Last Monday (May 2) the Bluejays competed in a JV match at the Tribute Golf Course in Wausau. Wausau West won the meet with a team score of 170. Merrill had three players compete whose results included solid scores from Wesley Mcintyre (51), Mitchael Cammack (52) and Travis Wright (52).
On Tuesday (May 3), the varsity team competed in the second leg of the Valley Conference tournament at the Ridges Golf Course in Wisconsin Rapids. The Bluejays finished sixth, edging out Rapids by one shot with a team total of 391. The Bluejay scorers included a solid round by Senior Tanner Pettit (44-41=85) on the tight Ridges course. The medalist score came from Max Bancher from SPASH with 77. Other Merrill scores included Junior Tad Pike (47-48=95), Freshman Hunter Wallace (48-51=99) and Senior Connor Kleinschmidt (56-56=112).
Last Friday, the third leg of the conference tournament was hosted by SPASH at the Stevens Point Country Club. The Bluejays once again finished sixth, one shot ahead of Rapids while shooting a team improvement score of 375. Leading the Bluejays was Hunter Wallace with a solid 43-43=86, Tanner Pettit (45-46=91), Tad Pike (44-54=98), Connor Kleinschmdt (51-49=100) and newcomer to the game Senior Brian Root (62-65=127). Tad made a nice comeback on the back nine of his round with a 44, while Hunter and Tanner continue to improve their scores and play good competitive golf. The new players to the team this year are working hard to improve, including Brian Root who was willing to take on the challenge of the Valley’s tough courses.
“I am pleased how the team is getting along,” comments head golf coach Joe Mertens. “And how they are committing to practice and how they continue to support each other through the good and the bad scores that golf naturally offers. Next week’s matches include two JV meets, one in Merrill and one at Indianhead in Wausau, and two varsity conference matches in Wausau, the first at Greenwood Hills and the second at Wausau Country Club. On Saturday, May 14 the Bluejays host a 10 team invitational at the Merrill Public Golf Course.”