The Merrill golfers saw their team chances come to an end at Wednesday’s WIAA Wausau West Regional at Greenwood Hills C.C., although two individuals will have at least one more chance to hit the links.
The Jays had grabbed the runner-up spot in the Valley this year, but Marshfield, Wausau West and D.C. Everest all vaulted past them for the last three sectional-qualifying spots at regional, putting MHS in fifth.
WVC champ SPASH also captured the overall regional title and three of the top five individual placings, including junior Trevor Thomas’ three-stroke win (34-38-72).
“The Bluejays as a whole did not play as well as they are capable of, while the other teams of D.C.E. and Wausau West played very good thus appropriately advancing to sectional play,” MHS coach Joe Mertens said. “The boys are disappointed of course, but are encouraged with Max and Mike advancing to sectionals and representing our Bluejay team.
Merrill freshman Max Baranczyk, who finished 8th overall, grabbed the top individual spot for a member of a non-qualifying team with his 42-39-81. Junior Mike Pagel ended up tied for 15th and took the third of four individual spots with his 46-42-88, one stroke behind Antigo’s Tony Lehrum.
Other Merrill golfer scores came from: senior Coty Guenther (46-45-91), senior Mitchell Finnegan (47-50-97) and junior Philip Guenther (47-50-97). C. Guenther placed 21st of 40 golfers, and Finnegan and P. Guenther were tied for 28th.
“While the Bluejays will not be moving on as a team, they know they have had a very good year finishing second in conference, and taking the Bluejay Invitational and Wausau City Meet titles. Next year, four of the top six varsity golfers will be back again. We’re losing Coty and Mitchell, and our JV prospects for adding to that varsity team look promising for the Bluejays to continue the good play within the Valley for the 2014 season.”
Team standings-SPA­SH 309, Marshfield 331, Wausau West 341, D.C. Everest 342, Merrill 356, Wausau East 366, Antigo 373, Rhinelander 409.