SPRING GREEN — Another day, another lineup, another victory.
Sophomore Cade Rohrbach fired a 4-over-par 76 to lead three Hillmen in the top five as Platteville dominated the River Valley Invitational on Saturday.
The Hillmen shot a combined 328 to win the nine-team Division 1 title by 14 strokes ahead of Fort Atkinson (342) at the House on the Rock Resort. The host Blackhawks shot a 349 to finish third. Argyle/Pecatonica won the Division 2 team title with a score of 350, seven strokes better than D2 runner-up Barneveld (357). Iowa–Grant finished tied for sixth in D2 with a 433.
Rohrbach led the way with his season-low 18-hole round. Senior Alex Traxler shot a 5-over-par 76 to finish second individually and sophomore Isaiah Altfillish shot an 81 to finish in a four-way tie for fourth place with Richland Center’s Cody Kintz, River Valley’s Derek Wedige and Fort Atkinson’s Mason Kent.
Sophomore Andy Eggers joined the varsity lineup on Saturday and shot a 94 to round out Platteville’s four-man score. Senior Will Simmons returned to the varsity lineup and shot a non-counting 107.
“Coach [Brandon] Temperly and I have had several conversations about the depth of this team,” said Platteville head coach John Sponsler. “Having a minimum of 10 players with the ability to shoot 50 or better for nine holes, eight that can break 45, and five that can go sub-40 will allow us to stay in many conference competitions. The players play loose but focused which is really a veteran way to play. As long as they continue to work hard, learn from mistakes and fight to get better, I’m proud of whatever accolades they earn.”
Sponsler’s Hillmen already hold a three-point lead on River Valley, 12–9, in the Southwest Wisconsin Conference standings through two events. Thursday’s SWC meet at Dodgeville was postponed due to rain and will be made up Monday afternoon. Platteville will return to action Thursday at an SWC meet at Richland Center before traveling to the Viroqua Invitational on Saturday. The Hillmen will host an SWC meet Tuesday afternoon.
“The season has been fantastic,” added Sponsler. “The coaching staff is extremely grateful for the maturity of our group and their willingness to learn. Of course, winning is fun and we’re celebrating our early success, but the game of golf is known to be fickle so we are preparing with purpose and improving every day.
Peat has been the shining star for the Panthers all season long. Saturday, he shot a 10-over-par 82 to lead Iowa–Grant at the River Valley Invite. Senior Chad Thomas shot 100, junior Carley Rider 125 and junoir Jackson Vigen a 126 to round out I–G’s team score. Sophomore Alex Zimmer shot a non-counting 133.
Peat posted a season-best for nine holes with 2-over-par 38 to win medalist honors at Friday’s Southwestern Wisconsin Activities League meet at Darlington. Thomas shot a 47, senior Ron Allen finished with a 53 and Rider had a 54.
The Panthers shot a combined 192 and finished sixth out of eight team. Iowa–Grant is now in seventh-place in the SWAL standings with seven points through three of seven regular season meets. The SWAL Championship meet will be held May 16 at the Platteville Golf & Country Club.
Monday’s SWAL meet at Deer Valley Golf Course near Barneveld was rained out and will be made on May 22. The Panthers will return to action Thursday at a SWAL meet at Mineral Point’s Dodge–Point Golf Course. I–G will then participate in the Viroqua Invitational on Saturday before returning to SWAL action Monday at Fennimore.
River Valley Invitational
(from Saturday, April 29 @ House on the Rock Resort, par 72)
Division 1 team scores — 1.Platteville 328, 2.Fort Atkinson 342, 3.River Valley 349, 4.Sauk Prairie 360, 5.Portage 363, 6.Dodgeville 382, 7.Westby 388, 8.Richland Center 405, 9.Viroqua inc.
Division 2 team scores — 1.Argyle/Pecatonica 350, 2.Barneveld 357, 3.Mineral Point 358, 4.Lancaster 397, 5.Southwestern/Benton 424, 6(tie).Iowa–Grant 433, 6(tie).Darlington 433, 8.Wisconsin Heights Inc.
Top individuals — 1.Cade Rohrbach (Pla) 76, 2.Alex Traxler (Pla) 77, 3(tie).Josh Hentrich (Lan) 80, 3(tie).Matt Amarose (Argyle/Pec) 80, 4(tie).Isaiah Altfillisch (Pla) 81, Cody Kintz (RC) 81, Mason Kent (FA) 81, Derek Wedige (RV) 81.
Platteville (328) — Cade Rohrbach 76, Alex Traxler 77, Isaiah Altfillisch 81, Andy Eggers 94, Will Simmons 107.
Iowa–Grant (433) — Brady Peat 82, Chad Thomas 100, Carley Rider 125, Jackson Vigen 126, Alex Zimmer 133.
Darlington SWAL #3
(from Friday, April 27 @ Darlington CC, par 36)
Team scores — Barneveld 178, Argyle/Pecatonica 183, Mineral Point 187, Fennimore 187, Cuba City 190, Iowa–Grant 192, Darlington 200, Southwestern 204.
Top individuals — 1(tie).Brady Peat (IG) 38, 2.Needham (Fen) 40, 3.Amarose (A/P) 41, 4.Six players tied 43.
Iowa–Grant (192) — Brady Peat 38, Chad Thomas 47, Ron Allen 53, Carley Rider 54, Easton Dobson 55.
SWAL standings — Mineral Point 21.5, Argyle/Pecatonica 20, Barneveld 20, Cuba City 14.5, Fennimore 14, Darlington 8, Iowa–Grant 7, Southwestern/Benton 3.
