BILLINGS – They took two different routes to get there, but Missoula Loyola’s Kylie Esh and Bucky Crippen both ended up as State B golf champions Wednesday.
Esh won her second consecutive wire-to-wire title, shooting a 1-under-par 71 in Wednesday’s final round to finish with a 143 total, beating teammate Katie Fagg by 12 shots. Esh and Fagg, playing in the final group together, pushed each other enough to help the Breakers win the team title, as well.
“That’s exactly what we did (Wednesday),” said Esh. “Honestly, we didn’t really focus on the individual. It was more for the team title. We’d say, ‘OK, where can we save strokes for the team?'”
Fagg shot a final-round 77 for a 155 total, her second straight State B runner-up finish to Esh. Shelby’s Abbey Aklestad finished third with a 171 after Wednesday’s 85, while Columbus’ Olivia Hess finished fourth at 175. Shelby finished second as a team, 43 strokes behind Loyola.
The boys title was a three-horse race coming into Wednesday. Manhattan’s Josh Neth led Crippen by one and Colstrip’s Peter Brown by two after Tuesday’s opener, but Crippen birdied the first two holes – Nos. 10 and 11 with the boys starting on the back – to erase the deficit.
Crippen’s lead was two after Neth made a double-bogey on No. 17, and the Loyola junior put the nail in the coffin with an eagle on the Par 5 No. 5 to put him up six strokes on Brown. Crippen shot a final-round 3-under-par 69 to finish at 142 for the tournament. Brown finished second at 150 after a final-round 76, with Neth finishing a shot back in third at 151.
The title makes Bucky the fourth Crippen sibling to win a State B championship, joining older sisters Kelsie, Maggie, and Sadie.
“I’ve definitely wanted to do that my whole high school career,” Bucky said, “and having to shoot a good round to do it makes it even better.”
Crippen finished second as a sophomore last season to Libby phenom Ryggs Johnston, but with the Loggers moving up to Class A for the 2017-18 school year, this title was there for the taking. Crippen, though, admitted he missed the competition from one of Montana’s best.
“I feel like with Ryggs there was more pressure,” said Crippen. “I like playing with someone that good – it makes me better. So this year was kind of a struggle throughout the year, but then I shot a good round (Wednesday), so it ended well.”
Loyola came up just short of sweeping every title. Shelby’s boys beat the Rams by two shots, 671 to 673, for the boys team championship. Brock Whitted was the Coyotes’ highest finisher, tied for fifth with a 157.
Below are full results:
BOYS – INDIVIDUAL SCORES
1. CRIPPEN, BUCKY – LOY 73 69 — — — — 142
2. BROWN, PETER – CST 74 76 — — — — 150
3. NETH, JOSH – MAN 72 79 — — — — 151
4. @BECKMAN, DYLAN – THF 76 * 79 * — — — — 155*
5T. WHITTED, BROCK – SHB 83 74 — — — — 157
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5T. FINN, BLAKE – SG 85 72 — — — — 157
7. GRAVELEY, CODY – BRW 79 80 — — — — 159
8. @BROWN, ETHAN – THF 77 * 85 * — — — — 162*
9. @FLINT, KONNER – BAK 85 * 83 * — — — — 168*
10T. SHEPHARD, JAREK – CON 81 88 — — — — 169
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10T. GRIFFITH, JAYCE – RND 84 85 — — — — 169
10T. SCHWERS, BRANDON – SG 83 86 — — — — 169
13. VANDENACRE, KYLE – CON 87 83 — — — — 170
14T. WHITE, AARON – SHB 78 93 — — — — 171
14T. ANDERSON, JAROD – SHB 89 82 — — — — 171
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14T. HATFIELD, EASTON – BRW 84 87 — — — — 171
17T. CRABTREE, KYLER – CHO 86 86 — — — — 172
17T. REYNOLDS, TJ – SHB 83 89 — — — — 172
17T. @EMSLIE, AUGIE – BIG 82 * 90 * — — — — 172*
17T. MOHR, CHASE – THR 83 89 — — — — 172
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21. MYRICK, BLAINE – GLA 82 91 — — — — 173
22. BECK, DYLAN – LOY 85 89 — — — — 174
23T. WELLER, CLIFF – SG 87 88 — — — — 175
23T. @ECKMANN, JOSH – JEF 88 * 87 * — — — — 175*
23T. CANTALUPO, STEVEN – MAN 87 88 — — — — 175
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26. NOYD, REED – LOY 91 85 — — — — 176
27. JENNINGS, JOHN – THR 91 86 — — — — 177
28. KANE, TUCKER – RL 89 91 — — — — 180
29. BROWNLEE, CARTER – SG 91 * 90 — — — — 181
30T. BRAATEN, IKE – GLA 91 91 — — — — 182
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30T. PATTON, CALEB – SG 89 93 * — — — — 182
32T. @BROCKELBANK, GABE – CLB 89 * 95 * — — — — 184*
32T. @BAUER, KAI – ANA 94 * 90 * — — — — 184*
34. MANN, COOPER – RL 93 92 — — — — 185
35T. VANDENACRE, BLAKE – CON 94 92 — — — — 186
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35T. @STAMPFEL, TREY – CLB 94 * 92 * — — — — 186*
37T. BAER, JT – CST 96 91 — — — — 187
37T. VANDYKEN, NATHAN – MAN 96 91 — — — — 187
39T. BOOS, HUNTER – RL 97 91 — — — — 188
39T. KALEVA, SEAN – LOY 92 96 * — — — — 188
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39T. BLAKER, RILEY – THR 91 97 — — — — 188
42T. DUROCHER, TRENTON – CHO 103 86 — — — — 189
42T. MYRICK, CADE – GLA 100 89 — — — — 189
42T. BRUSVEN, WYATT – SHB 90 * 99 * — — — — 189
42T. KREATZ, JACOB – RL 90 99 — — — — 189
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46. @HOPKINS, BRANDON – BIG 97 * 93 * — — — — 190*
47. VANDYKEN, TREVOR – MAN 94 97 — — — — 191
48. HAUSER, MICAIAH – THR 95 98 — — — — 193
49T. HUFNAGEL, PARKER – BRW 100 95 — — — — 195
49T. KENDRICK, JOSEPH – LOY 106* 89 — — — — 195
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51T. RUSSELL, BRIDGER – CON 105 91 — — — — 196
51T. @FEUERSTEIN, ELY – SHP 100* 96 * — — — — 196*
53T. FOSSUM, KADEN – GLA 104* 97 — — — — 201
53T. @SADLER, DAMON – POP 102* 99 * — — — — 201*
53T. ROBERTSON, CADE – BRW 102 99 — — — — 201
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56T. HALLOCK, ODEN – GLA 98 106* — — — — 204
56T. GRIFFITH, KAIDE – RND 100 104 — — — — 204
58T. KOVATCH, KOLBY – CHO 105 102 — — — — 207
58T. @WATERS, GRAYSON – MAL 105* 102* — — — — 207*
58T. MORRIS, AIDAN – BRW 107* 100* — — — — 207
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61. SMITH, BRANDON – CST 114 96 — — — — 210
62. SAYERS, TANNER – THR 111* 102* — — — — 213
63. HUNTSINGER, CADEN – CON 114* 101* — — — — 215
64. KEPLIN, MEMPHIS – CST 108 111* — — — — 219
65. GOFFENA, LUCAS – RND 107 119 — — — — 226
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66. HEIDINGER, HAYES – RL 116* 114* — — — — 230
67. ARMSTRONG, BRADY – CHO 118 115 — — — — 233
68. CHAPMAN, RILEY – MAN 116* 118* — — — — 234
69. EISELEIN, KELSON – RND 125 113 — — — — 238
70. CHOLFON, JONATHAN – CHO 126* 122* — — — — 248
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71. McHENRY, MICHAEL – RND 125* 148* — — — — 273
— SMITH, TRAVIS – CST DQ * 81 — — — — 81
# or * = Ineligible for Team Score
BOYS – TEAM SCORES
1. SHELBY – SHB 333 338 — — — — 671
2. LOYOLA SACRED HEART – LOY 341 332 — — — — 673
3. SWEET GRASS (Big Timber) – SG 344 336 — — — — 680
4. MANHATTAN – MAN 349 355 — — — — 704
5. CONRAD – CON 367 354 — — — — 721
6. BROADWATER – BRW 365 361 — — — — 726
7. THREE FORKS – THR 360 370 — — — — 730
8. COLSTRIP – CST 392 344 — — — — 736
9. GLASGOW – GLA 371 368 — — — — 739
10. RED LODGE – RL 369 373 — — — — 742
11. CHOTEAU – CHO 412 389 — — — — 801
12. ROUNDUP – RND 416 421 — — — — 837
GIRLS – INDIVIDUAL SCORES
1. ESH, KYLIE – LOY 72 71 — — — — 143
2. FAGG, KATIE – LOY 78 77 — — — — 155
3. AKLESTAD, ABBEY – SHB 86 85 — — — — 171
4. HESS, OLIVIA – CLB 90 85 — — — — 175
5. MARTIN, SKYLER – SHB 87 91 — — — — 178
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6. JOHANNES, BAILEY – CLB 93 87 — — — — 180
7. MACK, SHAINY – THR 92 89 — — — — 181
8. EMTER, MADILYN – SG 91 92 — — — — 183
9T. @BIELER, KATIE – CHO 90 * 94 * — — — — 184*
9T. @LARSON, BRENNAN – RND 92 * 92 * — — — — 184*
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11T. @BROWN, ELSIE – THF 90 * 95 * — — — — 185*
11T. ROWAN, MAKAYLA – THR 90 95 — — — — 185
13. @FRIEZ, KATIE – FOR 98 * 88 * — — — — 186*
14. TOMAZELI, ISADORA – LOY 93 94 — — — — 187
15. @MURACK, KATE – CON 96 * 92 * — — — — 188*
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16. SANTISTEVAN, ISABELLA – BIG 97 95 — — — — 192
17T. WHITTED, REESE – SHB 98 96 — — — — 194
17T. JONES, TAYLOR – THR 100 94 — — — — 194
19. ANDERSON, KENDALL – SHB 94 106* — — — — 200
20. VALDEZ, ADDY – CST 104 97 — — — — 201
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21T. MOON, HEIDI – GLA 104 98 — — — — 202
21T. @BRUNELLE, HAILEY – POP 98 * 104* — — — — 202*
21T. STODGHILL, CARLY – BIG 105 97 — — — — 202
21T. @ALEXANDER, ANNIE – FLC 103* 99 * — — — — 202*
21T. ROBINSON, BRITTNEY – THR 104 98 — — — — 202
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26T. PEHLKE, LEXI – GLA 110 95 — — — — 205
26T. @TWOMOONS, JASMYNE – LD 105* 100* — — — — 205*
26T. ESH, KELSEY – LOY 103 102 — — — — 205
29T. JOHNSON, BAILEY – SHB 113* 96 — — — — 209
29T. MARKER, MADDIE – ANA 102 107 — — — — 209
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31. PAULSEN, MELISSA – BIG 101 109 — — — — 210
32. @FREDERICK, MIA – POP 107* 105* — — — — 212*
33T. CRANE, ANDI – HP 107 106 — — — — 213
33T. @BENSON, PEYTON – LIN 109* 104* — — — — 213*
35. MILLER, CLAIRE – ANA 107 107 — — — — 214
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36T. LEY, EMILY – HP 108 108 — — — — 216
36T. @BAXTER, MEGAN – THF 101* 115* — — — — 216*
38T. @DUROCHER, SAVANNAH – CHO 110* 108* — — — — 218*
38T. MARJERISON, KARSEN – CLB 110 108 — — — — 218
40T. GORDON, BAYLEE – CLB 109 113 — — — — 222
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40T. HERMAN, TRINITY – ANA 113 109 — — — — 222
42. EMSLIE, HATTIE – BIG 109 115 — — — — 224
43. DAHLE, KATIE – CST 119 107 — — — — 226
44T. @EISELEIN, MEGHAN – RND 123* 104* — — — — 227*
44T. SMITH, PAIGE – ANA 115 112 — — — — 227
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46. HARMAN, JESSIKA – HP 115 113 — — — — 228
47T. @BECKER, LAKOTA – CON 119* 110* — — — — 229*
47T. MANDAJOYAN, DIANNA – CST 118 111 — — — — 229
49. KOVATCH, HOLLI – SG 115 115 — — — — 230
50. HATHAWAY, LYNNETTE – SG 112 121 — — — — 233
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51. KETCHUM, CHLOE – CLB 121* 114* — — — — 235
52T. TIGNER, PAYTON – HP 125* 117 — — — — 242
52T. MORGAN, MARISSA – SG 121 121 — — — — 242
54. ALBRECHT, ASHTON – HP 114 129* — — — — 243
55. @HUNTER, CHLOE – MAL 112* 132* — — — — 244*
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56. POOR, PEYTON – FAF 127 118 — — — — 245
57. NISTLER, ALEXUS – GLA 122 127 — — — — 249
58. SIMMONS, TAYLOR – FAF 126 124 — — — — 250
59. ROWAN, MAKENZIE – THR 134* 128* — — — — 262
60T. BAXTER, BAILEE – GLA 141 127 — — — — 268
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60T. ANDERSON, ASHLEY – BIG 146* 122* — — — — 268
62. CAFFIN, TYLER – FAF 140 138 — — — — 278
63. LAGERQUIST, SHANICE – GLA 144* 136* — — — — 280
64. KINZEL, JAYLEN – CST 134 154 — — — — 288
65. BAUMES, LILY – LOY 151* 146* — — — — 297
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66. BECKER, PARIS – FAF 154 144 — — — — 298
67. WHITTROCK, RYLEE – SG 149* 151* — — — — 300
GIRLS – TEAM SCORES
1. LOYOLA SACRED HEART – LOY 346 344 — — — — 690
2. SHELBY – SHB 365 368 — — — — 733
3. THREE FORKS – THR 386 376 — — — — 762
4. COLUMBUS – CLB 402 393 — — — — 795
5. BIG FORK – BIG 412 416 — — — — 828
6. ANACONDA – ANA 437 435 — — — — 872
7. HUNTLEY PROJECT – HP 444 444 — — — — 888
8. SWEET GRASS (Big Timber) – SG 439 449 — — — — 888
9. GLASGOW – GLA 477 447 — — — — 924
10. COLSTRIP – CST 475 469 — — — — 944
11. FAIRFIELD – FAF 547 524 — — — — 1071
