Portage County Gazette

By John Kemmeter

Junior Evan Thomas advanced to the WIAA Division 1 State Meet as an individual, while the Stevens Point Area Senior High School (SPASH) boys golf team just missed earning a trip as a team after it finished third at the WIAA Division 1 Sectional at the Stevens Point Country Club Tuesday, May 29.

Stevens Point Area Senior High School (SPASH) senior Drew Blair watches his tee shot land during the WIAA Division 1 Sectional at the Stevens Point Country Club Tuesday, May 29. (John Kemmeter photo)

Thomas fired a 70 to earn medalist honors and secure a spot at the State Meet at the University Ridge Golf Course in Madison Monday and Tuesday, June 4 and 5, while the Panthers shot their second-lowest score of the year with a 321, but ended up third in the team standings behind state-bound Eau Claire Memorial (296) and River Falls (315).

“It’s a really cool opportunity,” said Thomas. “I went two years ago with the team, and I wish I could’ve had the team come with me this year, but I’m excited to get down to Madison and show what I can do down there.”

“We shot 321, the last time we played here (May 15) for conference it was a 317, so we were just missing on a few cylinders today,” said SPASH boys golf head coach Mark Vrieze. “Those kids put a great effort out today, it just wasn’t enough.”

SPASH junior Nolan Blair grabs the ball after he sinks a putt at the WIAA Division 1 Sectional at the Stevens Point Country Club Tuesday, May 29. (John Kemmeter photo)

After finishing second in the Wisconsin Valley Conference (WVC) during the regular season, SPASH bounced back by totaling a 328 to win the Merrill Regional May 22 over Wausau West (329) and D. C Everest (343) to advance to Sectionals.

As SPASH looked to earn a trip to state as a team for the fifth time in the last seven years, Thomas led the way on the front nine, as he fired a 36 to sit atop the leader board at the midway point.

Thomas followed with a 34 on the back nine to finish with a two-under par 70 to win medalist honors and the Individual Sectional Title over junior Billy Peterson of Eau Claire Memorial (73) and senior Matt Fladten of Eau Claire Memorial (73).

“It’s really cool,” said Thomas. “I wasn’t thinking about medalist honors before the round started, but I just went out there and played my game, played solid, and it happened.”

“I haven’t taken a single down to state in my 10 years I’ve been doing this, it’s always been as a team, so it’ll be interesting,” said Vrieze. “But I’m glad he gets to go, he’s worked hard, and I’m really impressed with that 70.

“He was on today, that’s for sure,” he said.

Senior Max Hofmeister was second for the Panthers with an 83, while senior Drew Blair and freshman Logan Pechinski each had an 84 to close the team scoring, and junior Nolan Blair added a 92.

SPASH freshman Logan Pechinski taps in a putt on the 18th hole at the WIAA Division 1 Sectional at the Stevens Point Country Club Tuesday, May 29. (John Kemmeter photo)

Eau Claire Memorial had its four scoring golfers finish in the Top 7 to win the Sectional Title with a 296, while River Falls totaled a 315 to beat SPASH (321), D.C. Everest (329) and Wausau West (333) for a trip to state.

“Max fought with his swing all year, and to shoot 83, I’m super happy with that,” said Vrieze. “The kids did a great job; this season was just a mess to begin with with our snowfall, and it’s hard to get in a groove when you have half of your season shortened due to weather.

“We had practices that were limited, we started hitting balls in the gym for our first couple of weeks, and that wasn’t easy and it took patience,” he said. “We had two meets on a Monday and a Thursday, and then that Friday was our first conference meet.

“We may have lost Conference, but we won Regionals for the eighth straight time, and I’m really proud of my boys,” he said. “They fought through a tough spring, and I give all of the credit to them.”

Thomas also competed at the State Meet as a freshman when SPASH advanced as a team in 2016, as he tied for 59th after he shot a 79 on the opening day and an 83 on the second day to total a 162.

SPASH junior Evan Thomas sizes up a putt on the 18th hole at the WIAA Division 1 Sectional at the Stevens Point Country Club Tuesday, May 29. (John Kemmeter photo)

“It helps me a lot, because I’ve obviously seen the course before, and I know the competition’s going to be really good down there,” said Thomas. “I’m excited to get down to U Ridge and hopefully put up some good scores.”

“The nice thing about going down there as an individual is you don’t have to worry about helping your team, you just concentrate on you,” said Vrieze. “And I think that’s what he did today too, he got in that zone and just went.

“There are some great golfers that are going down that can do that as well, but he’s worked hard on his stuff and on getting through,” he said. “And it’s going to be nice to take him down next week.”