MCDONALD'S SWNEWS4U.COM GAME OF THE WEEK (May 19–26)
BOYS GOLF: SWAL Conference Meet
By Casey Lindecrantz, Tri-County Press
Cubans end Pointers’ 10-year reign as SWAL champion
NEW GLARUS — When the Cuba City/Benton/Southwestern Boys golf team upset Mineral Point in last season’s final mini-meet at Darlington, they could smell blood in the water.
Fast forward one season, and CC/B/S ran the table on this year's SWAL regular seaon mini-meets, needing to only finish without a pair of disqualifications at the SWAL Conference Championship meet at Edewiss Chalet Country Club last, May 19.
The Cubans did the exact opposite, blasting ahead as they carded a 313 team score, to officially end Mineral Point's 10-year reign as SWAL boys golf champion.
The Pointers finished runners up at 336 ahead of Barneveld (345), Darlington (364), and Argyle/Pecatonica (366). Iowa–Grant completed all scoring efforts with 441 for sixth.
CC/B/SW crowded the top-5 individually as well, despite the first two spots going to Drew Aschliman (MP, 71) and Avari Steiner (A/P, 74).
Senior Ben Thill led the way from third at 75, with junior Levi Johns a stroke back. Fellow junior Landon Loeffelholz rounded out the top-5 at 78.
Isaac Wiegman’s 84 placed him at eighth, with Hudson Kieler (T-11th, 88) two strokes back from tying for 11th on the day.
The end result was the Cubans scoring an unmarred 63 team points ahead of Mineral Point (48.5) and Barneveld (44). A/P cleaned house from fourth (37.5), leading the Redbirds (32) and Panthers (16).
CC/SW/B earned a team title plaque for its troubles — its first as a co-op, and Cuba City’s first since 2012.
During this year’s preview for the team and conference, CC/SW/B head coach had this to say of the top teams in the conference.
“The Cubans have the goal of winning the conference this year,” CC/SW/B head coach Dustin Hamm said during this year’s preview for the team and conference. “When this group is on, they are going to be a tough team to beat. Mineral Point has had 10 consecutive conference championships — a historic feat — and we are looking to end that streak this year. These guys are hungry, and ready to take it to Mineral Point this season.”
Cuba City/Benton/Southwestern was back in action Tuesday, shooting a combined 329 to place third at the 10-team WIAA Division 2 Monroe Regional at the Monroe Golf Club behind SWC champion Platteville (318) and Lancaster (327).
The top four teams, and top four individuals not on a qualifying team, advance to the Tuesday’s WIAA D2 New Glarus Sectional at Edleweiss Chalet Country Club.
SWAL Championships
(from Tuesday, May 19 @ Edelweiss Chalet Country Club, par 72)
Team scores — 1.Cuba City/Southwestern/Benton 313, 2.Mineral Point 336, 3.Barneveld 345, 4.Darlington 364, 5.Argyle/Pecatonica 366, 6.Iowa–Grant 441, 7.Fennimore DNQ.
Final SWAL standings — 1.Cuba City/Southwestern/Benton 63, 2.Mineral Point 48.5, 3.Barneveld 44, 4.Argyle/Pecatonica 37.5, 5.Darlington 32, 6.Iowa–Grant 18, Fennimore 0.
Top individuals — 1.Drew Aschliman (MP) 71, 2.Avari Steiner (A/P) 74, 3.Ben Thill (CC/B/S) 75, 4.Levi Johns (CC/B/S) 76, 5.Landon Loeffelholz (CC/B/S) 78.
Cuba City/Benton/Southwestern (313) — 3.Ben Thill 75, 4.Levi Johns 76, 5.Landon Loeffelholz 78, 8.Isaac Wiegman 84, 11.Hudson Kieler 88.
Final Individual SWAL standings
1st Team All-SWAL — 1.Drew Aschliman (MP) 301.5, 2.Ben Thill (CC/S/B) 296.5, 3.Isaac Wiegman (CC/S/B) 268.5, 4.Gaige Godfrey (MP) 266, 5.Avari Steiner (A/P) 259.
2nd Team All-SWAL — 6.Landon Loeffelholz (CC/S/B) 257.5, 7.Levi Johns (CC/S/B) 254, 8.Jud Poad (Barn) 238, 9.Noah Doescher (Barn) 228.5, 10.Hudson Kieler (CC/S/B) 228.5.
3rd Team All-SWAL — 11.Will Pechan (Barn) 211, 12.Colton Christensen (Barn) 189, 13.Blaze White (Dar) 186.5, 14.Cohlman Schlimgen (A/P) 186, 15.Broker Buschor (Dar) 163.5.
