Last week Tuesday (May 17), the Bluejay golfers competed in the 6th leg of the WVC championship at Riveredge Golf Course in Marshfield. The team finished 7th with a score of 382. Leading the way for Merrill was senior Tanner Pettit with a fine score of 89, followed by junior Tad Pike with 92, freshman Hunter Wallace with 95 and senior Connor Kleinschmidt with 106. SPASH won the event with a 323, followed by Wausau West with 328 and East with 335.
On Friday, Merrill hosted the final leg of the valley tournament and was led by freshman Hunter Wallace with a score of 43-39=82. The Bluejay’s team score of 367 put them in 5th place for the day and 7th overall. Hunter’s scoring throughout the conference matches allowed him to achieve a third team all-conference award. This year was his first year playing varsity golf which allowed him to learn the Valley Conference courses, experience he will use during the next three years of his golf team career. It also allowed Hunter to show his skill potential having scored some very fine rounds through the season: 86 at Stevens Point CC, 77 at Greenwood Hills CC, 87 at Wausau CC and 82 at Merrill GC.
“Hunter has all the skills needed to be a great Bluejay golfer,” said coach Joe Mertens. “He has length off the tee and throughout his golf bag, a good short game and great emotional composure on the course. He is a smart athlete who can make the right decisions during competition.”
Other Bluejay scores included the team’s most consistent player Tanner Pettit scoring 89, Connor Kleinschmidt with 97, and Tad Pike with 99 for a team total of 367. West won the event with a 322 followed by SPASH at 328. The Bluejays travel to Stevens Point CC on Tuesday, May 24 to compete in the regional tournament. The top four teams and three individuals can qualify for sectional play in Eau Claire on May 31.