May 6, 2019 at 12:59 p.m.
Hodag golfers win home invite
Hodag golfers win home invite
The Hodags shot 377 Friday and took first place in the Hodag Invitational at Northwood Golf Club.
Rhinelander was the only school to break 400 in the small, four-team meet that included three schools from the Northern Lakes Conference. Only four golfers broke 100 overall on the day.
"The trophy stays in Rhinelander. That's good," coach Adam Schmidt said. "The guys were struggling to keep the ball in play. Northwood is a tough course. You've got to hit it straight."
Senior Nick Twite did that better than anyone else, shooting a 13-over par round of 85. His card included a birdie on the par-5 13th hole and shot 39 on the back nine. Twite was in line for a better round if not for a quadruple bogey 8 on his last hole of the day, the par-4 1st.
"He a couple of doubles and kind of hopped the bogey train. His back nine was really good. He shot 46 on the front and 39 on the back," Schmidt said.
Despite the slip up, Twite caused home to a four-shot victory ahead of freshman teammate Kole Gechas who found trouble on the island green par-3 11th and made a 7, but otherwise turned in a solid round of 89 that included five pars and a birdie on the par-4 10th.
Neil Mathews finished sixth overall with a round of 101, Nick Schiek was eight with a round of 102. Cooper Kovac rounded out the Hodag squad, shooting 117.
"If we could get Neil and Nick (Schiek), our Nos. 3 and 4, down we'd be right there," Schmidt said of a Hodag squad that sits fourth in the Great Northern Conference through three legs of the GNC tournament. "But I can't ask for much more. Neil just started playing golf a couple years ago and he's shooting in the 90s. Nick's definitely capable of shooting 90. That's 20 strokes and we're right there."
Friday's meet was Rhinelander's fourth straight day with a match. Twite, Gechas and Mathews played in all four events.
"They are tuckered out," Schmidt said. "I said, 'Sunday, you need to go out and hit some range balls,' and they're like, 'Argh.' We'll take a day off for sure tomorrow."
Though not quite as busy, the Hodags have another active week ahead, beginning today with the fourth leg of the GNC at Timber Ridge Golf Club in Minocqua. Rhinelander will host the fifth leg of the GNC this Friday at Northwood and will travel to Merrill for an invite on Saturday.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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