In any sport, achieving a perfect season is a tough goal to accomplish, but the 2004 Bulldog boys golf team did just that.

Boys golf ends with a perfect record

With a record of 106-0, the boys capped it all with a state championship over closest competitor Billings Central by 22 shots.

Playing in the Class AA tournaments during the regular season served to test and prepare the team for the road to the state title in Sidney. The boys won the Great Falls, Helena, Missoula, Butte/Anaconda, Libby, Whitefish/Flathead and divisional tournaments before the state victory. The JV team also breezed through the season, with their only loss to the WHS varsity and Missoula Sentinel at the Flatfish tourney.

Paced by the only senior on the squad, Spencer Hughes, the boys fired a 304 the first day and 317 on day two, easily claiming another banner for WHS. This will make the 22nd golf state championship banner to grace the wall at WHS.

Four of the boys finished in the top 10 and earned All-State honors. Spencer Hughes took fourth place with rounds of 74-80 over the 6,900-yard course in Sidney. Derek Denning finished fifth with rounds of 76-79, while Tyler Holtet and Matt Krause fired 74-82 and 80-76 to tie for seventh place.

Sam Krause finished in 17th spot with rounds of 83-82 respectively for the two days. Matt Krause closed the gap on day two with a front nine score of 34, which tied all four Whitefish boys after 27-holes.

"A couple of unusual events and twists added to the highlights of the tournament", said Coach Nelson. "Derek Denning had his tee shots go out of bounds on hole 17 both days. One bounced straight up the side hill, defying the odds and costing him two strokes. Spencer had someone pick up his ball by mistake and had to take a lost ball the second day on hole 12.

"Both Tyler Holtet and Matt Krause had their tee shots lodge up in a tree during the tournament. Tyler hit an overhead driver out of the tree about 100 yards and save bogey, while Matt was not as fortunate and lost a couple of shots on the hole.

"Freshman Sam Krause had someone hit his ball and had to wait for the player to return the ball before he could finish the hole. Sam played very consistently all season and is normally the best short game magician on the team, but even Sam had some putting problems. I still wouldn't bet against him in a putting contest," said Nelson.