2023 WIAA state boys golf tournament: Rob Hernandez’s Division 2 regional preview, predictions | WIAA Boys

Wisconsin.Golf’s Rob Hernandez analyzes the WIAA Division 2 boys regional golf tournaments being played across the state this week. The top four teams in each regional advance to next week’s sectionals, along with the top four golfers not on those teams. The state tournament is June 5-6 at Blackwolf Run in Kohler.

---

MCDONELL CATHOLIC (CHIPPEWA FALLS) SECTIONAL

Rice Lake regional

When: 9 a.m. Tuesday. Where: Turtleback GC-Rice Lake.

2022 story: Freshman Zachary Hintz shot 78 and senior Caleb Heckel shot 79 as Medford fired a 321 at Inshalla CC and won the Tomahawk regional by 12 strokes over Hayward. Antigo, which would eventually qualify for the state tournament, shot 337 and finished tied for third with Northwestern (Maple), which joined the Red Robins as a sectional team qualifier. It took a score of 84 or better to qualify for the sectional individually among the four golfers whose teams did not advance.

2023 skinny: Medford, which finished a solid second to Division 1 Lakeland (Minocqua) in the Great Northern Conference, comes into the Rice Lake regional favored to defend its 2022 regional title. The Raiders return four of the five golfers off last year’s team, led by junior Connor Lingen, who finished fourth in the GNC player-of-the-year standings. Host Rice Lake, the only Division 2 school in the eight-team Big Rivers, finished last at the conference championship, but comes into the regional seeded second on its home course. The scramble for the final two team berths could involve as many as six teams if Turtleback proves to be as intimidating as it can be.  

Projected sectional team qualifiers: Medford, Rice Lake, Hayward, Antigo.

Projected sectional individual qualifiers: Ty Zeller, Spooner; Logan Kramsvogel, Northland Pines; Lawson Burkhart, Northwestern (Maple); Sawyner Hanna, Tomahawk.

Osceola regional

When: 9 a.m. Tuesday. Where: Krooked Kreek GC-Osceola.

2022 story: Junior Nick Mueller shot 2-under-par 69 at Rolling Oaks GC in Barron to earn medalist honors by five strokes over Prescott freshman Tyler Reiter and lead St. Croix Central (307) to a 13-stroke victory over Ellsworth (320). Amery, which would eventually qualify for the state tournament, shot 36 and joined Osceola (339) in securing the other two sectional team berths. It took a score of 79 or better to advance to the sectional individually.

2023 skinny: Middle Border Conference champion Amery, third in the latest Golf Coaches Association of Wisconsin Division 2 state rankings, returns all five golfers from a team that earned the program’s first state berth since 2007 last season and should be locked in a tight battle with defending regional champion St. Croix Central for top honors this year. UW-Superior recruit Blu Anderson leads the way for Amery and Middle Border champion Nick Mueller is back for his last run through the WIAA tournament series after he missed qualifying for the state tournament by three strokes and his team by five at last year’s Antigo sectional. Ellsworth, which finished third behind Amery and St. Croix Central in the Middle Border, should have the inside track on the third sectional berth ahead of a five-team pack, including host Osceola, that will battle for the final spot. 

Projected sectional team qualifiers: Amery, St. Croix Central, Ellsworth, Osceola.

Projected sectional individual qualifiers: August Lang, Somerset; Tyler Reiter, Prescott; Dylan Veenendall, Baldwin-Woodville; Chase VanRanst, Baldwin-Woodville.

Arcadia regional

When: 9 a.m. Tuesday. Where: Trempealeau Mountain GC-Trempealeau.

2022 story: Junior Josh Brickner shot 78 to earn medalist honors by three strokes and join two other teammates in the top five as McDonell Catholic (Chippewa Falls)/Regis (Eau Claire) shot 333 and rolled to a 22-stroke victory over host Black River Falls at Skyline GC. Bloomer (367) and Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau (369) edged out Arcadia (370) and Durand (374) for the last of the four sectional team berths. It took a score of 89 or better to advance to the sectional individually.

2023 skinny: Andrew Bauer and Ben Biskupski have become a daunting combination for McDonell Central (Chippewa Falls)/Regis (Eau Claire), sharing medalist honors at the Cloverbelt Conference Championship last week and finishing 1-2 in the standings for conference player of the year. The Macks, fourth in the GCAW Division 2 state rankings, have exceptional depth to boot, making them a heavy favorite to roll through the regional. Bloomer, runner-up to McDonell/Regis in the Cloverbelt, is coming off a conference championship showing in which all five Blackhawks golfers shot 82 — the kind of quality balance that could go a long way in the postseason. Dunn-St. Croix Conference champion Durand-Arkansaw and Coulee Conference champion Arcadia should join the McDonell/Regis and Bloomer in advancing to the sectional. 

Projected sectional team qualifiers: McDonell Central (Chippewa Falls)/Regis (Eau Claire), Bloomer, Arcadia, Durand/Arkansaw.

Projected sectional individual qualifiers: Wyatt Madvig, Black River Falls; Isaac Brenner, Stanley-Boyd; Zane Brice, Colfax/Elk Mound; Nic Jumper, Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau.

---

WRIGHTSTOWN SECTIONAL

Amherst regional

When: 9 a.m. Monday. Where: Glacier Wood GC-Iola.

2022 story: Seniors Keegan Polomis and Trey Kretz shot matching 79s to finish T-5 — seven strokes behind medalist Grant Bauman, a junior from Peshtigo — as Marinette (326) rolled to a 24-stroke victory over Bauman’s Bulldogs at the Clintonville regional. Mosinee (352) and Oconto Falls (354) also played their way to sectional team berths. It took a score of 86 or better to reach the sectional individually.

2023 skinny: Mosinee is nowhere to be found in the GCAW Division 2 state rankings, but Jett Walters gives the Indians an opportunity to enjoy the WIAA Amherst regional as a prohibitive favorite. The junior shared medalist honors with Lakeland (Minocqua) junior Jack Rubo at the Great Northern Conference to sew up GNC player-of-the-year honors. After missing out on a state berth in a 4-for-1 playoff for the final spot at the Marinette sectional, Walters will be motivated to be at his best during the WIAA postseason and where that leads Mosinee remains to be seen. He was the only Indians golfer in the top 15 at the GNC Championship, but Mosinee has three other golfers capable of breaking 90 behind him. That should be enough to outdistance Central Wisconsin Conference runner-up Wittenberg-Birnamwood; Amherst, which finished third in the CWC; and Oconto Falls, which finished fifth in the Northeastern Conference. 

Projected sectional team qualifiers: Mosinee, Wittenberg-Birnamwood, Amherst, Oconto Falls.

Projected sectional individual qualifiers: Grant Bauman, Peshtigo; Brady Eastman, Marinette; Charlie Moore, Columbus Catholic/Spencer; Dominic Smerchek, Marinette.

Wautoma/Wild Rose regional

When: 9 a.m. Tuesday. Where: Two Oaks North GC-Wautoma.

2022 story: Senior Tyler Johnson shot even-par 72 at Wild Rock GC in Wisconsin Dells to edge Winneconne junior Winston Knobloch by one stroke for medalist honors and help Berlin edge Knobloch’s Wolves by one stroke for the Wisconsin Dells regional title. Wisconsin Dells (334) claimed the third sectional team berth while Ripon (352) edged Wautoma/Wild Rose (354) for the fourth spot. It took a score of 87 or better to earn a spot in the sectional individually.

2023 skinny: Reigning WIAA Division 2 state champion Winston Knobloch is one of three golfers back from a Winneconne team that finished third at the state tournament a year ago. The Wolves shot 320 and successfully defended their East Central Conference championship last week but it got close as they held off Kettle Moraine Lutheran (Jackson) by two strokes with Knobloch earning medalist honors by four shots with a 73. Winneconne won’t have to be that sharp to get through the Wautoma/Wild Rose regional, but the Wolves — ranked second behind five-time defending champion Edgewood (Madison) in the GCAW Division 2 state poll — will have to be much sharper if they plan to get to the state tournament and try to deny the Crusaders a sixth consecutive title. Host Wautoma/Wild Rose, the South Central Conference champion, should lead the race for second place, but it gets murky after that. Berlin is seeded third but finished fifth in the ECC, while Ripon is seeded fifth but finished third at the conference championship. If one or both can find some consistency at Two Oaks North, it could open the door for one of the other four schools seeded within eight strokes of one another to send a full team to next week’s sectional.

Projected sectional team qualifiers: Winneconne, Wautoma/Wild Rose, Berlin, Waupaca.

Projected sectional individual qualifiers: Riley Brooks, Ripon; Jacob Busse, Ripon; Hayden Masters, Omro; Lukas Hutcheson, Adams-Friendship.

Luxemburg-Casco regional

When: 11 a.m. Tuesday. Where: Northbrook CC-Luxemburg.

2022 story: Junior Grant Delsart shot 78 to earn medalist honors by three strokes as Wrightstown shot 350 at Crystal Springs GC in Seymour and won the regional team title by 10 strokes. New London (360) edged the host Thunder by one stroke in the chase for second place while Luxemburg-Casco claimed the fourth sectional team berth with a 372. It took a score of 94 or better to qualify for the sectional individually.

2023 skinny: Northeastern Conference champion Wrightstown is back and the Tigers — with all five golfers returning off last year’s regional championship team — seem to be as good as ever. They won last week’s Northeastern Conference championship by 10 strokes over Fox Valley Lutheran (Appleton) behind medalist Grant Delsart (78), the medalist by three shots. FVL, though, is seeded fifth behind both Freedom (second) and Little Chute (fourth), who finished 3-4 in the Northeastern, and No. 3 Seymour, which finished fourth out of five teams at last week’s Bay Conference championship.  

Projected sectional team qualifiers: Wrightstown, Seymour, Fox Valley Lutheran, Freedom.

Projected sectional individual qualifiers: James Glampe, Luxemburg-Casco; Jacob Zwiers, Little Chute; Jack Kang, Little Chute; Finley LaVine, Southern Door.

---

PRAIRIE DU CHIEN SECTIONAL

Westby regional

When: 9 a.m. Monday. Where: Viroqua Hills GC-Viroqua.

2022 story: Freshman Matthew Rabindra made his WIAA postseason debut one to remember, shooting 82 to finish T-2 ahead of senior teammates Sam Dobbins and Ben Swift (84s) and lead Aquinas (La Crosse) to a 29-stroke victory at the Prairie du Chien regional with a 339 score. Richland Center (368), the Cuba City co-op (380) and Platteville (382) also advanced teams to the sectional. It took a score of 91 or better to reach the sectional individually, a contingent that included medalist James Reilly (77), a junior at Prairie du Chien.

2023 skinny: There is enough talent atop the teams seeded in the bottom half of the Westby regional to suggest that the greatest heartaches will come from No. 1 golfers at schools that do not advance to the sectional. Richland Center’s Roman Johnson and Prairie du Chien’s James Reilly, who finished 1-2 in the Southwest Wisconsin Conference, would seem to have the inside track on those spots as would Mauston’s Jasper Walsh, whose team is seeded sixth but is coming off a runner-up showing behind Wautoma/Wild Rose at the South Central Conference Championship. Platteville is the only school in the sectional to have won a conference title last week (Southwest Wisconsin), which is why a even a school such as Aquinas (La Crosse) — the last-place finisher behind five Division 1 schools in the six-team Mississippi Valley Conference — could sneak into the top four with a good day at Viroqua Hills.

Projected sectional team qualifiers: Platteville, Mauston, Westby/Viroqua, West Salem.

Projected sectional individual qualifiers: Roman Johnson, Richland Center; James Reilly, Prairie du Chine; Keaton Moore, Richland Center; Matt Rabindra, Aquinas (La Crosse).

St. John’s NW Academy (Delafield) regional

When: 9 a.m. Tuesday. Where: Fairways of Woodside GC-Sussex.

2022 story: Sophomore Andrew Nelson (79) and senior Gabriel Fernandez (80) finished second and third, respectively, behind medalist Pierce Zimmel of Lomira (78) as St. John’s Northwestern Academy (Delafield)/Chesterton Academy shot 337 at The Golf Club at Camelot and topped Whitewater (349) to win the Lomira regional. It took a score of 90 or better for individual qualifiers to advance from the regional. Nelson was the only member of St. John’s regional lineup to compete at the sectional; the others were international students who went home for the summer following the regional. 

2023 skinny: One year after qualifying for the WIAA state tournament on his own, Lomira senior Pierce Zimmel — last year’s regional medalist — looks to advance his team to the sectional, too. The Lions, who finished sixth out of 10 teams in this regional a year ago, are the No. 1 seed coming off a runner-up finish to Division 3 power St. Mary’s Springs (Fond du Lac) at the Wisconsin Flyway Championship. Finding a fourth score below 100 could be key to advancing for Mayville, which finished T-3 in the Wisconsin Flyway, and Columbus, which placed fifth in the Capitol Conference. And don’t rule out host St. John’s, which brings back 2022 regional runner-up Andrew Nelson, a junior from the Chesterton Academy (Menomonee Falls) portion of the co-op team. The Lancers finished third in the Midwest Classic Conference.

Projected sectional team qualifiers: Lomira, Lake Country Lutheran (Hartland), St. John’s NW Academy (Delafield)/Chesterton Academy (Menomonee Falls), Mayville.

Projected sectional individual qualifiers: Tony Genco, Columbus; Cooper Jesnen, Lakeside Lutheran; Tyler Schluter, Columbus; Samuel DeBruin, Watertown Luther Prep.

New Glarus regional

When: 9 a.m. Tuesday. Where: Edelweiss Chalet CC-New Glarus.

2022 story: Four Edgewood (Madison) golfers finished in the top seven, led by junior Alex Weiss’ 78, as the Crusaders (318) held off Lodi (324) to win the New Glarus regional at Edelweiss Chalet CC. Edgerton (332) took the third sectional team berth, but Brodhead (344) had to rally past host New Glarus (345) to claim the final berth. It took a score of 85 or better — and a 3-for-1 playoff between three Evansville golfers — to determine the four individual sectional qualifiers.

2023 skinny: Edgewood (Madison), the No. 1 team in the GCAW Division 2 state rankings all spring, begins its quest for a sixth consecutive WIAA state title (and third straight since the 2020 season was canceled by COVID-19) with four returning golfers — all seniors — off last year’s state championship team. What makes this postseason journey different for Alex Weiss, Al Deang, Zeke Boos and newly minted Badger West Conference champion Finn Jaeger is it comes with a new coach in Jacob Brown and a new face at the No. 5 spot in freshman Drew Bindl, who finished T-10 at last week’s Badger West Championship with an 82. That would seem to make the Crusaders hard to catch, through Rock Valley Conference champion Edgerton — ranked fifth in the state behind freshman Owen Wagie, the Rock Valley champion, and sophomore Caleb Kern — might have something to say about that. And don’t forget about Evansville, which brings back the three golfers who played off last year after carding matching 85s (seniors Sawyer Holman and Kole Johnson and sophomore Klyne Johnson) and might get another this year from junior Nolan Burkhalter, the Blue Devils’ much-improved No. 4 golfer.

Projected sectional team qualifiers: Edgewood (Madison), Edgerton, Evansville, Lodi.

Projected sectional individual qualifiers: Josh Potter, Monticello/Belleville; Brett Warrell, New Glarus; Ethan Hale, Turner (Beloit); Nolan Oliver, Brodhead.

---

GRAFTON SECTIONAL

Sheboygan Falls regional

When: 9 a.m. Tuesday. Where: The Bull at Pinehurst Farms GC-Sheboygan Falls.

2022 story: Junior Dawson Fish (74) and sophomore Jon Bertram (76) finished 1-2 as Xavier (Appleton) placed all five of its golfers in the top 10, shot 308 on its home course at High Clifff GC in Sherwood and won its own regional by 26 strokes over Sheboygan Falls. Kiel (383) and Oostburg (392) won the battle for the final two sectional team berths over North Fond du Lac (396) and Valders (399). It took a score of 96 or better to advance to the sectional individually.

2023 skinny: For the second year in a row, Xavier (Appleton) and Sheboygan Falls are the teams to beat in this regional, which this year moves to Sheboygan Falls’ home course at The Bull at Pinehurst Farms. Xavier looks to bounce back after sharing the team title at the Bay Conference Championship with Division 1 West De Pere on a rare day in which the Hawks counted a score north of 90. As for Sheboygan Falls, the Falcons (326) took home the team title by 23 strokes in the Eastern Wisconsin Conference behind senior Braeden Ziegelbauer, who earned medalist honors with a 74. The chase for the final two sectional team berths could involve as many as five schools led by Campbellsport, which finished T-3 at last week’s Wisconsin Flyway Conference Championship at Mascoutin GC in Berlin.

Projected sectional team qualifiers: Sheboygan Falls, Xavier (Appleton), Campbellsport, Kiel.

Projected sectional individual qualifiers: Parker Braun, Brillion; Ayden Long, Oosbrug; Alex Theusch, Kewaskum; Ryan Cook, Kewaskum.

Brookfield Academy regional

When: 9 a.m. Wednesday. Where: Wanaki GC-Menomonee Falls.

2022 story: Senior Owen Gardner (77), junior Emery Endres (78) and freshman Sullivan Mellowes (79) led a 1-2-3 sweep of individual honors as University School of Milwaukee (318) knocked off Kettle Moraine Lutheran (329) to win the Grafton regional at Fire Ridge GC. The host Black Hawks secured the third sectional team berth with 348 while Kewaskum advanced with a 367. It took a score of 92 or better to move on to the sectional individually.

2023 skinny: Kettle Moraine Lutheran is ranked sixth in the state in Division 2 by the GCAW after giving No. 2 Winneconne a run for its money at last week’s East Central Conference Championship at Washington County GC in Hartford. That kind of pressure should help the Chargers in this regional where they figure to get a stiff challenge from 2022 regional champ University School of Milwaukee. The Wildcats (337) held off Lake Country Lutheran (Hartland) by three strokes to win the Midwest Classic Conference behind their 1-2 punch of senior Emery Endres (72) and junior Charlie Darrow (77). Brown Deer, Milwaukee School of Languages and Obama SCTE all opted out of the postseason and Golda Meir is only bringing one golfer, reducing this to a 6-for-4 battle for the team title that features Grafton from the Division 1-dominated North Shore Conference, Brookfield Academy from the competitive Midwest Classic and Metro Classic co-champion Dominican (Whitefish Bay).

Projected sectional team qualifiers: University School of Milwaukee, Kettle Moraine Lutheran, Grafton, Brookfield Academy.

Projected sectional individual qualifiers: Tom Sukprasert, Dominican (Whitefish Bay), Marlee Hills, Dominican (Whitefish Bay); Mason Gill, Shoreland Lutheran; Bryce Peilstifter, Shoreland Lutheran (Somers).

Big Foot (Walworth) regional

When: 9 a.m. Wednesday. Where: Geneva National GC/Trevino Course-Lake Geneva.

2022 story: Seniors Kenny Piacsek (77) and Tyler Tusing (78) finished 1-2 for Catholic Memorial (Waukesha), which shot a 324 at Brighton Dale Links in Kansasville and dominated the Big Foot regional by 37 strokes. Shorewood (361), Whitefish Bay Dominican (366) and Delavan-Darien (367) scooped up the remaining three sectional team berths. It took a score of 88 or better to qualify for the sectional individually.

2023 skinny: Five different conferences are represented in this regional — none more battle-tested than Catholic Memorial (Waukesha), the only non-Division 1 school in the Classic 8. The Crusaders finished seventh out of eight teams at the Classic 8 Championship, counting an 82 from sophomore Drew Maglio and three 85s. That’s the sort of consistency from Nos. 1 through 4 that will win teams regional championships in Division 2 and that’s why Catholic Memorial is again a heavy favorite to lead qualifying for the sectional. New Berlin West, which finished fourth in the Woodland Conference, and East Troy, which finished fifth in the Rock Valley Conference, are seeded ahead of Metro Classic co-champ St. Thomas More (Milwaukee), but all three should join Catholic Memorial at the sectional. 

Projected sectional team qualifiers: Catholic Memorial (Waukesha), New Berlin West, St. Thomas More (Milwaukee), East Troy.

Projected sectional individual qualifiers: Hunter Rendon, Delavan-Darien; Patrick Corey, Big Foot (Walworth); Drew Davis, New Berlin Eisenhower; Griffin Lemberger, Martin Luther (Greendale).