Williams reaches D1 girls golf sectionals

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Junior Jessica Williams will represent New Richmond at this week’s WIAA Division 1 Girls Golf Sectional Tournament in Hayward.

Williams was scheduled to play in Tuesday’s Hayward sectional meet after shooting the second best individual score in last Thursday’s Division 1 regional tournament at Mill Run Golf Club in Eau Claire.

New Richmond’s girls placed fifth in the regional meet hosted by Eau Claire North. The Tigers shot a 386 score. The top four teams advance to the sectional level.

Also advancing to the sectional tournament are the top three individual scores that aren’t members of the four advancing teams. That’s how Williams earned her ticket into the sectional tournament.

The only score better than Williams’ was the 75 scored by Hudson senior Katie Ecker. Williams and Eau Claire North senior Casi Webb tied for second place.

The Tigers played solidly in their attempt to qualify as a team for the sectional meet. Freshman Hannah Wheeler shot a 97 and sophomore Caitlynn Singerhouse shot a 98. Sophomore Cameron Sorensen ended with a 110 and senior Kari Peirson ended her high school golf career with a round of 116.

For Williams and Wheeler, their scores represented their best 18-hole scores ever in competition.

Tiger coach Neal Ziller said the girls have been concentrating on their chipping and play around the green in their practices over the past two weeks. That helped Williams to have a complete set of sharpened skills at the regional meet.

“She made some of the most spectacular par saves I’ve seen in quite a long time,” Ziller said.

Williams kept getting better as the regional meet went on. After shooting a 44 on the front nine, she came back with a 37 on the back nine. Her only bogey on the back nine was on the 18th hole, where he putt barely lipped out.

The 37 on the back nine ties a Tiger team record for the best nine-hole score during an 18-hole match. It ties the 37 that Ashley Clark scored during nine holes of her state tournament round in 2001.

If Williams continues to play at this level, she has a solid chance of reaching the 2008 state tournament. The top three teams and the top two individuals not from those three teams will advance from the sectional tournament to the state meet. The state tournament is played at University Ridge Golf Club in Madison next Monday and Tuesday.

The Tigers will return a strong nucleus for next season. Peirson is the only senior on this year’s team, a role she took to heart.

“If it wasn’t for her hard work and her ability to be coached, this team wouldn’t be where it’s at,” Ziller said. “She’s one of the most coachable players I’ve ever worked with.”

WIAA Division 1 Girls Golf Regional at Eau Claire North on Oct. 2

Team Scores: Hudson 347, Eau Claire Memorial 365, River Falls 366, Eau Claire North 379, New Richmond 386, Rice Lake 388, Hayward 420, Superior 421

New Richmond scores: Jessica Williams 81, Hannah Wheeler 97, Caitlynn Singerhouse 98, Kari Peirson 110, Cameron Sorensen 116

Tags: sports, golf, jessica, williams