Middleton golfers finish sixth at state
KOHLER — Six weeks ago, when Middleton’s boys golf team was struggling, Cardinals coach Tom Cabalka didn’t know if a trip to state was possible for his team.
Three weeks ago, when Middleton was a distant second to Madison Memorial at the Big Eight Conference meet, Cardinals senior Alec Sosnowski wasn’t overly confident that his team was ready for the postseason.
So late Tuesday afternoon, after Middleton finished sixth at the WIAA Division 1 state meet held at Blackwolf Run, the Cardinals weren’t lamenting the fact they had their ups and downs at this two-day tournament. Instead, Middleton was thrilled its journey ended with a trip to this magnificent venue that consistently ranks among “America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses.”
“I think our kids were very excited to be here,” Cabalka said. “It was certainly in doubt throughout most of the season. So, it was a big, neat deal that they could get through sectionals.”
Sosnowski agreed.
“We all had our slumps and sometimes they were at the wrong time,” he said. “But we made it here and we all got out of our slumps at the right time.”
Eau Claire Memorial rallied on the final nine and won the tournament with a two-day score of 608. Kettle Moraine, the 2021 champions, finished a close second at 611.
Marquette (618), Lakeland (625) and Sheboygan North (625) rounded out the top five.
Middleton, which captured regional and sectional championships after an up-and-down regular season, finished with a 629.
“I thought we were hot after regionals and sectionals,” Sosnowski said. “This wasn’t our best play, but we finished pretty respectable.”
Middleton sophomore Charlie Jambor was the Cardinals’ top finisher, placing 18th individually with a 153. Jambor was rock solid both days, carding a 78 in Monday’s driving rain and bettering that with a 75 on a gorgeous second day.
“Off the tee, I was a lot more consistent,” Jambor said. “I was hitting fairways. When you hit fairways you can go at pins. It makes it a lot easier.”
Sosnowski, who play continue his golf career at UW-Eau Claire next season, tied for 29th individually with a 157. Sosnowski carded an opening round 80, then followed that with a second-day 77.
“I was hoping for a little better,” Sosnowski said. “It was nothing special, but it was fun. And it was a good place to end my high school career.”
Sophomore Dain Johnson finished in 44th place with a 161 (82-79). And Middleton counted an opening round 75 from junior Robby Warda and a second-day 83 from junior Drew Sjowall.
“I’m certainly very proud of the way our kids performed and hung in there through some adversity,” Cabalka said. “Getting here was a treat. So, it was a good two days for us.”
It certainly didn't start well.
On the first hole Monday, the Cardinals’ five golfers combined to shoot 11-over-par. Johnson had the worst of it, taking a 10 on the 349-yard, par-4 hole.
But Middleton battled through the conditions and worked its way back into contention. Johnson played the next eight holes at even par, while Sosnowski and Jambor played them at +1 and Warda was +2. That allowed the Cardinals to shoot 155 on the front nine and surge into a third-place tie, just four shots back of first place Lakeland.
“They really fought back after that start,” Cabalka said.
Middleton continued to hang near the top of the leaderboard, thanks in large part to Warda who birdied No. 10 and 11 and was just 2-over-par through 15.
“Robby’s round was fantastic” Cabalka said. “It was great to see him do that and build up his confidence. That was great.”
Over the last three holes, though, Middleton shot 8-over-par which sent it into a fourth place tie. Lakeland led after Round 1 with a 304, while Kettle Moraine (307), Eau Claire Memorial (310) and both Middleton and Marquette (315) rounded out the top five.
“That really killed us,” Jambor said of Middleton’s finish on Monday. “If we gave up just half of those shots ...”
Cabalka agreed.
“The last three holes (Monday) really hurt us,” Cabalka said. “Coming back from 11 down isn’t impossible, but we had to play our absolute best golf. We didn't play badly (Tuesday), but we didn’t play well enough.”
No they didn’t.
Jambor continued his stellar tournament by shooting an even-par on the front nine. Jambor took a double bogey at the par-5, 11th hole, but righted the ship and finished with a 75.
“It was nice to have Charlie play well both days,” Cabalka said. “He’s really coming along and he’s going to get better because he works at it. He really takes the game very seriously.”
Sosnowski made consecutive birdies at No. 4 and 5 and seemed poised for a big day. But his card also included a double bogey and five bogeys as he finished with a 77.
Johnson was terrific on the front nine and carded an even-par 36. But he had a quadruple bogey at the par-3, 15th and eventually settled for a 77.
And Sjowall struggled on the back nine (44) after playing a terrific front (39) and finished with an 83.
“We were kind of like this,” Jambor said, while turning his hand up and down. “We were a little bit of a roller coaster. But I’m glad we turned it around at the end of the year. This wasn't our best golf, but it was great to be here.”
It could be an appetizer for 2023, as well.
Middleton will return four of its top five golfers and is expected to get a huge boost from a group of freshmen that has already done big things on the junior tour. Meanwhile the five teams that finished in front of the Cardinals will lose an average of 2.0 seniors.
“They should be really good next year,” Sosnowski said. “They should be a team to really look out for.”
Cabalka agreed with Sosnowski.
“It should be a really strong group,” he said. “I think a couple of these guys know they need to work extremely hard this summer, which keeps our program going when they see younger kids coming. They realize, ‘Hey, I’ve got to go. I’ve got to go.’ But it should help make next year a lot of fun.”
June 7
WIAA Division 1 state tournament
At Blackwolf Run, Kohler
Team scores: 1, Eau Claire Memorial 310-298—608; 2, Kettle Moraine 307-304—611; 3, Marquette 315-303—618; 4, Sheboygan North 324-301 — 625 and Lakeland 304-321—625; 6, Middleton 315-314—629; 7, Madison Memorial 317-322—639 and Homestead 318-321—639; 9, DePere 335-323—658; 10, Janesville Craig 333-328—661; 11, Ashwaubenon 344-320—664; 12, Wauwatosa East/West 353-315—668; 13, Union Grove 337-333—670; 14, Fond du Lac 333-342—675; 15, Brookfield East 347-337—684; 16, DeForest 350-340-690.
Top 5 individuals: 1, Will Schlitz, ECM 76-69—145; 2, Mason Schmidtke, SN 73-73—146; 3, Rasmus Madsen, AN, 79-68—147; 4, Mason Frohna, KM 74-74—148; Ryan Darling, ND, 71-77—148; and Alex Koenig, KM, 70-78—148.
Middleton scores: Charlie Jambor 78-75—153; Alec Sosnowski 80-77—157; Dain Johnson 82-79—161; Robby Warda 75-88—163; Drew Sjowall 88-83—171.
