May 25, 2023 at 8:01 a.m.
Hodag golfers take 3rd, move on to sectionals
Hodag golfers take 3rd, move on to sectionals
Rhinelander picked a great time Tuesday to reverse that trend.
The Hodags shot 339 and took third in an eight-team WIAA Division 1 regional at their home course. Rhinelander came in as the fifth seed but improved by two spots to qualify as a team for sectionals for the second year in a row.
The Hodags did it by shooting their lowest score at home in more than a decade. Rhinelander has not shot better at Northwood since 2011 when it shot 328 at a home Great Northern Conference meet.
"This is usually our worst round of the year and it turned out to be our best," Schmidt said. "That's a pretty awesome story."
The top four teams advanced to next Tuesday's sectional round in Marshfield and the Hodags had plenty of cushion. Rhinelander edged Marshfield by a stroke for third position and finished 12 strokes ahead of fifth-place Stevens Point.
Rhinelander's top four golfers carried the team through to sectionals, all coming in with rounds in the 80s on Tuesday.
Sophomore Brody Kowieski had the best round of the group, shooting an 8-over par round of 80 to tie for fourth overall. Kowieski shot 44 on the front, which included a double bogey on the par-4 ninth hole, but then caught fire on the back. He played the second nine in even par 36, which included a birdie on the par-3 11th. Kowieski nearly finished the back nine under par, but lipped out a birdie chance on the par-5 13th and bogeyed the home hole.
"Brody played really well on the back," Schmidt said. "That's awesome that we could turn it around. When I was talking to him, he's like, 'Coach, I'm just gonna try to hit it on the fairway, hit it on the green.' He started putting better, reading the speed of the greens, getting that down. He really turned it on."
Freshman Blake Petroff and sophomore Sam Schoppe each shot 86s for Rhinelander on Tuesday while senior Andrew Henrichs shot 87.
Petroff had the best front nine of the group, going out in 42. That included a birdie on the opening hole, a hole out for par from roughly 75 yards on the par-4 fifth and a birdie on the par-5 seventh.
"Blake really came through. That was huge for a freshman to shoot 86," Schmidt said. "That was really awesome. He's been coming around all season toward the end. He's been getting better and better."
Schoppe shot matching 43s on each nine with an adventurous scorecard that included three double bogeys as well as a triple on the par-3 15th. Henrichs had double bogeys on three of his last five holes.
"Sam and Andrew, they struggled a little bit but they held it together at the end and that's what we needed them to do," Schmidt said.
Cooper Radke shot 111 as Rhinelander's fifth man.
Lakeland shot 324 to beat Wausau East by five strokes for the top spot. Lakeland's Jack Rubo carded a 2-over 74 to take medallist honors by two strokes over Wausau East's Ted Schlindwein.
Sectionals will take place at RiverEdge Golf Club in Marshfield this Tuesday. The top two teams, and the top three individuals not on a qualifying team, will advance to the WIAA state tournament June 5-6 at Blackwolf Run in Kohler.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
WEATHER SPONSORED BY
E-Editions
Latest News
E-Editions
Events
August
To Submit an Event Sign in first
Today's Events
No calendar events have been scheduled for today.
Comments:
You must login to comment.