New Richmond finishes at 2011 Middle Border Conference girls golf champions

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The New Richmond girls golf team found a worthy adversary in Osceola in the Tigers’ quest for the 2011 Middle Border Girls Golf Championship.

With Osceola pushing them every step of the way, the Tigers performed when they were under the greatest pressure. The Tigers took the championship in the 2011 MBC girls golf tournament on Monday at Ellsworth. That win locked up the overall team championship for the Tigers.

Osceola didn’t leave the Tigers any margin for error in the tournament, but that’s the way it has been most of the season. The Tigers won the tournament by shooting a score of 354. Osceola was three strokes behind them at 357. The Tigers won the conference season title with 78 team points. Osceola was close behind, with 72 points.

“Osceola gave us a little push this season,” said New Richmond coach Neal Ziller. “I think that helped us and I’m hoping it helped them too.”

New Richmond and Osceola both competed at the WIAA state championships last year and both teams are hoping they can earn return trips to the state meet this year.

The Tigers were led on Monday by junior Leah Bauer, who shot an 86. Her round included two birdies. On one of the birdies she just missed a putt for an eagle, which would have been the first eagle in Tiger history.

Senior Hannah Wheeler shot an 87, sophomore Alex Wheeler shot a 90 and juniors Rachael Ziller and Jordan Peterson finished at 91 and 97 respectively.

Those finishes meant all five Tigers earned all-conference honors. The Wheeler sisters and Bauer all played their way onto the All-MBC first team, while Ziller and Peterson were second team All-MBC players.

Somerset took third place in the conference tournament by shooting a 407, which locked up third place in the final MBC standings for the Spartans. Senior Sammi Wolff led the Spartans by shooting a 94 at Ellsworth on Monday. That performance was enough to reserve a spot on the All-MBC second team for Wolff.

Spartan senior Carley Seibel shot a 99 on Monday. She ranks as an honorable mention All-MBC player. Stacie Bracht shot a 105 and Hayley McMahon finished at 109 for the Spartans.

St. Croix Central finished fourth in the conference tournament and fourth in the final conference standings. The Panthers shot a 410 on Monday, placing four strokes ahead of Baldwin-Woodville.

Senior Kelsey McKenna played one of the finest rounds of her career for the Panthers on Monday, shooting a 97. Junior Arinn DiSalvo finished with a 102 on Monday. DiSalvo is the Panthers’ lone All-MBC golfer, finished on the second team.

Bristol Ridge meet

Teams flocked to Bristol Ridge Golf Club in Somerset last Thursday. New Richmond took three teams and they ended up having the three best team scores in the meet. The Tiger varsity won the meet by shooting a 365. New Richmond junior varsity teams shot 405 and 411. Baldwin-Woodville was the second varsity team, shooting a 426.

This meet was important to coaches because they wanted to get an 18-hole round in before playing in Monday’s conference tournament.

New Richmond’s Alex Wheeler was medalist in the meet, shooting an 85. DiSalvo and Hannah Wheeler tied for second place by shooting a 91.

New Richmond JV player Megan Chelberg had the next best round in the tournament, shooting a 92.

Somerset finished in third in the meet with a 429 score. They were led by Wolff with a 97 and Seibel with a 100.

St. Croix Central ranked fourth in the meet, shooting a 443. One of the bright spots for the Panthers was freshman Kelly Wengelski. She shot a 111, including a 52 on the front nine.

WIAA regionals

The girls golf teams are now gearing up for the WIAA regional tournaments, which will be played next Wednesday. New Richmond will play in the Rice Lake Division 1 regional meet, which will be played at Turtleback Golf Club. Somerset and St. Croix Central will be playing in the Division 2 regional meet at the Amery Golf Club.

Tags: sports, tigers, golf, prep