GC golfers continue string of second-place finishes
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THE TOPPERS’ Gabe Knops is shown making a putt during a conference golf meet at Glen Hills Golf Course on Friday, May 6. —photo by Shawn DeWitt
It seems Spring has finally arrived. With sunny skies and temperatures on the rise last week, the Dunn-St. Croix was able to get in all three of its scheduled boys’ golf meets.
The Glenwood City boys’ team string of second-place finishes continued as it was the runner-up in all three contests. After a victory in the season’s first conference competition, the Hilltoppers have now placed second in six consecutive D-SC gathers.
Last week’s competitions began May 2 at Whitetail Golf Course where Glenwood City finished in a second-place tie with host Colfax/Elk Mound. The pair finished with identical score of 197, well off the winning pace set by Durand with a 175.
Three days later on Thursday, May 5, Glenwood City along with the other four conference golf schools, hit the links at the Spring Valley Golf Course. The Toppers shaved ten strokes off its Whitetail team score for a 187, however, it wasn’t enough as they finished behind Durand, who shot a 169.
The following day, Glenwood City hosted D-SC match #7 at Glen Hills and shot its best score of the year, a 184, as it finished second to Durand (174).
This year’s scores are a vast improvement from a year ago when Glenwood City did not shoot below 200 at all. Teams success is predicated on individual performance and many Toppers golfers have already set personal bests in 2022.
“I am very proud of the GC golf team in the last few days. We had at least five kids set personal best scores, played two meets with no kids on varsity shooting over 49, and set two new team low scores. Great work!” posted head coach David Popko following Friday’s meet at Glen Hills.
“Very proud of our progress. Having not broken a team score of 200 last year, I asked the varsity to shoot for 185 this year. Today they shot a 184 even with one of our players missing. GREAT JOB!” he added.
With a just pair of nine-hole matches this week and the 18-hole conference tournament next Monday in Spring Valley remaining on the regular-season slate, the Hilltoppers have a strong hold of second place with 28.5 points. Durand is out front with 34, Colfax/Elk Mound is third with 21.5 points followed by Mondovi at 12.5 and Spring Valley at 8.5.
GLENWOOD CITY senior Owen Swenby watched his ball following a fairway shot on Glen Hills hole numer one during a Dunn-Sts. Croix golf meet last Friday, May 6. —photo by Shawn DeWitt
Whitetail
Senior Owen Swenby was the low-point golfer for the Hilltoppers when they played a Dunn-St. Croix conference meet May 2 at Whitetail Golf Course.
Owen Swenby finished with a 44 in the nine-hole meet while the other four varsity players – Ian Radintz, Gabe Knops, Esdyn Swenby and Charlie Lamb – all shot 51s.
Glenwood City’s final score of 197 put it in a tie for second with host Colfax/Elk Mound who had three golfers shoot in the 40s. Led by co-medalist Simon Bauer and Logan Weissinger (42s), Durand won the event with a 175, Mondovi and Spring Valley also finished even as both teams tallied a 224 to tie for fourth.
Colfax/Elk Mound beat Glenwood City in the junior varsity competition, 219 to 228.
Ben Wittmer and Cole Wakeling topped the GC JV with scores of 54 and 55, respectively. Brett Peterson shot a 57, Wyatt Unser carded a 62 and Jared Hager had a 71.
Spring Valley
Three days later, the Toppers cut an amazing ten strokes off its score to finish second in Spring Valley with a 187.
All five varsity players shot in the 40s.
Ian Radintz had Glenwood City’s low score with a 44. Charlie Lamb shot a 47, brothers Owen and Esdyn Swenby each carded a 48 and Gabe Knops finished with a 49.
Durand scored a 169 to win the meet as Simon Bauer had a 39 for the low individual score. Colfax/Elk Mound finished third with a 193, Mondovi shot a 213 to take fourth and coming in last (or fifth) was Spring Valley with a 219.
Glenwood City won the junior varsity meet with a 228 followed by Colfax/Elk Mound at 244 and Spring Valley at 273.
All the Topper junior varsity members finished within six strokes of one another. Cole Wakeling had a 55, Wyatt Unser shot a 56, Jared Hager signed out on a 58, Ben Wittmer tallied a 59 and Brett Peterson shot a 61.
Glen Hills
Playing on its home course last Friday, May 6, Glenwood City recorded its best score of the season as it finished in second place with a 184.
For the second meet in a row, all five varsity players for Glenwood City finished with scores in the 40s.
With Ian Radintz unable to golf due to a prior commitment, Ben Wittmer moved up to the varsity and led the team with a 45. Owen Swenby and Gabe Knops each shot a 46, Charlie Lamb carded a 47 and Esdyn Swenby finished with a 48.
The Toppers’ junior varsity won its meet with a 230 followed by Colfax/Elk Mound at 247 and Spring Valley with a 279.
JV scores were: Wyatt Unser 54, Brett Peterson 57, Cole Wakeling 58, Jared Hager 61, Damian Shervington 65 and Tyler Rogers 73.