BILLINGS \u2014 Manhattan’s Blake Bentle and Lone Peak’s Cate Leydig made it back-to-back weeks as the victors at Lake Hills Golf Course, as they both claimed Class B state golf titles Wednesday.<\/p>\n
WATCH THE HIGHLIGHTS:<\/p>\n
State B golf: Manhattan’s Blake Bentle, Lone Peak’s Cate Leydig claim state titles<\/p>\n
Bentle, who won the Southeastern B divisional at Lake Hills last week, entered Wednesday’s final round trailing leader and defending champion Zach Munding by four shots and still trailed by four after the opening nine holes.<\/p>\n
Bentle, though, would shoot even par 36 on the back nine to steal a one-shot victory with a final round 1-over-par 73.<\/p>\n
“It feels good, especially after the last two years where I haven’t really performed either one of the days or both days, so to come out here and perform it means a lot,” Bentle said.<\/p>\n
Things started to turn in Bentle’s favor on the Par-5 10th, as he made his second consecutive birdie and Munding made bogey to close the gap to two strokes. By the time the two stepped on the 15th tee, Bentle had taken a three-shot lead.<\/p>\n
Munding, the defending Class B champion, wasn’t going to go quietly, though. He made a long birdie putt on No. 15 that, along with a bogey by Bentle, quickly made it a one-shot match. Bentle, though, would make par on Nos. 16 and 17 to keep that one shot advantage going to No. 18.<\/p>\n
After Munding missed his par putt, Bentle was able to two-putt for bogey to claim the title.<\/p>\n
“(Munding) is a great player and I knew he was going to be coming back. I just had to stay composed and roll in some putts,” Bentle said.<\/p>\n
Leydig, who also won the Southeastern B at Lake Hills last week, didn’t have near the stress that Bentle did, as she managed a six-shot victory over Lone Peak teammate Olivia Kamieniarz. Leydig posted the best round by any boy or girl on Wednesday, shooting an even-par 72.<\/p>\n
The highlight of Leydig’s round came at the Par-5 No. 2 hole, where she made eagle for the second consecutive day. Her eagle on Wednesday, which was her 11th hole of the day, pushed her lead to four shots.<\/p>\n
“The conditions were very different at all hours of the day (Wednesday), so that definitely throws a wrench into a lot of plans that you come in with when it’s blowing 30 miles per hour sideways,” Leydig said of the wild weather throughout the round.<\/p>\n
Lone Peak’s girls ran away with the team title, with Florence and Anaconda finishing second and third, while the Florence boys finished first narrowly over Missoula Loyola and Manhattan.<\/p>\n