Hodag golfers finish 22nd in season opener

The Rhinelander High School boys’ golf team played its first rounds of the spring Monday and Tuesday, taking 22nd overall out of 31 teams in the Randolph Invite contested and Trappers Turn and Wild Rock golf courses in Wisconsin Dells.

The Hodags shot 345 Monday in their opening round at Wild Rock and came back with a 333 Tuesday at Trappers Turn. 

With four players returning who saw noteworthy varsity action last season, coach Adam Schmidt said it was a solid start for his squad. 

“It was good to get on grass and have the kids go play,” he said. “They were pretty consistent. Low 80s, so that was good. We talked about it and they left a couple of (shots out there).”

Hank Kowieski had the best performance for the Hodags. The junior took 61st in the field of more than 150 players with a two-day score of 165. He posted the Hodags’ best round Monday at Wild Rock with an 83 and was tied for the low score on Tuesday, shooting 82.

Senior Blake Petroff matched Kowieski’s 82 on Tuesday, bouncing back from an opening round 88 at Wild Rock. He finished 88th with a two-day score of 170. Junior Chase West finished one stroke better at 169 following rounds of 86 and 83 to take 86th. 

Sophomore Grant Gremban, the other returning starter from last year, ended up 102nd in the field at a 174 following rounds of 86 and 88.

“Blake struggled getting off of tee a little bit, and then the other guys struggled with putting a little bit,” Schmidt noted. “Hank said there were just a couple of strokes that he left out there, just made mistakes and he didn’t get up and down where he should have. Chase had quite a run for a while there (on Tuesday). He was doing really good. He was one under par (for a while). He had a bunch of birdies, so that was good. That helped a lot.”

Senior Dylan Shefveland debuted as the Hodags’ No. 5 golfer for the tournament and, after shooting 100 in the opening round, bounced back with a 90 on Tuesday as he finished 129th overall.

“That was good though. He was a little more comfortable, hit the ball better, didn’t have any really, really big numbers, so that was good,” Schmidt said.

While a couple of players were able to get south an play during the preseason, much of the Hodags’ preparation has been inside leading into their opening rounds. Schmidt said some of that early-season rust was evident over the two days, especially on and around the greens.

“Not playing over the summer, I feel like, you know, getting up and down, the short game needs improvement like anything,” he said. “But overall, for the most part, after they got used to hitting, they’re hitting the ball decent. They definitely can play. There were like little moments of greatness in each of them, as I went our own and followed them around. So it was cool to see that. So it should just get better from here.”

Madison West won the event with a two-day score of 593, beating Waunakee by a stroke for the team title. Madison West senior Frank Colbert, keyed by a 64 in his opening round, finished the tournament at 9-under par, 135 to win medalist honors by a stroke over Waunakee’s Peyton Albers. 

The majority of the teams in the field were from the southern half of the state. New Richmond, a potential sectional opponent for Rhinelander, finished sixth overall with a 626. Great Northern Conference newcomer Merrill finished just ahead of Rhinelander, placing 20th with a 674. Regional opponent Wausau West was just behind the Hodags in 23rd with a 684.

“We’re right there with Merrill and Wausau West. That was good to see. Hopefully we can, we get, we got to keep getting better,” Schmidt said.

The Hodags continued their week-long stay in the Dells as they kicked off another 36-hole event at Wild Rock on Thursday. Mosinee is the host for the event and the field includes five of the eight GNC teams. The final round of that tournament takes place today and the GNC season is slated to get underway this coming Tuesday at Merrill Golf Club.

Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].