeder ...... Missoula CC 1993 ...... Brittany Schaff ...... Pryor Creek GC 1955 ...... Helen Schroeder ...... Missoula CC 1992 ...... Leslie Spalding ...... The Briarwood CC 1954 ...... Mrs. Henry Hibbard ...... Green Meadow CC 1991 ...... Leslie Spalding ...... The Briarwood CC 1953 ...... Dorothy Stupca ...... Anaconda CC 1990 ...... Jill Johnson ...... Butte CC 1952 ...... Mrs. Henry Hibbard ...... Green Meadow CC 1989 ...... Judi Schneider ...... Green Meadow CC 1951 ...... Jewell Gronley Lee ...... Butte CC 1950 ...... Mrs. Henry Hibbard ...... Green Meadow CC 1988 ...... CeCe Studer ...... The Briarwood CC 1949 ...... Edean Anderson ...... Green Meadow CC 1987 ...... CeCe Studer ...... The Briarwood CC 1948 ...... Edean Anderson ...... Green Meadow CC 1986 ...... Judi Schneider ...... Green Meadow CC 1947 ...... Edean Anderson ...... Green Meadow CC 1985 ...... Chris Newton ...... Whitefish Lake GC 1946 ...... Edean Anderson ...... Green Meadow CC 1984 ...... CeCe Studer ...... Yellowstone CC 1945 ...... Edean Anderson ...... Green Meadow CC 1983 ...... Sally Sisk ...... Whitefish Lake GC 1944 ...... Edean Anderson ...... Green Meadow CC 1982 ...... Sally Sisk ...... Whitefish Lake GC 1942 ...... Lou J. Gronley ...... Butte CC 1981 ...... Lisa Prill ...... Hilands CC 1941 ...... Lou J. Gronley ...... Butte CC Women’s State Amateur Champions Year ...... Champion...... Home Club 1940 ...... Lou J. Gronley ...... Highlands GC 1939 ...... L. E. Afilerbough ...... Hilltop CC 1938 ...... L. E. Afilerbough ...... Hilltop CC 1937 ...... Mrs. Frank Tucker ...... Anaconda CC 1936 ...... Mrs. Frank Tucker ...... Anaconda CC 1935 ...... Grace Barnett ...... Missoula CC 1934 ...... Mrs. G. C. Taylor ...... Billings CC 1933 ...... Mrs. E. B. Ross ...... Kalispell CC 1932 ...... Grace Barnett ...... Missoula CC 1931 ...... Mrs. C. Branscombe ...... Anaconda CC 1929 ...... Mrs. Frank Tucker ...... Anaconda CC 1928 ...... Mrs. C. Branscombe ...... Anaconda CC 1927 ...... Grace Barnett ...... Missoula CC 1926 ...... Mrs. Frank Tucker ...... Anaconda CC 1925 ...... Mrs. Frank Tucker ...... Anaconda CC 1924 ...... Grace Barnett ...... Missoula CC 1923 ...... Grace Barnett ...... Missoula CC 1922 ...... Mrs. C. Branscombe ...... Anaconda CC 1921 ...... Mrs. R. R. Kilroy ...... Butte CC 1920 ...... Mrs. E. E. Magill ...... Butte CC 1919 ...... Mrs. I. M. Wheeler ...... Butte CC 1918 ...... Mrs. I. M. Wheeler ...... Butte CC 1917 ...... Mrs. I. M. Wheeler ...... Butte CC