Tuesday marked another first for the original edition of the McDonell-Regis Golf Cooperative as the Saints claimed the WIAA Division 2 Black River Falls Regional title at Skyline golf course. Their victory comes on the heels of last weeks win in the Cloverbelt Conference 18 hole championship held at the same course. Representing the Saints in those tournaments were seniors Thomas Longbella, Grant Sandberg and Bryan Misener and sophmores Andrew Reis and Ethan Petersilka.
In the Cloverbelt Championship, the Saints team score was a respectable 338 total strokes for the top for golfers, one of their better 18 hole team scores of the season. At the WIAA Regional, playing from the same tees and in similar conditions, with a little more on the line, the top four posted a winning score of 326, 12 strokes better than the prior week. All five of the Saints golfers posted a score that either matched or exceeded their previous score.
Leading the way for the Saints was the senior duo of Sandberg and Longbella. Longbella earned medalist honors with a three under par 69. Sandberg, under par for much of the round, finished with a one over par 73, good for the runner-up spot. Longbella’s win marks a perfect record in securing WIAA Regional individual titles as he adds his first title at the Division 2 level to his previous three Division 3 wins.
Andrew Reis, with an 86, finished T13. Bryan Misener rounded out the Saints scoring with a 98, good for 30th place. Ethan Petersilka fired a personal best 104 for a 40th place finish.
With one week to go before the WIAA Sectional, the Saints are looking to refine and improve their games again. Top area teams expected to be in the mix for a potential trip to the WIAA State tournament at University Ridge include Bloomer, Hayward, Somerset, Arcadia, and Amery. The Saints will need to leverage their home course advantage into their best scores of the season to be competitive with those teams.
The Saints will be hosting the WIAA Division 2 McDonell-Regis Sectional at Lake Wissota Golf on Tuesday, May 31. The 18-hole tournament starts at 9:00 a.m. with the golfers teeing off in waves based on their regional performance. The Saints will be in the last wave of golfers who will be scheduled to be teeing off between 11 a.m. and 12 p.m.