Experience will be a key factor for the Colfax girls’ golf team
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COLFAX has already begun its girls’ golf season. The 4-member squad which consists of, from left to right, Morgan Schleusner, Hannah Lemler, Lillie Hayden and Abby DeMoe had matches in Eau Claire and Ladysmith last week. The girls also competed at Holmen-Drugen Tuesday, August 27 and will travel to Cadott this Thursday morning, August 29, to compete at Whispering Pines Golf Course. The Vikings are part of the Clovercroix Conference, which was formed for girls’ golf last season, along with Osseo-Fairchild, Stanley-Boyd and Altoona/Regis.
—photo by Shawn DeWitt
Colfax is entering its second year in a conference for girls’ golf, and head coach Ryan Krall is excited to see what his team can do this season.
The Lady Vikes finished second in the CloverCroix in 2018 and Abby DeMoe was named the conference player of the year, with Morgan Schleusner making 1st team all-conference and McKenna Yingst being named 2nd team all-conference.
“We lost McKenna Yingst and Abby Klueckmann from last year’s team,” said Krall. “Huge losses as they played #3 and #4 for us – more importantly they were great kids that made our team better in so many ways outside of golf. They are impossible to replace.”
Returning for Colfax are seniors Abby DeMoe and Morgan Schleusner and junior Hannah Lemler, and the Vikings will welcome newcomer Lillie Hayden, a senior, to the team for 2019.
Abby DeMoe is a three-time state qualifier for the Vikings and has her work cut out for her this year, according to Krall.
“Everyone knows who Abby is at this point in her career,” Krall explained. “She has always dealt with that type of pressure very well – this will be another test of that.”
Two-time sectional qualifier, Morgan Schleusner, will put her natural ability to the test this season as she is extremely competitive. She will need to harness her competitive side correctly for it to work in her favor.
“We would love to see Morgan contend at the sectional again this season and fight for one of those individual state qualifier spots.”
Joining the varsity squad is Hannah Lemler who has improved over the last two seasons and will be relied upon quite a bit more this season as she joins the squad.
“Hannah has shown great promise early in the season so far this year, we really need her to be good as a team this season,” stated Krall.
Lillie Hayden is stepping into a roll she is unfamiliar with as she is competing for the first time as a senior, her confidence will be key for her as the season progresses as the more she has the more aggressively she will play.
“Getting Lillie as the fourth player was crucial for us and she will fill in that role nicely,” Krall said. “We need her this season for sure.”
The strength of the Vikings comes from experience in Abby DeMoe and the quality of tournaments she has played in over the summer and the new season.
“Overall, we have really good kids that accept coaching well and are eager to improve in all facets of their games,” Krall stated.
The slight weakness for the Vikings will be with Lemler and Hayden as they were thrown into the fire of competitive golf, and with only four athletes they need the pair every meet to earn a team score.
“Our lack of depth that could pick those two up if they have a bad day sort of ties our hands this season,” commented Krall. “We just aren’t allowed to have many bad days with only four on the team.”
Colfax will compete for a conference title as its first objective, but Osseo-Fairchild/Fall Creek has been good each year.
Limiting big numbers and crushing each round is the second goal for Colfax as they won’t be able to compete with the other schools in the conference if they have big numbers.
“Managing our way around the golf course and limiting risk will be crucial to our consistency,” coach Krall stated.
The CloverCroix conference is rich with talent this season as Fall Creek has paired up with Osseo-Fairchild this season, and Eau Claire Regis/Altoona, Flambeau and Stanley-Boyd have the numbers and gotten better over the last 12 months.
“We have to play really hard to hang with all of them,” Krall explained. “But if everything falls right for us, I believe we are in the mix as the best team in the league.”
Colfax has competed in four meets already this season which included the Eau Claire Husky Invite, Ladysmith, Holmen, and their latest meet in Cadott this past Thursday, August 29, at Whispering Pines.
Husky Invite – Eau Claire
With the start of the new season for the Colfax golf team, only two girls competed at the first meet of the season for the Vikings on Monday, August 19, in Eau Claire.
Abby DeMoe and Morgan Schleusner have returned for their senior seasons with coach Krall and the Vikings and put up a nice finish for their first meet of the year.
DeMoe finished in third place with 82 strokes and Schleusner finished in seventh place with a score of 92.
Team Results: 1. River Falls 377, 2. Hudson 399, 3. OF Fall Cr. 402, 4. Memorial 424, 5. North 454, 6. Menomonie 461, 7. Chippewa 463, 8. Regis/Altoona 467, 9. Rice Lake 478, 10. Colfax.
Individual
Results: 1. Hannah Harper 79, 2. Paige Hillman 82, 3. Abby DeMoe 82, 4. Jaden Wolwode 89, 5. Areil Heyer 89, 6. Madyson Rosman 92, 7. Morgan Schleusner 92, 8. Maddy Logan 92, 9. Izzy Popple 94, 10. Keelan Beeksma 100.
Viking Classic – Holmen
A sunny day greeted the Colfax Lady Vikes as they traveled to Holmen to take part in the Viking Classic on Tuesday, August 27.
Three of four girls competed for Colfax which included Hannah Lemler, Morgan Schleusner and Abby DeMoe.
Each of the girls were consistent on the front and back nine as their scores ranged from 41 to 66.
Abby DeMoe was the leader for Colfax as she finished with an overall score of 85, hitting 44 on the front nine and 41 on the back. DeMoe has continued to up her game as she works toward another state berth.
Struggling a little throughout the day was Hannah Lemler who scored a 128 over the course of 18 holes, but to her credit it was her first match of the season.
Morgan Schleusner held her own for the Vikings as she put up a 108 and kept her stroke count to under 60 on the front and back of the course.
Team
Results: 1. Tomah 324, 2. Onalaska 341, 3. Wisconsin Dells 349, 4. Arcadia 375, 5. Osseo-Fairchild 377, 6. G-E-T 422, 7. Holmen 423, 8. Sparta 438, 9. Westby 442, 10. Black River Falls 458.
Individual
Results: Abby DeMoe 85, Morgan Schleusner 108, and Hanna Lemler 128.