MHS golfers gunning for gold
They waited 52 weeks for this moment.
When it finally arrived, Middleton’s boys golf team wasn’t going to let it slip away.
The Cardinals shot a sizzling 301 and won the Madison Memorial Sectional held at Blackhawk Country Club on May 29. Waunakee was a distant second with a 313 and earned the second trip to state.
One year ago, Middleton tied for second place at the Waunakee Sectional, but lost a playoff to Holmen for the final state berth. So this year provided sweet redemption for the Cardinals.
“The guys had been focused on this day since last year's sectional when things didn't go particularly well for us,” Middleton coach Tom Cabalka said. “They were not about to have a repeat day.
“Moving on to state is a great accomplishment and the guys were quite excited. Playing really well right from the start of their day, it was a pretty relaxed round of golf. What was most impressive was how smart they played.”
Middleton senior Dain Johnson and sophomore Reis Von Ruden tied for first place with even-par 72s. Johnson then defeated Von Ruden for medalist honors on the first playoff hole.
Sophomore Luke Weiss tied for ninth individually with a 78, while sophomore Sammy Forslund tied for 11th with a 79.
“Blackhawk can be a very difficult course if you are not playing from the fairways and hitting from the trees,” Cabalka said. “Club selection is important not only off the tee, but also approach shots to the greens and leaving the ball in good spots.
“When some of our shots found the trees, they played intelligently by getting it back in the fairway and not taking chances by forcing shots and possibly finding more problems. A bogey is sometimes a good score. They did a really good job of eliminating the double bogey and only recorded two of those (as a team).”
Johnson made back-to-back birdies at No. 3 and 4 — a pair of par-4s — and fired a 1-under, 35 on the front nine. He made birdies on No. 10 and 15, as well, and moved as low as 2-under, before finishing with an even-par 72.
Von Ruden made three birdies on the front nine and shot an even-par, 36. On the back nine, he made a birdie at No. 11, seven pars and a bogey and finished at even par.
On the playoff hole, both MHS standouts reached the par-5, 13th hole in three shots. Johnson then drained an 18-foot birdie putt, while Von Ruden’s birdie putt lipped out.
“Dain and Reis both had great rounds,” Cabalka said. “Their playoff for first place was fun because it wasn't played to eliminate (one) from going to state.
“Both Dain and Reis have played some great golf for the last month, and taken their game to a new level, which is a big reason why our team score has improved.”
Weiss had an up-and-down front nine where he shot 41. He played much better on the back with a pair of birdies and finished with a 1-over, 37, on his second nine.
Forslund also shot a 41 on the front, then carded a pair of birdies on the back, where he fired a 38 and finished with a 79.
“Luke and Sammy have been very consistent all season,” Cabalka said. “Sammy has not shot a round all season in the 80's. Our team strength is all five players are capable of having their score count if one of them has a difficult day.”
Middleton, ranked second in the latest Golf Coaches Association of Wisconsin poll, now takes aim at its first state title since 2011.
The field appears wide open with top-ranked Waukesha North a slight favorite, but others like Middleton, Marquette, Waunakee, Janesville Craig and Menomonee Falls could all challenge for a title.
“This year the state is loaded with many great teams, more than I can remember,” Cabalka said. “We go to state with loads of confidence knowing that if we play smart golf and with good swings we can certainly be in the hunt to be the best.”
