Golf Bag: Helena native Judi Pavon coaching Lady Vols

There weren’t any Montana golfers competing at the NCAA Women’s Championship in Florida this week, but one of the top coaches at the event was a Treasure State legend.

Judi Pavon has coached the University of Tennessee women’s program for the past 16 years and this week made her eighth appearance at the national collegiate tournament. Her Lady Vols finished sixth in the medal-play portion of the tournament, qualifying for the eight-team match-play event. UT lost its first match against Baylor.

Pavon, the former Judi Schneider, won Class AA state championships at Helena High in 1984 and 1985, then captured State Amateur titles in 1986 and 1989.

She had a successful college career at the University of Alabama before turning pro in 1990. Judi played in several LPGA major tournaments before becoming a fulltime coach in 2000. She and her husband and their two daughters reside in Knoxville, Tenn.

BRIAN BEACH of Missoula was a wire-to-wire winner at the Barnett Memorial Tournament last weekend at the Missoula Country Club. Beach fired rounds of 66-68-69 for a 203 total and a 5-stroke victory over Ryan Porch of Kalispell.

Devon Montoya of Phoenix was third at 209, followed by Logan Iverson of Kalispell at even-par 213. Libby teenager Ryggs Johnston tied with Ben Mills of Phoenix at 215, and Hamilton veteran Craig Hurlbert was at 217.

CMR senior Easton Enott was the top Great Falls finisher, placing 12th at 225 after opening with a 71.

Hailey Hoagland of Butte, a University of Montana golfer, won the women’s division at 232, three strokes better than former Carroll College player Jackie Mee.

BEACH’S VICTORY in Missoula put him into a first-place tie with Parker Heller of Helena with 150 points in the Montana State Golf Association’s two-year points cycle. Hurlbert and Spencer Williams of East Helena are tied for third with 95 points.

Most of those players are expected to compete this weekend in the next event on the circuit, the Montana State Match Play to be contested at Green Meadow Country Club. That tourney runs Friday through Sunday.

MEADOW LARK Country Club had a patriotic theme for its Red, White and Blue tourney on Memorial Day.

Overall champions were the White Flight winners, who included Doug and Sherry Oswood, and Tom and Guyla Streit, who carded a net total of 117.

The Red Flight champs were Dave Anderson, Josh Tierney, Jon Tierney and Quay Butler at 124.

Tying for first place at 126 in the Blue Flight were the teams of Matt Kegel, Rob Schulte, Mark Kovacich and Brady Leaf, and Mark and Lisa Blades and Bill and Kelly Harp.

AREA COURSES will be busy with popular events this weekend.

The annual Chamber of Commerce Golferoo will be played this afternoon at Meadow Lark, pairing business leaders with personnel from Malmstrom Air Force Base. There’s a shotgun start at 1 p.m.

On Saturday at Eagle Falls Golf Course, the annual Men’s Golf Association Open will be conducted. The two-person team event will have divisions for men, women and seniors. The format calls for a scramble on the front nine and a best ball on the back nine. Play begins at 9 a.m.

Geise is a retired Tribune sports editor who writes a weekly column during the golf season. He also serves on the board of the Montana State Golf Association. He appreciates tips and can be reached at ggeise14@gmail.com