Riley Pechinski, Leah Earnest, Ally Nickel, Abby Nickel and Megan Bonikowske of the SPASH girls golf team, after the Panthers earned a trip to the State Tournament at the WIAA Division 1 Sectional at the Stevens Point Country Club Tuesday, Oct. 8. (John Kemmeter photo)

Portage County Gazette

By John Kemmeter

The Stevens Point Area Senior High School (SPASH) girls golf team competed at the WIAA Division 1 State Tournament for the second time in program history at University Ridge Golf Course in Madison Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 14 and 15.

The Panthers finished with a two-day total of 722 to place eighth, while senior Abby Nickel tied for 22nd with a 168.

SPASH shot a 362 on Monday to sit in seventh place at the end of the first day of the tournament, as Middleton (330) led Arrowhead (331), Kettle Moraine (333) and Brookfield Central (337).

The Panthers improved their score with a 360 on Tuesday, but dropped one place in the team standings to finish eighth with a 722 and end up behind seventh-place Tomah (708), which won the Stevens Point Sectional a week earlier.

Senior Abby Nickel tied for 22nd after she shot 85 Monday and 83 Tuesday to finish with a 168.

Senior Ally Nickel shot a 94 Monday and moved up 11 spots with an 87 Tuesday to tie for 42nd with a 181.

Freshman Riley Pechinski shot a 90 Monday and a 92 Tuesday to tie for 44th with a 182, senior Leah Earnest was 68th after she shot a 93 Monday and a 104 Tuesday to finish with 197, and junior Megan Bonikowske shot 105 Monday and 98 Tuesday to finish 71st with a 203.

After entering the final day with a one-stroke lead, Middleton totaled a 321 Tuesday to pull away for the State Title with a 75-over par 651, followed by Brookfield Central (664), Kettle Moraine (665) and Arrowhead (685).

Junior Jo Baranczyk of Bay Port, who was the only qualifier from Wisconsin to compete at the 71st U.S. Girls’ Junior Golf Championship at SentryWorld in Stevens Point last summer, battled back from ninth place Monday to win her second consecutive WIAA Division 1 Individual State Title.

Baranczyk finished with a 149 to claim the State Title over Sarah Balding of Brookfield Central (150), after she shot a 78 Monday and a one-under par 71 Tuesday to end up five-over par.