May 2, 2022 at 9:13 a.m.
Hodag golfers 3rd in back-to-back Medford meets
Hodag golfers 3rd in back-to-back Medford meets
Rhinelander finished third Thursday and Friday in two separate meets at Black River Golf Course in Medford, taking third alone in the second leg of the Great Northern Conference tournament Thursday and tying for third in a nine-team invitational on Friday.
The Hodags shot 355 on Thursday and were three strokes better on Friday at a 352. It was not the original intent to play back-to-back days on the same nine-hole layout, but Medford and Northland Pines swapped their dates on the Great Northern Conference schedule with Eagle River Golf Course not ready for play by Thursday.
"All the kids, just seeing it again and playing it different. Today, it just was windy, probably windier than yesterday," Hodag coach Adam Schmidt said.
The surprise of the two days was freshman Brody Kowieski who, in his varsity debut on Thursday, shot an 8-over-par round of 80 to finish in a four-way tie for third, just two shots out of first place. Kowieski backed that up with a round of 90 Friday, placing 18th.
"All the guys were really happy for him. They talked about how he definitely saved them. Shooting 80 was absolutely awesome," Schmidt said. "That was neat to see Brody throw up a good score like that. He was pretty excited. There were a lot of coaches saying they can't wait to see him as he get older and better."
Kowieski played an extremely steady round on Thursday. Though he didn't make any birdies, he had only six bogeys and a double bogey on his scorecard. Three triple bogies slowed Kowieski down on Friday, but he finished the day with a chip-in birdie on the par-4 third hole, his last of the day.
"Yesterday was so cold and he just grinded it out," Schmidt said. "He was 4-over for quite awhile and then at the end put on another four bogeys. Then today, 18, he was green side and chipped it in for birdie. That was a sweet way to end it today."
Senior Koldyn Gechas just missed out on conference points Thursday, shooting 84 to finish alone in 11th place. He was three strokes better in Friday's invite, shooting 81 to finish alone in seventh. Gechas had a pair of birdies the first time around the nine-hole layout Friday as he made the turn in 40. He shot 41 on his second nine.
"He medaled today, that was pretty sweet. He played good," Schmidt said. "When I followed him around, he said he had some bogeys and was just trying to keep the ball in play. He had 32 putts, so he putted well, just worked around."
Garrett Kulhanek shot 93 third and 88 on Friday. Andrew Henrichs bounced back from a 105 Thursday and shot 93 on Friday. Caleb Shefveland shot 98 on Thursday and 104 on Friday.
"Garrett kind of plays his game. Garrett's always good for like 85 to 90, 95. He worked out good," Schmidt noted. "Andrew struggled a little bit but was able to hold it together."
Lakeland won both meets, with scores of 316 and 317. Medford was second both days on its home course with rounds of 334 and 326. The Hodags finished nine strokes ahead of Mosinee for third on Thursday and tied with Lakeland's varsity reserve squad on Friday, two strokes ahead of fifth-place Antigo.
The Hodags have a busy week of competition schedule, beginning today with the third leg of the GNC tournament at Inshalla Country Club in Tomahawk. As soon as the round is complete, the team will drive to Green Lake to get ready to tee it up on the Links Course at the Golf Courses of Lawsonia Wednesday morning. The fourth leg of the GNC tournament will take place Thursday in Eagle River.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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