New Richmond golfers get narrow win, inch closer to Middle Border Conference title

• Leah Bauer

New Richmond senior Leah Bauer was tied for fifth in Middle Border Conference points earned following last Wednesday’s match.

Talk about it

The importance of one stroke stood out quite clearly in the Middle Border Conference golf match played last Wednesday at Clifton Highlands Golf Club near Prescott.

One stroke was all that stood between the New Richmond and Osceola girls teams for the match championship. And with the MBC season now in its final two weeks, team points are becoming precious.

New Richmond won the match by shooting a score of 181. Osceola took second place with a 182. The win gave New Richmond a four-point lead in the MBC points standings with four matches left to play.

New Richmond win

The Tigers were fortunate to escape with the win, according to coach Neal Ziller. The Tigers had just finished their first day of classes and Ziller suggested some of the girls were thinking more about homework than their golf game.

Ziller said one of the aspects where the Tigers have improved is in limiting the number of strokes they take when they get into trouble.

“Our goal setting in that regard seems to be taking hold,” Ziller said.

The Tigers were led by junior Alex Wheeler, who shot a 41, finishing second among the individual scores behind Osceola’s Casey Danielson. Jordan Peterson had another strong round, shooting a 44, and Leah Bauer finished with a 46.

With the end of the schedule closing in, Ziller is having the Tigers practice on the New Richmond Golf Club course whenever possible. He’s doing this because the Tigers host the conference meet and because the NRGC course has a higher difficulty, which will challenge the girls for the courses they’ll see in the WIAA tournaments.

Somerset was able to take fourth place in the match, one stroke ahead of St. Croix Central. Somerset’s 222 score was led by a 47 shot by sophomore Stacy Bracht. Bracht placed eighth overall in the match. She has earned conference points in every MBC match she has played in this season.

Central was one stroke behind Somerset with a 223. Janelle Olson and Arinn DiSalvo tied for the Panther team lead with scores of 53. This was Olson’s first match of the season and her return should strengthen the Panthers’ play for the rest of the season.

MBC season done soon

The MBC season wraps up quickly. An MBC match will be played at Prescott on Thursday and another will be played at New Richmond next Monday. That leaves only the 18-hole conference tournament, which will be played on Wednesday, Sept. 19, at the New Richmond Golf Club.

Middle Border Conference golf match on Sept. 5

Team Scores: New Richmond 181, Osceola 182, Baldwin-Woodville 192, Somerset 222, St. Croix Central 223, Prescott 237, Ellsworth and Amery incomplete teams

New Richmond scores

Alex Wheeler 41, Jordan Peterson 44, Leah Bauer 46, Megan Chelberg 50, Rachel Ziller 52

Somerset scores

Stacy Bracht 47, Sam Swanson 55, Cassie Peterson 59, Rachel Brings 61, Megan Wolner 61

St. Croix Central scores

Arinn DiSalvo 53, Janelle Olson 53, Rebecca Isnardi 55, Kelly Wengelski 62, Brittney Nabors 64

Tags: sports, tigers, golf, prep