KOHLER — To defend their state title, the Blue Jays had to battle Mother Nature, a rugged golf course and seven other talented teams.
In the end, their quest came up a little short.
Cambridge’s boys golf team shot a two-day 27-hole total of 513 to place third at the WIAA Division 3 State Tournament, which concluded on Tuesday at Blackwolf Run’s Meadow Valleys Course.
Heavy rains shortened Monday’s first round to nine holes (on the front nine). Cambridge shot 180 to sit in fourth, then carded a 343 to move up a spot on Tuesday. Mineral Point, which shot rounds of 156-327 for a total of 483, held off Chetek-Weyerhaeuser (169-334 503) to win the team title.
"The bar has been set so high the past two seasons this feels like a disappointment," Cambridge boys golf coach Vern Lee said. "It shouldn’t. We’ve been spoiled by great golf the past three years, it’s expected we win these things. In reality, golf is hard!
"The quality of high school golf keeps getting better and better. These guys certainly deserved to be there, but just didn’t have their A game. We make no excuses. Yes, the weather was terrible, but it was the same for everyone we were battling. Mineral Point flat out played better."
Cambridge, which took second in 2022, has finished in the top three at each of the past three tournaments.
Junior Kian Bystol-Flores’ quest to win his 10th straight tournament came up painstakingly close. He had a birdie look on his final hole of the tournament, the par-4 ninth, from 20 feet to force a playoff with Durand-Arkansaw’s Logan Weissinger but could not convert.
Bystol-Flores, the defending individual medalist, shot rounds of 38-76, finishing 6 over par for the tournament, to share second with Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah’s Carson Mersberger.
Playing in inclement weather Monday which also included a delay in play, Bystol-Flores made four bogies and two birdies (on the par-4 fifth and par-5 seventh holes) to card a 2-over round.
Starting on hole No. 10 on Tuesday, Bystol-Flores made three birdies and four bogies in his opening nine 37. He made six pars and three bogies to shoot 39 in his closing nine.
Senior Cade Nottestad, in his third state appearance, shot rounds of 44-85 to tie for 26th.
Freshman Jack Baker shot 46-90, junior Matt Buckman, in his third state appearance, shot 55-92 and freshman Ben Baker shot 43-95.
"It was a great season," Lee said. "We won conference, regional and sectional championships and qualified for a third state berth in as many tries. Most programs go decades without an appearance in the big show.
"We’ve got four of these guys coming back, but unfortunately we have to say goodbye to senior leader, Cade Nottestad. He has helped build upon an already unbelievable foundation. Cambridge golf has always been on the map, but now everybody knows where it's at."
2024 WIAA BOYS STATE GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Blackwolf Run Meadows Course, Kohler; par 72
Division 3 team scores: Mineral Point 156-327 483; Chetek-Weyerhaeuser 169-334 503, Cambridge 170-343 513, Bonduel 168-351 519, Lena 172-348 520, St. Mary’s Springs 180-341 521, Cochrane-Fountain City 172-351 523, Prentice 181-355 536.
Top five individuals: Logan Weissinger (Durand-Arkansaw) 36-77 113; Kian Bystol-Flores (Cambridge) 38-76 114; Carson Mersberger (Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah) 36-78 114; Simon Cole (Ladysmith) 43-74 117; Dylan Bramstedt (Valders) 43-75 118, Drew Aschilman (Mineral Point) 38-80 118.
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