Chris Caporale, sports@wolfrivermedia.com
Leader Photo by Chris Caporale SCHS sophomore Brianna Zook chips a ball onto the green on the 139-yard, par-3 17th hole at Thornberry Creek Country Club on Tuesday afternoon. Zook finished with a 103.
Shawano Community High School sophomore Brianna Zook was able to do something the rest of her teammates could not do last week.
Advance to sectionals.
At Thornberry Creek Country Club in Green Bay for the WIAA Division 1 sectionals on Tuesday, Zook shot a round of 103 in the first group of the day.
Megan Growt, of De Pere, and Hannah Braun, from Kimberly, shot 77s to advance to state, with Sydney Maule from Appleton North earning the final individual qualifying slot with a round of 85.
Notre Dame and Green Bay Preble advanced with the lowest team scores for the meet with team scores of 355 and 359, respectively.
Zook’s best round of the year was a 97. She fired a 103 to make it to sectional as the final qualifier, so there was not much pressure on her to advance Tuesday.
“Our expectations were to come in, have fun and play well to see what it feels like to compete a little bit more competitively,” SCHS head coach Dean Kugler said.
Zook will be the only member of this year’s varsity returning next year. Julia Beck, Gabby Krueger, Sydney Schreiber and Emily Smith are all graduating in May.
The majority of the team, including Zook, just started playing golf recently, which makes competing for conference titles or state berths a lower priority for the Hawks.
Kugler is focused on having good kids on his team and helping them improve their skills over the course of the season.
“I never really have to worry about them with their behavior. They are just nice kids,” Kugler said. “Yeah, it would be great if they are all good golfers, but if they are good, quality people, that is the most important thing.”
Zook will likely be asked to be a leader for another young Hawks team next season.
“She already is one of the better players in the conference. Next year, she will come in as one of the best players. Will she be the best? That should be her goal,” Kugler said. “Then you just go from there. “I want to be the best in conference. I want to be the best in this area. That’s what you strive for.”