VERONA — Platteville sophomore Cole Herbst made the most out of his first trip to last week’s WIAA Boys Golf State Championships.
The reigning two-time Southwest Wisconsin Conference Player of the Year shot a two-day total of 158 — posting back-to-back 79s — to finish tied for 12th place in Division 2 last Monday and Tuesday at University Ridge Golf Course. Herbst also finished in a five-way tie for most birdies in the 45-player Division 2 field with seven.
“It was a great experience for Cole at the state golf tournament,” said Platteville head coach Brandon Temperly. “He had a good showing as a sophomore on his first trip to an event like this. He will take away a lot of information and experience that can help him in future years. He made the team and coaches very proud and he had a very good following at the golf tournament. I was very pleased with his demeanor and attitude. He was steady when things were going well and steady when things weren’t going his way. We look forward to a bright future for Cole.”
Herbst began last Monday’s opening round on the back nine, and posted a sensational 3-over-par 39, which included three birdies in his first five holes.
He added another birdie on hole number 2 to go to +2, but took an 8 on the par 4 4th. Herbst kept his composure and birdied the 379-yard par 4 7th hole and ended his day with a 7-over-par 79 (40–39), which was tied for ninth after the opening round.
Herbst opened Tuesday’s second round with three pars, a triple bogey and back-to-back bogeys on No. 5 and No. 6 to start +5 for the day.
But again, he calmed his nerves and finished strong with birdies on 7 and 11, to go along with seven pars while playing the final 13 holes at 3-over par to finish with another 79 (40–39).
Seymour junior Vince Sigl (147, +3) beat Cambridge senior Kian Bystol Flores (147, +3) on a one-hole playoff 4–5 to capture individual state medalist honors after the two tied two-day totals of 147.
Cambridge freshman Fritz Knudtson finished third at +6 (147=74-76).
Seymour shot a combined 638 (+62) to beat Cambridge (653, +77) to win the D2 state title. Big Foot finished third at +81, 657.
Last week’s State Championships marks the end of another success season for the Platteville Hillmen, which included a third-straight SWC title, a trip to sectionals, a SWC Player of the Year award and four all-conference selections.
“Our Hillmen golf team had another good season,” added Temperly. “ We achieved our goals of being SWC champions and earning a trip to sectionals. We were very pleased with the improvement we saw in each of the golfers this year. It was a focused and fun group. We will bring back a lot of talent next season and add some new players to our program which is exciting.”
All five varsity golfers will return next year with Herbst, juniors Jauron Blevins and Glenn Mast, and freshman Ty Simmons and Cody Nodolf.
Big things await Cole Herbst and the Hillmen in 2026.
WIAA Division 2 State Golf Championships
(from Monday–Tuesday, June 9–10 @ University Ridge Golf Course, Verona, par 72)
Team scores — 1.Semour 638 (+62), 2.Big Foot 653 (+77), 3.Big Foot 657 (+81), 4.Lakeland 665 (+89), 5.Burlington Catholic Central 667 (+91), 6.University School of Milwaukee 671 (+95), 7.Prescott 675 (+99), 8.Appleton Xavier 681 (+105).
Top individuals — 1(tie).Kian Bystol Flores (Cambridge) 147 (74-73), 1(tie).Vince Sigl (Seymour) 147 (75-72). 3.Fritz Knudtson (Cambridge) 150 (74-76), 4.Tyler Short (Big Foot) 151 (76-75), 5.Tyler Reiter (Prescott) 152 (75-77).
Platteville — 12(tie).Cole Herbst 158 (79-79) +14.
