The Bluejay golfers may have stumbled in last Tuesday’s fourth WVC Meet, but they caught their fall in Friday’s fifth.
A little home cooking seemed to settle the boys as they posted their top finish of the series when they ranked third by five strokes.
“Friday’s conference leg in Merrill did what it was supposed to do for the team,” Merrill coach Joe Mertens said. “The team responded to their home course and finished with our best finish so far of the year.
“As expected, senior Mike Pagel led the team. Mike’s round included several birdies and the making of several long putts, a part of his game that has been missing for a while. Philip’s solid 82 was punctuated by his 2-over par 39 on the back side.
“As I look at my top 5 golfers, each has the potential to shoot a low score just as Mike and Philip did Friday. We just need them to do it at the same time. Two years ago, the team put it all together as four players shot close to their best scores at regionals to advance to sectional play. This may occur again this year.
“To quote Ryder Cup Captain Ben Crenshaw from years ago, ‘I have a good feeling about this is all I am going to say.’ Those were his words the night before the U.S. team went on to achieve an upset over the Europeans. Come regionals on May 27th, I have a good feeling the boys will play well at Stevens Point C.C. and qualify for sectional play.”
Pagel tied for fifth on the day, the 10.5 pushing him to 10th in season All-Conference points with 22, and Guenther sat alone in seventh, his nine points bumping him to 15th with 13.5.
MHS–Mike Pagel 40-41–81, Philip Guenther 43-39–82, Ryan Marsceau 45-43–88, Brett Woller 45-51–96, Kevin Lee 47-50–97.
Standings– SPASH 319 (overall team points 34), Marshfield 327 (30), Merrill 347 (12), Wis. Rapids 352 (20), Wausau West 352 (16), Wausau East 361 (19), D.C. Everest 368 (9).
WVC #4
The Bluejays found too much trouble to score in Tuesday’s event at Greenwood Hills.
“It did not go well for the golfers,” Mertens said. “The tight fairways and some unfamiliarity of the course disrupted any consistency or positive flow in their golf games. It seemed they could not play without finding trouble and could not escape the trouble without adding precious strokes.
“I know the round was a wake-up call for the boys and I feel it helped them to define the areas of their games that need practice and improvement if they wish to advance beyond the regional tournament.”
Merrill will play at Stevens Point C.C. for regional on May 27. The top four teams and three individuals on non-qualifying teams advance to the Eau Claire Memorial sectional.
None of the MHS boys scored All-Conference points.
MHS–Mike Pagel 43-51–94, Philip Guenther 50-46–96, Ryan Marsceau 49-45–94, Kevin Lee 50-48–98, Brett Woller 52-46–98.
Standings– SPASH 328, Marshfield 331, Wausau East 334, Wis. Rapids 339, Wausau West 348, D.C. Everest 359, Merrill 382.