May 22, 2017 at 4:13 p.m.
Hodag golfers struggle in GNC finale
Hodag golfers struggle in GNC finale
The Hodags struggled to their worst score and finish of the Great Northern Conference season Friday, shooting 374 to finish sixth in the conference tournament finale.
Rhinelander still finished third in the overall standings and had three golfers earn a spot on the all-conference team, but it was not the finish to the regular season that Schmidt and the Hodags were looking for.
"We played pretty poor," Schmidt said. "It was just a rough day."
None of Rhinelander's players were immune to the struggles as the Hodags failed to place a golfer inside the top 10 for the first time this season. Zach Olds recorded a pair of triple bogeys on his way to a round of 88 - bogey golf around Black River's par-70 layout. Nick Twite made triple on the par-3 ninth and tripled the 12th as well on the way to a round of 90. Matt Reinthaler had three 7s on the card the first time around the nine-hole Black River course and four straight double bogeys the second time around as he shot 98.
Joe Schmitz also shot 98 with 8s on the sixth and 16th holes. Will England made a 14 on the first hole and shot 104.
"A lot of mental breakdowns today, a lot of shots where it was like, 'why did you do that?' Our heads just weren't in it," Schmidt said. "You've really got to keep you mind in the game. You lose your mind, just let it go and think, 'Ah, whatever,' (that's when you start) decelerating the golf club, hitting four balls in the same pond in a row."
Conference results
There was no change in the team standings in the final conference meet of the season. Medford put an exclamation point on its GNC title defense, shooting 326 to beat Lakeland by four strokes on the day and four points overall in the final conference standings. Mosinee tied Lakeland for second on the day, but finished 2 1/2 points behind Rhinelander for third overall.
Spenser Scholl claimed conference player of the year honors. His round of 5-over 75 was second on the day, one stroke behind Mosinee's John Birnbaum. Birnbaum finished second in the overall standings, four points behind Scholl. Medford's Ryan Perrin, Mosinee's Standford Swid and Antigo's Jack Shinners rounded out the all-conference first team based on total points accumulated over the seven-round conference tour.
Despite their struggles Friday, Twite and Olds still finished eighth and ninth, respectively, in the final conference standings and earned a spot on the all-conference second team. Matt Reinthaler earned honorable mention by finishing 12th in the standings.
"All-in-all we had a pretty decent conference season," Schmidt said.
Rebound for regionals
The Hodags are hoping to shake off Friday's performance in time for Tuesday's WIAA Division 1 regional at Northwood Golf Course. It's the first time Rhinelander's hosted regionals since 2003.
The top four teams, and top five players not on a qualifying team will advance to the sectional round a week from Tuesday at RiverEdge Golf Course in Marshfield.
Rhinelander comes into the tournament seeded fifth, based on a team nine-hole scoring average of 178.25 strokes. That means Rhinelander will be part of the first wave of foursomes off the first tee beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday with fellow lower seeds Wausau East (180.67), Wisconsin Rapids (183.78) and Merrill (187.1).
Stevens Point (161.79) is the top seed and tournament favorite. Wausau West (166.75), Marshfield (169.31) and D.C. Everest (177.21) round out the teams that will going out in the second wave beginning at approximately 9:50 a.m.
"I think it's anybody's game," Schmidt said. "I've checked some of the scores of some of these other teams shot and we're definitely capable of shooting some really good rounds. It should be interesting."
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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