The numbers game for Whitefish High School golf under coach Terry Nelson is fun: 15 state championships for the girls and eight for the boys, including four out of the last five. There are 15-year-olds shooting 72s and four returning golfers from last year’s five state qualifiers on the boys team.
That last number is subject to change. Ryan Zalucky, who finished eighth at Class A state last year, is playing football this year and though he wants to continue golf as well, Nelson said only time will tell if that’s possible. So there might only be three returning stars from last year’s state championship team. But, with a talented supporting cast, Nelson figures that could be all he needs.
“I think they have more than a legitimate chance to win it again if they play well,” he said.
Among those returning is sophomore Reed Platke, who shot consecutive 76s at state last year to finish second, one stroke behind the champion. At the time, Nelson said Platke was one of the best freshmen he had seen. After a busy off-season in which the young phenom worked on his few weaknesses, Nelson has high hopes for Platke going into this season.
“Reed’s looking great; he’s right around par,” Platke said.
Along with Platke and Zalucky, the other three qualifiers at state last year for the Bulldogs were Daniel Markus, Joel Mallams and Zach Maassen. Markus graduated, but Maassen and Mallams are back. There are 16 boys overall.
“We are still really deep in terms of number of players,” Nelson said.
The girls finished second at last year’s tournament and history would suggest that coming into this year the Lady Bulldogs are favorites to win it all. But they have run into a few roadblocks. First of all, their top finisher from last year – second-place Breanna Cameron – blew out her ACL in track last spring and had surgery in June. Nelson said she’s chipping and putting, but he’s not sure if she’ll be back this year. He hopes to have the senior back by divisionals and state.
“It’s a matter of wait and see to see if the doctor will release her to play,” Nelson said.
Also, a couple of girls from last year’s team decided not to play, Nelson said, and another moved. Even with the depleted roster, the best girls golf program in Class A can’t be ignored. They return Kiley McConnell and Danielle McCully who both qualified for state last year. Nelson is also excited about Emma Dowaliby and several others on the roster.
“We’ll be okay by divisionals,” Nelson said.
Since Nelson took over the program in 1985, the girls have been the unquestioned top dog in the state while the boys, especially in the past half-decade, have exerted a similar dominance. Of the girls’ 15 Class A titles in that span, there were streaks of five in a row (1986-1990) and seven in a row (1993-1999.) The boys have won every championship since 2004 except for a third-place finish in 2007 when Hamilton took the title.