The Lancaster varsity boys’ golf team came up short in their bid to repeat as the Southwest Wisconsin Conference champions last Tuesday.
Going into the 18-hole SWC Championship held at the Galena Golf Club, the Flying Arrows were a half point behind River Valley in the league standings.
Coach Brad Sturmer’s squad had to finish ahead of the Blackhawks in Tuesday’s meet if their bid to repeat as champions was to materialize.
By the time the scores were tallied and the final group had come in, the Flying Arrows were one stroke short of the Blackhwaks, who finished with a team score of 318.
Lancaster, who shot a 319 on the par-71 course, was led by senior Zach Hentrich and juniors Nathan Farrey and Andrew Gates, all three shooting a six-over-par round of 77.
Rounding out Lancaster’s score was freshman Josh Hentrich, who carded an 88.
With all conference points doubling at Tuesday’s meet, River Valley finished the year with 44.5 conference points, while Lancaster had 42.
In the individual conference race, Zach Hentrich, the two-time defending conference MVP, finished second to Dodgeville junior Chapin Orr.
Orr finished the year with 228 conference points and a conference average of 37.5.
Zach wasn’t far behind with 221 conference points and an average of 38.1.
Also finishing in the top five and earning a spot on the all-conference first-team squad was junior Nathan Farrey.
Farrey finished conference play with 206 points and an average of 39.9 to finish fourth in the conference standings.
Gates, who finished second in the conference standings a year ago, placed seventh this year to earn second-team all-conference honors with 188 points and an average of 41.1
Freshman Josh Hentrich came in 12th with 139.5 conference points and an average of 44.3 to earn honorable-mention honors.
This past Tuesday, the Flying Arrows began their quest for a return trip to the state meet by participating in the D3 Mineral Point Regional.
Next Tuesday is the Markesan Sectional, where Lancaster must finish among the top two teams in order to get back to University Ridge.
SWC Tournament
(from Tuesday, May 21, at the Galena Golf Club, par 71)
Team scores - 1. River Valley 318; 2. Lancaster 319; 3. Dodgeville 342; 4. Platteville 363; 5. Prairie du Chien 396.
Top 5 - 1. Graham Westley (River Valley) 37-37=74; 2. Chapin Orr (Dodgeville) 34-42=76; 3. (tie) Zach Hentrich (Lancaster) 38-39-77, Nathan Farrey (Lancaster) 36-41=77, Andrew Gates (Lancaster) 36-41=77.
Lancaster - 3. (tie) Zach Hentrich 38-39=77; 3. (tie) Nathan Farrey 36-41=77; 3. (tie) Andrew Gates 36-41=77; 12. (tie) Josh Hentrich 42-46=88.
SWC All-Conference Golf
First Team
Chapin Orr Dodgeville 228
Zach Hentrich Lancaster 221
Graham Westley River Valley 206.5
Nathan Farrey Lancaster 206
Alex Wedige River Valley 203.5
Second Team
Anders Wermuth River Valley 191
Andrew Gates Lancaster 188
Josh Beck Platteville 181
Steven Stadler Dodgeville 178.5
Nate Hottmann Dodgeville 147.5
Honorable Mention
Dan Adamany PdC 146
Josh Hentrich Lancaster 139.5
Nate Stram PdC 136.5
Derek Wedige River Valley 136
Everett Ellingson Platteville 133
SWC Final Standings
River Valley....................44.5
Lancaster.......................42.0
Dodgeville......................33.5
Platteville.......................21.5
Prairie du Chien.............18.5
Richland Center...............inc.