of sectional-qualifying teams, leaving the ….

of sectional-qualifying teams, leaving the door open for the next wave of golfers to punch their sectional tickets. Nick Krueger of Northland Pines was the top qualifier, tying for ninth with his 83.

Rice Lake’s Bergen Resnick shot an 85 and qualified with his team. Heckel and Hayward’s Gibson Walsh got individual spots two and three, with Heckel being considered the second qualifier due to his 41 on the back nine. Walsh shot a 46 on the back nine.

Heckel’s round included seven pars, including three in a row to close out the round, and a birdie on the par-3 14th.

“Caleb Heckel made tons of long par putts on the back nine,” Vaara said. “On the last three holes he made three clutch par putts. Just clutch. The last hole, he had a bomb to make for par. I knew that was going to be the one. He still would’ve made it with a bogey, but we don’t know that at the time. To end it like that was pretty cool and we all got to watch it.”

Lingen’s 86 put him alone in 15th place overall and in the fourth and final sectional-qualifying spot. He shot a 44 on the front nine and lowered that to a 42 on the back nine. Lingen, a freshman, also parred the last three holes, added three more pars on the front nine and birdied the par-4 13th hole.

Freshman Riley Viergutz equaled his 90 (47-43) from May 20 on the course and was part of a five-way tie for 19th overall. He carded sixes or better on every hole but one, including a par on the par-5 ninth hole and pars on the last three holes.

“Connor played well,” Vaara said. “Riley Viergutz shot a 90, that’s really good for him. He’s getting good. He’s getting better.”

Sophomore Lucas Liske recovered from a rough start with a strong 39 on the back nine and finished with a 91. His 3-over-par back nine included four pars and a birdie on the par-4 15th. Senior Colton Gowey closed his year with a 97 (47-50) that included a birdie on the par-5 ninth and a par on the par-5 11th.

Northwestern junior Trent Meyer won the individual title on his home course with a 1-under-par 71. He was one shot ahead of Lakeland’s Matt Haggart and Kaeden Nomm. T-Bird Cody Olson was fourth with a 76, one shot ahead of Rice Lake’s Braeden Resnick.

Hayward finished sixth in the team standings at 364, outscoring Northland Pines (366), Ashland (380) and Tomahawk (424).

The sectional meet in Black River Falls will start at 9 a.m. The top two teams and top three individuals from non-qualifying teams will advance to state, which is set for June 14-15 at Trappers Turn in Wisconsin Dells.

“They’re going to have to shoot light’s out, no question about it,” Vaara said. “There’s so many good players. Hey, you could have the round of your life and that’s what I tell them. Don’t think that you have to make birdies on every hole. You just have to play golf and try to hit good shots. If it happens, it happens. They’re not 70s players, but they’ve gotten better throughout the year. If they throw a 78 or 79 out there, it might happen. I’ve seen stranger things happen before.”