Michalski misses state berth by two strokes, Tigers finish sixth overall

By Paul Lecker

Sports Reporter

STEVENS POINT — Marshfield sophomore Derek Michalski got off to a slow start and tried to make up for it late but came up just short of a state bid at the WIAA Division 1 boys golf sectional Tuesday at Stevens Point Country Club.

Michalski, who was struck by a ball while practicing on the range on Sunday, suffered a deep leg bruise and was unable to do much at practice on Monday.

On Tuesday Michalski was 5-over par after five holes and started the back nine with a double bogey and a bogey before righting the ship. He had pars on the final seven holes to finish with a 79, but in the end he was two shots short of the final individual qualifying spot for next week’s state meet.

Eau Claire North won the team title with a score of 309, and host Stevens Point took second with a 327 to sew up the two team spots at the 2015 WIAA State Boys Golf Championships, which will be held June 8-9 at University Ridge Golf Club in Verona.

Kole Hallmark of New Richmond had a 75, and Cole Crawford of River Falls and Chase Rauckman of Eau Claire Memorial had 77s to take the three individual state berths. Michalski ended up eighth overall.

“The last four holes, he had some of the best shots I’ve seen him (Michalski) hit all season,” Marshfield coach Paul Foegen said. “He had birdie chances on the last four holes, hitting the ball to within 15 feet or so on all four of them. He just couldn’t make a putt. I was really proud of how Derek gutted it out with an injury.”

Jordan Schlinsog shot an 84, Brandon Nikolai had a 90, Zach Shortess had a 94, and Grant Michaelis finished with a 107 to round out the scoring for Marshfield.

The Tigers, who took second at last week’s Division 1 regional at its home course of RiverEdge, ended up sixth out of the eight teams at the sectional with a score of 347.

“I thought we had a great group, three seniors (Nikolai, Shortess, and Schlinsog) that were great leaders, and practiced very hard,” Foegen said. “I am very proud of our team. We had ups and downs this year and had some great performances.”

(Hub City Times Sports Reporter Paul Lecker is also the publisher of MarshfieldAreaSports.com.)

2015 WIAA Division 1 Boys Golf Sectional

June 2, at Stevens Point Country Club

Team scores: *1. Eau Claire North 309; *2. Stevens Point 327; 3. Hudson 333; 4. River Falls 334; 5. New Richmond 335; 6. Marshfield 347; 7. Wausau East 354; 8. Antigo 368.

Top 10 individuals and Marshfield finishers: 1. Tyler Bee (ECN) 72; 2. Matt Tolan (ECN) 74; 3. *Kole Hallmark (NR) 75; 4. Cristian McDonald (SP) 76; 5. *Cole Crawford (RF) and *Chase Rauckman (Eau Claire Memorial) 77; 7. Mitch Simonet (HUD) 78; 8. Derek Michalski (MAR) 79; 9. Taylor Thomas (SP), Logan Comte (ECN), Matt Tuman (WE) and Derek Tomczik (D.C. Everest) 81; 20. Jordan Schlinsog (MAR) 84; 35. (tie) Brandon Nikolai (MAR) 90; 39. (tie) Zach Shortess (MAR) 94; 48. Grant Michaelis (MAR) 107.

*State tournament qualifiers