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GIRLS GOLF: WIAA DIVISION 2 PRAIRIE DU CHIEN SECTIONAL

By A.J. Gates, Grand County Herald Independent

Lancaster Girls Golf team advances to state for the first time in nearly 40 years

PRAIRIE DU CHIEN — For only the third time in school history, Lancaster High School will be sending the entire girls golf team to the WIAA State Meet, set to take place on Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 10-11, at the University Ridge Golf Course in Verona.

Under the guidance of coach Brooke Marcue, the Flying Arrows closed out a sensational regular season by capturing regional and sectional team titles over the past two weeks.

“This season has been one of the most consistent and successful in many years,” said coach Marcue. “I attribute this success to the culture, skill and perseverance displayed by the girls. These girls have been putting in the work and have gained momentum as the season progressed.”

The 2022 squad joins the Lancaster teams from 1983 and 1984, which advanced to the state meet as a team nearly 40 years ago.

In 1983, the Flying Arrows finished third at the regional meet, second at sectionals and seventh at state. In 1984, Lancaster brought home regional and sectional titles before finishing eighth at the state meet.

With the top two teams from this past Monday’s Prairie du Chien Sectional advancing to the WIAA state meet, Lancaster skipped all the drama and dominated their opponents at the Prairie du Chien Country Club.

With a team score of 381, the Flying Arrows finished 15 strokes ahead of the second-place team from Edgewood Sacred Heart, who edged out Aquinas for the final state berth by one stroke.

“This is a talented group of athletes, but I believe what sets them apart is their character and ability to work together to strive for the top,” said coach Marcue.

“Golf may be considered more of an individualized sport, but these girls have rallied together to form a bond that allows them to lean on each other when needed,” Marcue added. “Many of our athletes’ averages are separated by less than one stroke after regional play, and if one of the girls is struggling the rest of the team rallies. This allows other members of the team to step up when needed.”

As she has done all season, Lancaster junior Brianna Kirsch outshined all 47 golfers at Monday’s sectional meet, shooting an impressive six-over-par round of 78 to claim medalist honors.

Kirsch fired a three-over-par round of 39 on the front with five pars, two bogeys, a double and a birdie on the par-5 eighth hole.

On the back, she shot an identical three-over-par round of 39 with three pars, three bogeys, one double and back-to-back birdies on holes 17 and 18.

Kirsch finished four strokes ahead of Portage senior Ella Denure (82), who earned one of three individual state qualifying spots, along with Jefferson junior Payton Schmidt (82) and Westby/Viroqua freshman Maddi Fletcher (84).

Rounding out Lancaster’s individual scoring was junior Kate McWilliams with a 94, shooting a 45 on the front and a 49 on the back, junior Evy Dhyanchand with a 99, shooting a 51 on the front and a 48 on the back, freshman Lynell Miller with a 110, shooting a 56 on the front and a 54 on the back, and senior Paige Lolwing with a 112, shooting a 55 on the front and a 57 on the back.

The Flying Arrows qualified for Monday’s sectional meet with a first-place finish at last Wednesday’s Black River Falls Regional held at the Skyline Golf Course.

With a team score of 388, the Lancaster ladies brought home the regional plaque, finishing a whopping 11 strokes ahead of second-place Aquinas.

Following a somewhat shaky start on the front nine, the Flying Arrows essentially won the regional title with a strong finish on the back.

After finishing the front and going into the back, Lancaster was sitting third after the top four golfers combined for a team score of 203.

Ahead of them were Aquinas with a 200 and Arcadia/Independence with a 202.

The Flying Arrows finished like champions though, blowing away the competition with a team score of 185 on the back, in comparison to a 197 for Aquinas and a 213 for            Arcadia/Independence.

Leading the charge for Lancaster was Kirsch, who captured medalist honors with an 18-hole score of 81.

Kirsch dominated the field of 43 golfers, finishing eight strokes ahead of the next closest finisher, which was Whitney Sonsalla of Arcadia/Independence.

On the front nine, Kirsch shot a five-over-par round of 41 with four pars and five bogeys, and finished on the back with a four-over-par round of 40 with five pars and four bogeys.

Sonsalla was just two strokes behind Kirsch going into the back nine, shooting a 43 on the front, but finished six strokes behind the Lancaster junior on the back with a 46.

McWilliams finished in a six-player tie for fifth place, shooting a 97 with a 54 on the front and a 43 on the back. She also recorded the team’s only birdie of the day, which came on the par-4 18th hole to finish her round.

Lolwing finished in a two-player tie for 15th with a 104, shooting a 54 on the front and a 50 on the back, while Dhyanchand finished 19th overall with a 106, following a 54 on the front with a 52 on the back, while Miller finished 26th with a 113, shooting a 58 on the front and a 55 on the back.

Each of the girls play a special part in making for a great season,” Marcue said. “I am proud and thankful to have the opportunity to coach some exceptional young ladies who have a passion for golf and a competitive drive.”

Black River Falls Regional
(from Wednesday, Sept. 28, at Skyline Golf Course in Black River Falls, par 72)
Team scores - 1. Lancaster 388; 2. Aquinas 399; 3. Arcadia/Independence 415; 4. Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau 417; 5. Wisconsin Dells 428; 6. Black River Falls 436; 7. Portage 443; 8. Westby/Viroqua 480; 9. Prairie du Chien 515.
Medalist - Brianna Kirsch (Lancaster) 81.
Lancaster - 1. Brianna Kirsch 41-40=81; T5. Kate McWilliams 54-43=97; T15. Paige Lolwing 54-50=104; 19. Evy Dhyanchand 54-52=106; 26. Lynell Miller 58-55=113.

WIAA D2 Black River Falls Regional
(from Wednesday, Sept. 28, at Skyline Golf Course in Black River Falls, par 72)
Team scores - 1. Lancaster 388; 2. Aquinas 399; 3. Arcadia/Independence 415; 4. Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau 417; 5. Wisconsin Dells 428; 6. Black River Falls 436; 7. Portage 443; 8. Westby/Viroqua 480; 9. Prairie du Chien 515.
Medalist - Brianna Kirsch (Lancaster) 81.
Lancaster - 1. Brianna Kirsch 41-40=81; T5. Kate McWilliams 54-43=97; T15. Paige Lolwing 54-50=104; 19. Evy Dhyanchand 54-52=106; 26. Lynell Miller 58-55=113.