By Morgan Rode sports@newmedia-wi.com
Leader Photo by Morgan Rode Wittenberg-Birnamwood’s Justin Keeney chips a shot on to the green during Tuesday’s Division 2 Bonduel Regional at Golden Sands Golf Course in Cecil.
The Wittenberg-Birnamwood High School boys golf team accomplished one of their season goals when they placed fourth as a team at the Division 2 Bonduel Regional at Golden Sands Golf Course in Cecil on Tuesday.
The fourth-place finish with a score of 367 qualified the Chargers for sectionals.
“We posted one of the highest totals of the season but were still able to move on to sectionals, which is all that mattered,” said Witt-Birn coach Chris Bartletti. “It was very gratifying to see that our four (Maverick Beran) and five (Logan Balliett) players were able to make up for Justin (Keeney) and Ian’s (Resch) off day. It is great to have teammates there to pick you up when things aren’t going as expected. I’m very proud of their accomplishment and we are excited to play next week at sectionals.”
Witt-Birn advances to the Mosinee Sectional, which will be played at Indianhead Golf Course on Tuesday.
Leading the Chargers on the course was Keeney, who finished with an 18-hole total of 90. Keeney posted a 43 on the front nine and ended up tying for ninth as an individual.
“It is very special to qualify for sectionals,” said Keeney, a junior. “It shows how much we’ve grown since last year.”
“As for myself, I struggled to hit and putt the ball well but knowing the team was playing all right helped to alleviate stress. We are confident that we all can play better and we are focused on showing that at Indianhead,” Keeney added.
Beran, a sophomore, also shot a 43 on the front nine before finishing with a 91 to tie him for 12th as an individual.
“It’s special because it’s a goal we have for all year to make it as far as possible,” said Beran of the team qualifying for sectionals. “It is also special because it’s a great team effort and we’ve met our goal and we are looking to make it even farther. We all didn’t play great but we made it as a team and that’s what matters. It matters what you can do for your friends around you to make them better as well.”
Junior Logan Balliett and Resch, a sophomore, each shot 93s. Each player shot 47s on the front nine before 46s on the final nine. The duo tied with three others for 17th.
Calvin Scheurer rounded out the Chargers team, posting a 110.
No other local teams or individuals were able to place in the top four, which would have qualified them for sectionals.
Clintonville came in fifth as a team with a score of 397.
Clintonville’s Cameron Zeinert, a junior, shot a 43 on the front nine before turning in a score of 93. Sophomore Wolfgang Stueck finished with a 99, tying for 26th.
Freshman Brayden Branstrom shot a 48 on the back nine to finish with a 102. Sophomore Alex Mielke recorded a 46 on the front nine and a 103 for the day. Freshman Drew Zeinert (115) rounded out the Clintonville five-golfer team.
Bonduel finished eighth as a team with a score of 416.
Senior Colin Hanus recorded the top finish of the Bonduel golfers with a 99. Junior Carter Siolka finished with a 102, with 43 of those shots coming on the front nine.
Senior Aaron Schaal fired a 106, while junior Rhett Hertzfeldt recorded a 109. Freshman Cooper Uelman totaled a 131.
The Menominee Indian/Gresham co-op came in ninth with a 537 as a team.
Junior Josh Hoffman posted the co-op’s top score, shooting a 47 on the front and back nine to tally a 94 overall.
Freshmen Saswaen Shawanokasic (143), Assent Turney (149) and Gregory Turney (156) and senior Johnny Kerry (151) rounded out the co-op.
Team scores (top four advance): 1. Peshtigo 330; 2. Marinette 335; 3. Mosinee 361; 4. Wittenberg-Birnamwood 367; 5. Clintonville 397; 6. Oconto Falls 401; 7. Amherst 410; 8. Bonduel 416; 9. Menominee Indian/Gresham 537.
Individual sectional qualifiers: Vince Omernik, Amherst, 77; Braeden Prilepp, Seymour, 88; Eugene Gregorich, Amherst, 90; Evan Jaeger, Oconto Falls, 91.