St. Croix Central’s DiSalvo, Somerset golfers miss out on state hopes

• Carley Seibel

Somerset senior Carley Seibel produced the best nine-hole score of her career at the sectional meet.
• Arinn DiSalvo

St. Croix Central junior Arinn DiSalvo improved her play by 19 strokes from her performance at the sectional tournament a year earlier.

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The Somerset girls golf team and St. Croix Central junior Arinn DiSalvo weren’t able to qualify for the WIAA Division 2 state championships, but they did play quite capably in the Division 2 sectional meet, held last Tuesday at Pheasant Hills Golf Course near Hammond.

DiSalvo has developed into a state-caliber golfer this season. She shot an 89 in the sectional meet, finishing 12th overall. She finished five strokes away from qualifying for the state meet.

The Somerset girls finished last in the nine-team field, but that score is deceptive. The Spartans shot one of their best scores of the season, a 409. They were just 12 strokes behind the third place team from Eau Claire Regis.

For DiSalvo, the sectional meet further cemented the fact that she’s a threat to reach state next year. This was her second try at the sectional level. Last year she shot a 108 in the sectional meet held at Bristol Ridge Golf Club. Her score this year is a 19-stroke improvement over last season’s showing.

DiSalvo said she thought the improvement in her sectional scores was an accurate measurement of how her game has improved over the past year. She said the next step, to reach her goal of getting to state to come true, will require her to improve her short game for next season.

DiSalvo’s sectional round nearly included a hole-in-one. Her drive on the 12th hole at Pheasant Hills hit the flagstick and stopped three inches from the cup. She tapped in for the birdie.

Somerset’s girls were led by senior Carley Seibel, who shot a 91. Seibel played the best nine holes of her career on the front nine, shooting a 42. She shot a 49 on the back nine at Pheasant Hills.

Two other seniors wrapped up their careers for the Spartans at Pheasant Hills. Sammi Wolff has joined Seibel as a strong 1-2 combination for the Spartans the past two seasons. Wolff finished the sectional meet with a 98.

Senior Haylee McMahon shot a 109 for Somerset’s third score.

Freshman Stacie Bracht and sophomore Rachel Briggs will be counted on as the leaders for the Spartans heading into next season. Bracht shot a 111 at the sectional meet and Briggs finished at 112.

Tags: sports, golf, panthers, spartans, prep