SPASH senior Evan Thomas will close his high school golf career at the WIAA Division 1 Boys Golf State Meet. (John Kemmeter photo)

By John Kemmeter

Stevens Point Area Senior High School (SPASH) senior Evan Thomas qualified for the WIAA Division 1 Boys Golf State Meet for the second year in a row at the New Richmond Sectional Wednesday, May 29, while the Panthers just missed advancing to state as a team.

SPASH finished third in the team standings with a score of 327, as Hudson (316) and Eau Claire Memorial (320) both advanced to state.

Evan Thomas shot a 75 to finish fourth overall behind New Richmond senior Owen Covey (71), Merrill junior Russell Dettmering (72) and Eau Claire Memorial senior Billy Peterson (74) to secure the Sectional’s final individual berth to state over D.C. Everest senior Ben Peloquin (78) and Marshfield freshman Davis Rens (78).

Sophomore Logan Pechinski was 10th overall with a 79 for SPASH, followed by freshman Ethan Thomas (84), senior Nick Norrgran (89) and senior Nolan Blair (93).

It will be the third trip to state overall for Evan Thomas, who tied for 59th as a freshman in 2016 with an 18-over par 162 when SPASH advanced to state as a team.

Last year he qualified as an individual, and tied for 25th with a 10-over par 154.

The WIAA Division 1 State Meet is set to begin at University Ridge Golf Course in Madison at 7 a.m. Monday, June 3, with the second day set to begin at noon Tuesday, June 4.