POLSON — Max Milton of Polson delivered a commanding performance Saturday at the Western A divisional golf tournament, firing a 7-under-par 65 to take the boys individual medalist honours at Polson Bay Golf Course.
One-day brilliance separates Milton from the field
Milton’s round left him 11 strokes clear of the nearest challengers, a gap that underscored how sharply he outpaced the field in the one-day event. Three players — Dylan Wirt of Corvallis, Beau McGree of Butte Central and Brayden Garr of Frenchtown — tied for second with matching rounds of 76.
The divisional competition also settled team standings and girls’ individual honours. Polson captured the boys team title with a collective score of 303, finishing 10 shots ahead of second-place Whitefish, which shot 313. Hamilton placed fourth in the boys team standings with a 333.
Girls competition — Burnett leads, Whitefish wins team crown
On the girls side, Hamilton’s Cameron Burnett recorded a 2-over 74 to take individual medalist honours. She finished ahead of Whitefish teammates Karlee Brown, who carded an 82, and Rhylee Scott, who shot an 83.
Despite Burnett’s victory, the girls team title went to Whitefish, which posted a combined score of 371. Polson finished second among girls teams with 377, while Hamilton was third at 392.
- Boys individual winner: Max Milton, Polson — 65
- Girls individual winner: Cameron Burnett, Hamilton — 74
- Boys team champion: Polson — 303
- Girls team champion: Whitefish — 371
Full top finishes and what’s next
The boys leaderboard beyond Milton included Mason O’Neil of Whitefish in fifth with a 77. Several players shared positions in the high 70s and low 80s, illustrating the spread between Milton’s low 65 and the remainder of the field. The girls top 10 had Burnett and then a mix of Whitefish and other divisional competitors, with Keegan Campbell of Bigfork and Skylar LaPierre of Dillon among those inside the top six.
| Category | Top finish | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Boys team | Polson | 303 |
| Girls team | Whitefish | 371 |
| Boys individual | Max Milton (Polson) | 65 |
| Girls individual | Cameron Burnett (Hamilton) | 74 |
The results settle divisional pecking order heading into the Class A state golf tournaments, scheduled Oct. 2-3 at the Marias Valley Golf & Country Club in Shelby. Teams and individuals qualifying from divisional play will use next week’s state championship as the next measuring stick for their seasons.
For local golf followers, the divisional scores offer a snapshot of rising regional talent and the margins that separate medalists from the chasing pack. Milton’s 7-under round will be the headline from Polson, but team depth — as evidenced by Whitefish’s girls squad — remains crucial in multi-day state competition.
Below are the published top finishers from the divisional report:
- Boys top 13 team scores: Polson 303; Whitefish 313; Corvallis 332; Hamilton 333; Dillon 338; Ronan 345; Stevensville 354; Columbia Falls 356; Butte Central 359; Frenchtown 373; Browning 393; Bigfork 409; Libby 422.
- Boys top individuals: Max Milton 65; Dylan Wirt 76; Beau McGree 76; Brayden Garr 76; Mason O’Neil 77; Soren Lund 78; Ashton Taylor 78; Wyatt Scott 79; Nick Schmid-Sommer 79; Cash Brown 79; Easton Wilcox 79; Oliver Rowe 79.
- Girls top team scores: Whitefish 371; Polson 377; Hamilton 392; Corvallis 396; Frenchtown 427; Bigfork 430; Dillon 442; Columbia Falls 487; Ronan 494.
- Girls top individuals: Cameron Burnett 74; Karlee Brown 82; Rhylee Scott 83; Keegan Campbell 85; Skylar LaPierre 86; Sara Dumouchel 87; Mya McGree 88; Evelyn Driskell 89; Jillian Wagner 90; Jocelyn Holton 90.
The spotlight now turns to Shelby, where state titles will be decided. For athletes who posted strong divisional rounds, the coming week is an opportunity to build on momentum. For teams that fell short, it is a final chance to convert individual performance into team success on a larger stage.
Coverage of the state tournament and any Milton-related competitors advancing will follow from this desk.
