MONROE - The Cheesemakers golf team had their best meet of the season Wednesday at Monroe Golf Club, coming in fourth out of eight teams as the temperatures reached 80 with a light breeze. Monroe finished with a score of 332, just two strokes back from Monona Grove. Edgewood's 308 was five strokes better than Oregon (313) and won the mini meet title.
"The home course definitely helps because we've played it so many times," said Monroe head coach Braden Rindy, who noted Wednesday's score was the team's lowest of the year by about 25 strokes. "Our goal was to move up a bit (in the standings), and we did."
Milton and Fort Atkinson each shot a 338 for a fifth-place tie, Stoughton was seventh with a 351 and Watertown was last with a 365.
Senior Collyn Wilde shot a 77 to lead the Cheesemakers, which also got strong finishes from junior Jack Rogerson (80) and sophomore Noah Becker (82).
"These are the numbers that we need in the future, and hopefully we can keep it going," Rindy said. "If you're going to compete (for a title), you need one man in the 70s and then you need some 80s. We just need a No. 4 man in the 80s too and we'll be in really good shape."
Wilde's day could have been even better if it weren't for a triple-bogey on the par-4 No. 15. Wilde carded a pair of birdies - one on the par-4 11th and another on the 552-yard par-5 13th. But after the big 13th, Wilde carded a bogey, triple-bogey and another bogey. Rindy was still pleased with his No. 1 golfer's performance.
"He went from 92 to 77, so that's a good thing. We've talked to him about it all year long that we need him in the 70s if we are going to compete," Rindy said.
Rogerson found two holes that got to him - the par-4 ninth hole and the par-3 16th - where he carded triple-bogeys. He said he hit the ball out of bounds on the 16th.
Before his struggles on No. 9, Rogerson collected back-to-back birdies on Nos. 7 and 8.
"I thought I played OK," Rogerson said of his overall performance.
Becker also said hole No. 9 gives him fits. Becker carded one of his two double-bogeys on the ninth.
"It's kind of a blind shot (off the tee)," Becker said of No. 9. "I just didn't play smart. I really like par 4s. I'm not really a long hitter, so I like to get on (the green) in two and two-putt."
Becker's other double-bogey was on the long 434-yard par-4 fourth hole. His drive clipped a thin branch on the left side of the fairway, and his ball dropped to the ground almost immediately.
"I played OK. I had a few doubles that I didn't expect," Becker said. "The greens were fast."
Sophomore Connor Allen, Monroe's No. 4 hitter, carded a 95, and junior Kevin Schmidt finished with a 115. The top four scores for each team are recorded in the team totals.
"Everyone has 'their holes' (that they don't like)," Rindy said. "I personally think Hole 4 is probably one of the hardest holes on the course. But at the same time, you don't want to have that in your head, the 'I'm not good at this hole.' Because if you're thinking that, you're not going to go out and play it very well. Every hole is a little bit different, so you just have to adjust and play."
Monona Grove's Jake Schroeckenthaler and Oregon's John Klus shared the meet's individual title by shooting a 1-over-par 71.
Due to forecasted thunderstorms, the coaches moved the meet up by one full hour. By the time scores were being calculated, thunder could be heard in the distance.
"It was a good choice. It's a good feeling to be winding it up when you hear thunder when you're putting the scores in," Rindy said.
Just two weeks ago, a snowstorm forced many sports, including golf, to postpone events. In fact, Rindy said his team had very little time to practice before the season started thanks to the wintry weather lasting deeper into April than normal.
Monroe Golf Club converted one of the interior racquet ball courts into a small practice facility which Rindy had his team utilize.
"It's small - maybe three or four people can be in there at once. We had to schedule it. The kids had to sign up what time they wanted to come in and work with me," Rindy said. "It wasn't ideal, but at least we had somewhere to go - other schools didn't have anything. We're lucky that we had something to do and didn't have to hit into a tarp."
The room has what is called a TrackMan launch monitor which gives immediate information about each individual swing.
"It probably tells you too much information - it breaks down your club path, your club speed, your spin and 36 things after just one swing," Rindy said. "It's an awesome thing, but at the beginning of the year we try not to confuse ourselves too much and just take some swings and see what we need to adjust."
"The home course definitely helps because we've played it so many times," said Monroe head coach Braden Rindy, who noted Wednesday's score was the team's lowest of the year by about 25 strokes. "Our goal was to move up a bit (in the standings), and we did."
Milton and Fort Atkinson each shot a 338 for a fifth-place tie, Stoughton was seventh with a 351 and Watertown was last with a 365.
Senior Collyn Wilde shot a 77 to lead the Cheesemakers, which also got strong finishes from junior Jack Rogerson (80) and sophomore Noah Becker (82).
"These are the numbers that we need in the future, and hopefully we can keep it going," Rindy said. "If you're going to compete (for a title), you need one man in the 70s and then you need some 80s. We just need a No. 4 man in the 80s too and we'll be in really good shape."
Wilde's day could have been even better if it weren't for a triple-bogey on the par-4 No. 15. Wilde carded a pair of birdies - one on the par-4 11th and another on the 552-yard par-5 13th. But after the big 13th, Wilde carded a bogey, triple-bogey and another bogey. Rindy was still pleased with his No. 1 golfer's performance.
"He went from 92 to 77, so that's a good thing. We've talked to him about it all year long that we need him in the 70s if we are going to compete," Rindy said.
Rogerson found two holes that got to him - the par-4 ninth hole and the par-3 16th - where he carded triple-bogeys. He said he hit the ball out of bounds on the 16th.
Before his struggles on No. 9, Rogerson collected back-to-back birdies on Nos. 7 and 8.
"I thought I played OK," Rogerson said of his overall performance.
Becker also said hole No. 9 gives him fits. Becker carded one of his two double-bogeys on the ninth.
"It's kind of a blind shot (off the tee)," Becker said of No. 9. "I just didn't play smart. I really like par 4s. I'm not really a long hitter, so I like to get on (the green) in two and two-putt."
Becker's other double-bogey was on the long 434-yard par-4 fourth hole. His drive clipped a thin branch on the left side of the fairway, and his ball dropped to the ground almost immediately.
"I played OK. I had a few doubles that I didn't expect," Becker said. "The greens were fast."
Sophomore Connor Allen, Monroe's No. 4 hitter, carded a 95, and junior Kevin Schmidt finished with a 115. The top four scores for each team are recorded in the team totals.
"Everyone has 'their holes' (that they don't like)," Rindy said. "I personally think Hole 4 is probably one of the hardest holes on the course. But at the same time, you don't want to have that in your head, the 'I'm not good at this hole.' Because if you're thinking that, you're not going to go out and play it very well. Every hole is a little bit different, so you just have to adjust and play."
Monona Grove's Jake Schroeckenthaler and Oregon's John Klus shared the meet's individual title by shooting a 1-over-par 71.
Due to forecasted thunderstorms, the coaches moved the meet up by one full hour. By the time scores were being calculated, thunder could be heard in the distance.
"It was a good choice. It's a good feeling to be winding it up when you hear thunder when you're putting the scores in," Rindy said.
Just two weeks ago, a snowstorm forced many sports, including golf, to postpone events. In fact, Rindy said his team had very little time to practice before the season started thanks to the wintry weather lasting deeper into April than normal.
Monroe Golf Club converted one of the interior racquet ball courts into a small practice facility which Rindy had his team utilize.
"It's small - maybe three or four people can be in there at once. We had to schedule it. The kids had to sign up what time they wanted to come in and work with me," Rindy said. "It wasn't ideal, but at least we had somewhere to go - other schools didn't have anything. We're lucky that we had something to do and didn't have to hit into a tarp."
The room has what is called a TrackMan launch monitor which gives immediate information about each individual swing.
"It probably tells you too much information - it breaks down your club path, your club speed, your spin and 36 things after just one swing," Rindy said. "It's an awesome thing, but at the beginning of the year we try not to confuse ourselves too much and just take some swings and see what we need to adjust."
