April 17, 2023 at 9:37 a.m.
Hodag golfers take third in the Dells
The Hodags totaled 702 strokes over 36 holes in a two-day tournament at Trappers Turn. Rhinelander shot 350 on Thursday and 352 on Friday as the finished 59 strokes behind four-time defending GNC champion Lakeland. Mosinee shot a 337 in Friday's final round to sneak into the second spot overall, 11 strokes ahead of the Hodags.
"It was nice to be able to hit balls and hit off grass. Normally we don't get to do that (this early in the season). We're going to try to do this thing again next year," coach Adam Schmidt said of what was the Hodags' earliest season opener since 2017. "It was exciting to get out. We had perfect weather."
Both of Rhinelander's returning starters showed flashes, as did a newcomer who Schmidt figured may make an immediate impact.
Sophomores Brody Kowieski and Sam Schoppe tied for fifth overall in the tournament with 24-over totals of 168. Senior Andrew Henrichs was only a stroke behind the pair in seventh with a 25-over 169.
Kowieski, the top returning golfer based on stroke average from last year, had a roller coaster opening round of 80. He was 9 over at the turn but then chipped in for eagle on the 10th hole and added a couple of more birdies on the second nine. He made a triple on the 17th hole to finish the back nine at 1-under 35 and shot 80 overall.
"He kind of roller-coastered, but he got it back and he started to strike the ball a lot better," Schmidt said.
Kowieski went out in 45 again on Friday but couldn't bring it back as well, shooting a 43 on his inward nine to finish with an 88.
Schoppe, a sophomore in his first year on the team, shot 83 on Thursday and 85 on Friday.
"Sam played decent golf. He was right there," Schmidt noted.
After carding a 90 in Thursday's opening round, Henrichs came back with his lowest score in high school competition, a 79 on Friday, to vault himself up the leaderboard.
"That was pretty exciting," Schmidt said. "He was pretty happy that he did that. He said there was still a bunch of strokes he could have shaved, but he was very excited. He played well."
All nine members of Rhinelander's squad played in the tournament as the Hodags began to answer the question of who will fill out its five-man varsity lineup once Great Northern Conference play begins April 25 in Mosinee. Freshman Blake Petroff shot 197 (97-100) to take 15th overall while first-year senior Braden Mork shot 203 (101-102) to finish 17th.
"Blake played No. 4. He's a freshman and he was right there. That was pretty exciting to have him play pretty decent," Schmidt said. "He struggled putting a little bit. The first day he had a triple and some sixes, but didn't have any huge numbers. The second day, the back nine he kind of struggled a little bit but overall, as a freshman playing varsity, that was good to see. Braden, he came out and played good as a No. 5 man. We're working with his swing, trying to help him a little bit."
Tate Werner (111-107 218), Cooper Radke (108-116 224), Isaac Mickevicius (124-107 231) and Ryan Morien (132-119 151) rounded out the Hodag contingent.
Mosinee's Jett Walters shot a 2-over 74 in Friday's final round to finish 5-over for the event and take home medalist honors by two strokes over Lakeland's Jack Rubo.
The Hodags were scheduled to be back in action this afternoon in the Marshfield Invite at RiverEdge Golf Course, but that event was canceled due to snow. Rhinelander's next meet is the GNC opener in Mosinee April 25.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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