KOHLER — Fort Atkinson’s Mason Burke shot a two-day total of 153 to tie for 10th at the WIAA Division 2 State Boys Golf Championships, which wrapped up on Tuesday at Blackwolf Run’s Meadow Valleys Course.
Burke got off to a slow start in Monday’s first round, but stormed to the finish line with four birdies in his final seven holes to shoot 74 and sit a stroke behind the 18-hole lead. He wasn’t able to take that momentum in the final round.
Burke tripled his first hole of the day, the par-4 10th, and then made four straight bogies to fall off the pace. The junior stalwart righted the ship nicely from there, playing his final 13 holes in even par. That included birdies on the par-5 16th hole and the par-4 fifth en route to shooting 36 on his second nine.
“That was not the start he was looking for and there were some nerves certainly involved there,” Fort boys golf coach Mason Kent said. “The course was a little softer and we were getting less rollout. With those greens, you can have the same tee shot each day and have a two-club difference on approach shots.
“On No. 16, Mason hit a good hybrid to around the green and got up and down. On No. 5, he chose risk reward and hit driver close to green down a narrow shoot. He got up and down there as well.
“Mason showed really great composure and rolled through with some confidence in new territory. He never lost confidence or focus.”
Fort, which shot 334 on Monday, carded a 323 on Tuesday and slid back one spot to finish 14th in the 16-team event.
“Seeing Fort spectators on a course that’s two hours outside of town is a testament to what these guys accomplished,” Kent said. “It’s also a testament to what great athletics can do for a community. There was never a doubt that our boys belonged in that tournament.”
Fort junior Kellan Jacobson shot 80-81 to tie for 41st. His final round consisted of 43 on his first nine followed by an inward nine of 38, including consecutive birdies on the par-5 seventh and par-3 eighth holes.
“Kellan, on his opening nine, had a lot of midrange looks for par that broke hard at the end on difficult greens that led to tap-in bogies,” Kent said. “He trusted his swing and trusted his putter. Kellan made a 15-footer for birdie on No. 7 and hit a really good tee shot on the 180-yard eighth hole to eight feet and made that one too.”
Senior Ethan Brown followed up an 89 with a 78 in his final high school round, jumping up 22 shots on the leaderboard to a tie for 62nd. The steady four-year player rebounded from two double bogies to start his round with a birdie on the par-4 12th. He made six straight pars to close his opening nine, then made seven pars on his inward nine of 3-over 39.
“Ethan hit it phenomenally off the tee and on shots to the green,” Kent said. “On No. 12, he hit a 175-yard approach and almost holed it out, leaving it two inches from the hole. He hit lots of greens in regulation and then two putted.
“He burned the lip with a birdie putt on his last hole. For him to be the low man for us in his last round for Fort and seeing his teammates go bananas for him was a cool moment. Ethan gave this program a great four years and that was a special way to end it.”
Junior Jack Kammer shot rounds of 91-85.
“Jack played a lot better in his second round,” Kent said. “It’s not the score he was looking for either day, but he hit driver really well in his second round. When he hits a shot pure, it seems to go forever. He also has good touch and feel. The design of a Pete Dye golf course got to him a little and kicked him into tough spots and led to him being short sided, which leads to it being really hard to get up and down.”
Junior Caleb Enger shot rounds of 96-95.
“This was a great experience for Caleb, who is a little newer to that stage and that type of course, which was probably the toughest he’s ever played,” Kent said. “He got to see what true fescue was like. We know Caleb is only going to grow from this tournament.”
Waunakee shot a two-round total of 619 to edge Eau Claire Memorial by one stroke for the team title while Germantown’s Cody Schmidt shot rounds of 74-71 to win the individual title by two strokes over DeForest’s Lincoln Hottmann, who shot 74-73.
2024 WIAA BOYS STATE GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Blackwolf Run Meadows Course, Kohler; par 72
Division 1 team scores: Waunakee 311-308—619, Eau Claire Memorial 318-302—620, Milwaukee Marquette 323-302—625, Janesville Craig 319-311—630, Waukesha North 329-304—633, Bay Port 316-319—635, Hudson 316-320—636, Middleton 326-311—637, Menomonee Falls 318-320—638, Green Bay Notre Dame 335-310—645, Hartford Union 312-339—651, Franklin 329-325—654, Sheboygan North 332-324—656, Fort Atkinson 334-323—657, Kettle Moraine 339-334—673, Brookfield Central 358-345—703.
Top five individuals: 1. Cody Schmidt (Germantown) 74-71—145. 2. Lincoln Hottmann (DeForest) 74-73—147. t3. Mason Haupt (West De Pere) 78-70—148. t3. David Spahr (Brookfield East) 76-72—148. 5. Will Schlitz (ECM) 76-73—149.
Most Popular
Comments / 0