May 13, 2021 at 11:37 a.m.
RHS golfers struggle in a pair of matches
RHS golfers struggle in a pair of matches
The Hodags and eight other teams braved the elements Monday for an 18-hole invitational at Rhinelander's Northwood Golf Club.
Rhinelander shot 381 on a day with gusty winds and occasional snow showers to place fourth overall and second among the four GNC schools in attendances.
"We kind of struggled a little bit putting, chipping, getting on the green," coach Adam Schmidt said. "We didn't hit that many greens in regulation as a team. We probably only hit like half the fairways available."
Kole Gechas paced the Hodags with an 85, which ended up in a tie for fifth place on the day - only three strokes behind medalist Noah Gage of Marathon. It was all pars and bogeys for Gechas on the front nine as he made the turn in 40, but he made a double bogey on 10, and a triple on 13 to shot 45 on the back.
"He's only got one hole with a big number, hole 13 he got an 8 on. That was kind of rough. Other than that, he had a couple of bogeys. He's capable of getting some pars in there," Schmidt said.
Garrett Kulhanek was second best on the team with a 93. His day got off to a rocky start with a triple bogey 8 on his first hole of the day - the par-5 second. He also made a quadruple bogey 8 on the ninth hole as she shot a front nine 51, but he turned things around with a 42 on the back as he played his final six holes of the day in three over.
"Front nine he struggled a little bit, had a couple of big holes, big numbers. Two got to him on the front, and then nine," Schmidt said. "Those were kind of rough holes for him, but then the back nine he shot 42. He got it back, which was good to see."
Cal Laggis shot 101 for Rhinelander, Carter Gaber carded a 102 and Andrew Henrichs shot 104.
Shawano dusted the field, shooting 343 to win by 16 strokes over runner-up Antigo. Medford finished fifth with a 386 and Mosinee was sixth at 388.
GNC at Bass Lake
Rhinelander shot 375 on Tuesday in warmer conditions at Bass Lake. Gechas scored another top 10 for Rhinelander, but the Hodags did not get enough support from the rest of the lineup to keep up with the teams they are chasing in the GNC.
"It was kind of rough. I talked to the kids before we teed off, I told them if we get four scores of 90 and play bogey golf, we'll shoot 360," Schmidt said. "A couple of them got close to holding it up. Kole held up his end of the bargain, shot 83. That was good."
Gechas had a steady round on Thursday, with his only double bogey coming on the par-5 13th hole. Otherwise it was pars and bogeys as the junior shot 42 on the front and 41 on the back to end up seventh on the day - seven shots behind co-medalists Kaeden Nomm and Jack Rubo from Lakeland.
Kulhanek shot 94 for Rhinelander, Henrichs shot 97, Laggis carded a 101 and Gaber had a 108.
"Carter struggled out of the sand traps today," Schmidt said. "He went back and forth on one of the holes out of the sand traps. When I watched him on a couple of holes, he'd just waste a shot. He'd be 50 yards out and chip it short, and then chip it short again and then get it on the green.
"Andrew had five penalties. He struggled trying to keep the ball in play, would hit it in the water or whatever. Garrett, he just couldn't get anything rolling he said. I saw him make some nice putts, but just couldn't get it to go."
Rhinelander fell back into sixth in the team standings with Tuesday's result and is currently 3 1/2 points behind Antigo for third. Gechas stayed in fifth overall in the individual standings, which is the final spot on the first-team all-conference squad if he can stay there by season's end. Kulhanek and Henrichs fell to tied for 16th in the conference standings, one spot out of the final honorable mention all-conference position.
JV results
The Hodags shot 483 to take third in the JV division of Monday's invite at Northwood. Cooper Radke shot 116 to pace the Hodags, followed by Will Rutkowski at 117 and Colton Leman at 119. Leman was Rhinelander's low man with a 60 when the team played at Northwood last Friday in a GNC JV match. The Hodags shot 260 to take sixth in the seven-team meet.
Up next
The GNC heads to Eagle River Golf Course today for the fifth leg of the conference tournament, hosted by Northland Pines. Rhinelander then returns to action tomorrow for the non-conference Merrill Best Ball Invite at Merrill Golf Club.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
Comments:
You must login to comment.