Chris Caporale, sports@wolfrivermedia.com
Leader Photo by Chris Caporale Shawano Community High School golfer Kobe Schreiber chips onto the green on the first hole at Shawano Lakes Golf Course on Monday. He finished with a 46.
Leader Photo by Chris Caporale Shawano Community High School junior Tyler Buerman watches a putt roll down the ninth hole at Shawano Lakes Golf Course en route to his 49 Monday. The Hawks finished in fourth place with a team score of 173.
Competing at the top of the Bay Conference might not be realistic for the Shawano boys golf team this season, but head coach Dean Kugler had high expectations at Monday’s home meet.
At a conference meet on the 2,898-yard front nine of Shawano Lake Golf Course, the Hawks finished fourth with a score of 173, the team’s best mark so far in the short season.
“Playing at our course, it’s a shorter course, so we’re going to play well,” Kugler said. “Honestly, I think the guys did better today. I think a lot of them went out and worked over the weekend and really wanted to do well today, so it was nice to see that.”
Shawano junior Josh Mueller, the team’s top golfer, shot a 3-over 39, four strokes behind the top performer of the day, New London’s Landon Elsner, and fifth overall.
New London and Xavier are battling for the top spot in the Bay this season. On Monday, Xavier took first with a 155, and New London followed with a 160.
Kugler had hoped for his team to shoot a lower score, but he was happy with his fourth and fifth golfers getting their scores in the 40s.
“Having (Kobe Schreiber and Tyler Buerman) under 50, which they haven’t been in a single meet, the last two guys, I think that’s helpful,” Kugler said.
Shawano’s No. 2 golfer, Braxten Surber, shot a 46, a little high than Kugler would have liked, while junior Austin Kohl scored a 42.
The Hawks have a few areas in which they can improve over the remainder of the season.
“Probably a little more mental game, and then being able to go out there and hit the ball straight every time,” Shawano junior Josh Mueller said.
But with a young team, Kugler is more worried about keeping the bigger numbers off the scorecard, which comes from getting out on the course and practicing every day.
“They come out and get a nine on one hole and then get a birdie on the next hole,” Kugler said. “That kind of consistency comes with playing a lot and practicing a lot.”
Bay Conference Meet
April 18
Shawano Lake Golf Course
Team scores: Xavier, 155; New London, 160; Menasha, 164; Shawano, 173; West De Pere, 174; Seymour, 198; Green Bay West, 255.
Top-10 finishers: Landon Elsner, New London, 35; Sam Schubbe, Xavier, 36; Eric DeSormeau, 36; Gus Mantey, Xavier, 38; Carter Frishaber, Menasha, 38; Josh Mueller, Shawano, 39; Matt Fletcher, New London, 39; Aaron Callahan, Xavier, 40; Mitch Stanchik, Menasha, 40; Shea Fabel, Xavier, 41.
Shawano: Mueller, 39; Austin Kohl, 42; Braxten Surber, 46; Kobe Schreiber, 46.