MISSOULA — Winning every golf tournament for an entire Montana high school season requires rare poise and resilience on the part of a teenager.

Frenchtown's Katie Lewis did it as a sophomore and came within one event of matching the feat as a junior. Now the University of Montana golf commit is 18 solid holes away from finishing undefeated as a senior.

After scoring a double bogey on the first hole of the State A tournament Friday at Polson Bay, Lewis bounced back like a two-time defending champion. She played the remaining 17 holes at 1-over to put herself in prime position for a three-peat in the showcase meet.

Lewis carded a score of 3-over 75 on a round that started two hours later than expected because of morning frost. She holds a five-shot lead over rival Keni Wade of Bigfork, Hamilton's Cameron Burnett and Livingston's Anna Lende.

On the boys side, Polson's Max Milton fired a 6-under round of 66 and holds a one-shot lead over Billings Central's Colin Jensen. The Rams had a big day in team competition, with the boys racing to a five-shot lead (292) and the girls building a 26-shot lead (341).

Lewis, who verbally committed to coach Jimmy Mee and his UM golf program this past month, yanked her first tee shot out of bounds Friday and it could have been the recipe for a rough day. Instead, she regrouped in a hurry, reeling off five pars and a birdie on her next six holes.

"I really just had to forget about the first hole and just think about all the golf I had left to play and kick it into high gear," Lewis told 406 MT Sports. "I really think it's my tournament experience that helps.

"I remember last summer when I played in a national high school tournament in Frisco (Texas), I was 4-over through my first hole and ended up 3-over for the day. I always go back to that day and how I can always become better throughout the day."

Lewis' score might have been even lower had she sank a few more makeable putts. And yet, her coach, Tim Yaeger, was impressed with her performance.

"She kept the same body language and attitude the whole round and struck the ball really well," he said. "She also hit really good putts but couldn't get a putt to go.

"It's definitely a respectable round for her, but I know she's feeling like she left some shots on the green. No three-putts today, which was great, but those 6-footers for birdie either touched the hole or just missed on the pro side. She feels good about (Saturday). If she could get a couple putts to drop it could be real special."

Lewis, who works at The Ranch Club Golf Course in Missoula, feels fortunate to have so many supporters in and around the Garden City. Likewise, she feels blessed to be part of a Broncs program that can make history on Saturday. Frenchtown has never finished better than third in team competition and the girls currently sit in third, just two strokes behind second-place Whitefish.

"For as important as it is for her to win an individual title, it's just as important for her to be a good teammate," Yaeger said. "She asks about her teammates throughout her round. She wants to bring home team hardware."

Billings Central looks like a good bet to bring home its first girls team championship after making history last year with a runner-up finish. The Rams were a decided favorite going into the state tourney and they're living up to expectations.

What wasn't expected was that the Billings Central boys would be in first heading into the final round. Laurel and Corvallis were the favorites after earned divisional champinships.

Key to the Rams' big day on the boys side were the performances of Colin Jensen and Caleb Fornshell. Jensen sits just one shot out of first after firing a 5-under 67 and Fornshell is right behind him after carding a 4-under 68.

"Our top two boys played their game today, and it wasn't something unexpected because they played that way earlier in the year," Rams first-year head coach Tony Derrig said. "The last couple weeks they've kind of struggled, so I'm glad to see them back where they should be.

"I loved the way our kids stepped up today, especially on the boys side. And the teams definitely support each other. Both sides, if they see each other passing on a hole, they'll give each other a thumbs up."