Pacelli Golfers Gain Experience While Enjoying Whistling Straits
By Ken McKenzie
For many area golfers, playing the Irish Course at Whistling Straits is but a dream or a ‘bucket list’ entry.
For the young Pacelli golf squad, they can now check it off their list.
Participating in an Iola-Scandinavia Invitational last Friday the group came away with second place team score and top medalist in Jacob Shulfer who shot an 80 on the day.
“It was a good day for our team,” said Coach Brian Winquist. “We took second out of 12 teams by shooting a 389, just six strokes behind Weyauwega Fremont. Considering no one had every played the course before, we did pretty well and everyone had a lot of fun. Jacob’s 80 was solid, just like his attitude, as he has the perfect golf attitude.”
Whistling Straits Golf Course is one of the most notable courses in the state. It was the host site for 2004 and 2010 PGA Championships and 2007 US Senior Open, and later this summer will host the PGA Championship and in 202, the Ryder Cup.
“We are a young team, experience wise,” said Winquist. “We lost our top five players to graduation from last year and only two current players have any varsity experience before this season.”
Two freshmen will see a lot time in varsity positions: Zach Williams and Brad Maes. Another freshman, Adam Gutowksi, lacks experience but has the right attitude is showing rapid improvement, according to Winquist. Three seniors are on the squad; Carson Kedrowski (played two years ago), first-time player Nicole Williams and Harrison Beyer. Two sophomores round out the squad: Hannah Frane and Shulfer, who played a couple of varsity events last year.
“Hannah plays a lot of golf and has a great attitude,” said Winquist. “Jacob showed flashes of good play last year and already this year has played his best golf. His 80 on a course he’d never played was huge for our team and a confidence builder. Kedrowski had a 101, Beyer had a 109, Zach Williams had a 99 and Frane had a 130 at Friday’s Whistling Straits’ outing but they all made golfing memories.”
The Cardinals’ golf squad takes on several CW8 conference foes Tuesday at 3:30 PM at the Stevens Point Country Club when they play against Amherst, Iola-Scandinvia, Marion and Shiocton.
The SPASH golf team will have a similar experience this week when they venture over to the Irish Course at Whistling Straits as part of an 18 team outing with hopes for improved weather by their Wednesday 10 AM tee times.