Wisconsin Golfer SPECIAL EDITION
REIGNING CHAMPS Verona Area, Madison Edgewood prevail at soggy U-Ridge
WIAA STATE GIRLS GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS MONDAY-TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13-14 | UNIVERSITY RIDGE, VERONA, WI | CHAMPIONSHIP RECAP
WIAA State Girls Golf Championships A RECAP OF THE 2014 TOURNAMENT Mother Nature, literally and figuratively, did her best to rain on the 43rd annual WIAA State Girls Golf Championships parade. Despite the wet conditions the state’s top teams and individuals persevered at the twoday tournament held at University Ridge in Verona culminating, in their respective divisions, with two team champions and two individual champions. You can read about the 2014 champions on
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Page 5 and follow all the other action in words and pictures in this special digital edition published by Wisconsin Golfer magazine. Wisconsin Golfer is the official publication of the Wisconsin State Golf Association. Please watch your email for the upcoming November/December issue of Wisconsin Golfer, or click here for your free subscription. This digital publication is brought to you by the WSGA and Killarney Golf Media, Inc.
COMPETING AGAINST MOTHER NATURE The story of this year’s state tournament was less a battle against each other and more a battle against the elements. Sideways rain, gusty wind, chilly temps and a saturated course wreaked havoc on this year’s competitors. When asked if she’d ever seen worse weather for a high school tournament, Peggy Gierhart, head coach of Madison Edgewood, was quick to respond. “From start to finish, no. This is the worst.” “We had two umbrellas snap, we had numb feet, numb hands, we had a few tears, but luckily there was a break at the turn (in the final round) where people could regroup and warm up,” said Gierhart. Madison Edgewood senior Tess Hackworthy, who bought a new pair of shoes from the pro shop at the turn because hers were so wet, treated it as business as usual. “The good thing is everyone had to play in it, so everyone had the same conditions. You just had to grind through it all the way.” The grittiness that the players showed was impressive, even to their coaches. “It’s amazing how tough these girls are,” said Gierhart.
ON THE COURSE Loren Skibba of Middleton, top left, won the WIAA Division 1 individual title thanks in large part to her round of 69 on Monday. Tess Hackworthy of Madison Edgewood, above, celebrated both team and individual victories with her teammates. Jessica Reinecke, left, finished fifth among individuals while leading her Verona Area team to the Division 1 championship. 4 | 43RD WIAA STATE GIRLS GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS
Madison area teams sweep WIAA titles VERONA AREA WINS FIRST TEAM TITLE; MADISON EDGEWOOD KEEPS IT ROLLING
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he broad smile on Jessica Reinecke’s face ex- the opening round Monday. Trailing by five strokes going into the final round, Reinecke closed with an plained everything. Moments after the two-time defending Division I 81 Tuesday and finished in fifth place. So instead of another individual championship, medalist from Verona had completed her high school golf career with a fifth place individual finish Reinecke got to celebrate a team title with her at University Ridge in Verona, she was absolutely friends, and enjoy a ride home on a Verona fire beaming as she enjoyed the moment with her truck, lights a blazing, to boot. “This is what she wanted,” Hildebrandt said of Reiteammates. The reason for her smile? The Verona Area Wild- necke. “She was going for the three-peat, but I think cats had won their first WIAA girls team golf cham- the team championship meant a lot to her and that’s what she wanted. She’s a pionship. very supportive teammate.” “Amazing,” said Verona Area We’re not really Last year, Skibba finished fifth coach Bailey Hildebrandt. “I’m reallowed to talk much behind the medalist Reinecke, but ally proud of these girls. We had about winning. they switched places on the two tough days weather-wise, and (Edgewood players) leaderboard this year. Skibba said they dug deep and played well. I she was confident her opening 69 couldn’t be prouder.” feel a lot of pressure. would hold up through some truly Verona Area shot the lowest They try not to show awful weather conditions during score each of the two days of the it, and we try not to the second round. The two players tournament in Division 1 to finish talk about it. from the Madison area have at 648 (315-333) and beat runner– PEGGY GIERHART, played junior golf against each up Hartland Arrowhead, which MADISON EDGEWOOD COACH other since they were about 10, recorded the second-lowest score Reinecke said, and now their high each day, by eight strokes. Arrowhead, which beat Verona Area by 10 strokes last school rivalry is coming to an end. “We’ve competed all year together,” Skibba said. year, shot 319-337–656. Middleton finished third in Division 1 (320-350–670), “It’s nice to finally get one on her. She’s a great comand Mequon Homestead was fourth (336-345–681). petitor, so I’ve enjoyed playing with her all these Reinecke was trying to add her name to the short years.” After the final round, Reinecke said she hit the ball list of players who have won three state high school golf titles, but she fell behind Loren Skibba of Mid- well, but struggled with her putting. “My goal coming in was just to play my best, and dleton after Skibba recorded a fine round of 69 in
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43RD WIAA STATE GIRLS GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS | 5
Anika Hitt
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a lot of jokes, a lot of laughter.” Along with a light attitude, Edgewood also boasts some terrific players, as in medalist Tess Hackworthy (74-76–150) and runner-up Caroline Lake (79-75– 154). Last year at state, Lake played from the No. 1 spot in Edgewood’s lineup, and she took home medalist honors. This year, Hackworthy was Edge-
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I didn’t necessarily do that, so I missed that goal,” said Reinecke. “To (win) it as a team is definitely exciting.” For her part, Skibba said she succeeded because she stayed out of trouble, which lurks everywhere at University Ridge even in benign weather conditions. “I didn’t lose any golf balls this week,” Skibba said with a laugh. Behind Skibba, Anika Hitt of Homestead recorded her second consecutive runner-up finish at state, shooting 74-77–151. Allison Chomniak of Arrowhead was third in Division 1 (76-76–152), and Grace Dunn of Brookfield Central finished fourth (7776–153), two strokes lower than Reinecke. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Click here for complete Division 1 scores –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– In division 2, the players’ names keep changing but the Madison Edgewood juggernaut under coach Peggy Gierhart keeps chugging along. Edgewood won its fourth consecutive Division 2 team championship this week and its 13th girls state golf title in the last 14 years. Gierhart said the key this time around was patience – and who could argue the point based solely on the weather – but she also explained that her girls have done a great job dealing with the pressure that
I’m really proud of these girls. We had two tough days weather-wise, and they dug deep and played well. I couldn’t be prouder.
comes with the program’s high expectations. “We’re not really allowed to talk much about winning,” she said. “(Edgewood players) feel a lot of pressure. They try not to show it, and we try not to talk about it. We really try to laugh things off. We prepare really hard, but at the same time there are 6 | 43RD WIAA STATE GIRLS GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS
– BAILEY HILDEBRANDT, VERONA AREA COACH wood’s No. 1 at state, and, now, state individual champion. According to Gierhart, the two players are so close ability-wise, she actually alternates them in tournaments between the No. 1 and 2 spots. Call them 1A and 1B. Fittingly, they’re also best friends.
“It’s definitely the cherry on top of my season this year,” Hackworthy said of winning the Division 2 individual title. “I’ve been preparing all year, and these last four years, so it’s great to finish strong like this.” Hackworthy said her win was especially satisfying after last season at state, where she signed an incorrect scorecard on day two and was disqualified. After Tuesday’s final round, Lake admitted a repeat individual title would have been nice, but both she and Hackworthy insisted there is no rivalry between them. “I can’t say I’m disappointed,” Lake said. “It would have been nice to have a second win, but Tess is my best friend, and I’m so excited she got to have a
championship for herself.” Edgewood finished with team scores of 328-331– 659, and for the second straight year Fox Valley Lutheran (343-372–715) was runner-up. Spooner (358-394–752) finished third. Two players who qualified for state as individuals were next on the Division 2 leaderboard. Sarah Busey of Racine St. Catherine’s shot 76-81–150 to finish third, and Stanley Wang of Saint Thomas More shot 82-81–163 to finish fourth. Kayla Priebe of Fox Valley Lutheran finished fifth. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Click here for complete Division 2 scores ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Caroline Lake
Jessica Reinecke
Grace Dunn
Tess Hackworthy
Anika Hitt
SENIORS WILL NE XT TEE IT UP AT TH E D -I COLLE GE LE VE L The conclusion of the WIAA State Girls Golf Championships brought with it the end of high school golf careers for some of the state’s most decorated seniors. Several, however, have chosen their college destinations and will continue their careers at the collegiate level. Madison Edgewood senior Tess Hackworthy and Verona Area senior Jessica Reinecke will both be joining the Wisconsin Badgers in the fall to play for head coach Todd Oehrlein. In their final state tournament appearances, Hackworthy turned in a 6-over-par 150 (74-76) to earn Division 2 medalist honors, while Rei-
necke finished in fifth place with an 11-overpar 155 (74-81). Homestead’s Anika Hitt will play golf and study business at the University of Cincinnati next fall. Hitt was the Division 1 runner-up after posting a 7-over-par 151 (74-77). Edgewood’s Caroline Lake has decided to play for Creighton University. Division 2 runnerup Lake finished with a 10-over-par 154 (79-75). Grace Dunn, a senior at Brookfield Central, is headed to Drake University. She capped off her high school career with a fourth-place finish at 9-over-par 153 (77-76). 43RD WIAA STATE GIRLS GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS | 9
The focus of the sports world returns to the Wisconsin shores of Lake Michigan at Whistling Straits in August of 2015 for the 97th PGA Championship. Remaining tickets are now on sale! Visit pgachampionship.com for more details on available tickets and volunteer opportunities. Whistling Straits is also the proud host of the 2020 Ryder Cup.
THIS IS MAJOR THIS IS THE PGA CHAMPIONSHIP AUGUST 10 - 16, 2015 • WHISTLING STRAITS • KOHLER, WISCONSIN
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Caroline Lake, Edgewood
Sarah Busey Racine St. Catherine’s
Noelle Koepp, Fox Valley Lutheran Lauren Klauck, Eau Claire North
Kayla Priebe, Fox Valley Lutheran
Meredith Nelson, Osceola
Maddy Neumeier, Green Bay Preble
Natalie Myers, Edgewood
Emily Balding, Brookfield Central Courtney Bergum, Holmen
Speedy Kent Homestead
Tess Hackworthy, Edgewood
Nina Galang, Brookfield East
Wisconsin Girls Tournament Results DIVISION 1
DIVISION 2
TEAM LEADERS 1 Verona Area 2 Arrowhead 3 Middleton 4 Homestead 5 MIlton 6 Notre Dame 7 Brookfield Central 8 Mukwonago 9 Whitefish Bay 10 Kimberly 11 Tomah 12 Rice Lake
+72 +80 +94 +105 +124 +134 +141 +147 +154 +159 +204 +209
VIEW TEAM RESULTS
INDIVIDUALS 1 Loren Skibba 2 Anika Hitt 3 Allison Chomniak 4 Grace Dunn 5 Jessica Reinecke T6 CheyAnn Knudsen T6 Bailey Smith 8 Speedy Kent 9 Robyn Blanchard T10 Maddy Neumeier T10 Courtney Bergum
Middleton Homestead Arrowhead Brookfield Central Verona Area MIlton Verona Area Homestead Madison Memorial Green Bay Preble Holmen
69-78–147 74-77–151 76-76–152 77-76–153 74-81–155 78-79–157 76-81–157 78-80–158 76-83–159 77-83–160 76-84–160
TEAM LEADERS 1 Edgewood 2 Fox Valley Lutheran 3 Spooner 4 The Prairie School 5 Osceola 6 Osseo-Fairchild
+83 +139 +176 +177 +191 +228
VIEW TEAM RESULTS
INDIVIDUALS 1 Tess Hackworthy 2 Caroline Lake 3 Sarah Busey 4 Stanley Wang 5 Kayla Priebe T6 Bailey Schmidt T6 Lori Meyer T6 Meredith Nelson 9 Katie Arneson 10 Amanda Pederson
Edgewood Edgewood Racine St Catherine's Saint Thomas More Fox Valley Lutheran Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau Freedom Osceola Edgewood Osseo-Fairchild
74-76–150 79-75–154 76-81–157 82-81–163 82-83–165 82-84–166 80-86–166 81-85–166 86-84–170 85-87–172
VIEW INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
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VIEW INDIVIDUAL RESULTS 43RD WIAA GIRLS STATE GOLF TOURNAMENT | 15
Hartford Union High School player Amy Holzer and coach Scott Helms bring a bit of color to the proceedings at University Ridge on Monday. They’re pictured discussing strategy in the middle of the 13th fairway.
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ON THE COVER: With puddles in the fairway, Wisconsin high schoolers persevere through steady rain Tuesday at University Ridge in Verona. (Photo by Rick Pledl.) All photos by Rick Pledl and Erin Eagan Published by Killarney Golf Media, Inc.
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Wisconsin Golfer SPECIAL EDITION
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