Golfers eager to improve

The Colby Hornets golf program travelled to ne of the premier golf course in the entire state of Wisconsin on Monday, and pitted themselves against the challenge of the course and the challenge of their rivals in the Cloverbelt.

“Eau Claire Country Club is a private course that we have the privilege to be able to play on,” Colby head coach Brandon Butkus said. “It is one of the more premier courses in our area and comes with some difficulty.”

The course and fellow golfers were not the only challenges the Hornets faced on Monday. Although the calendar claims this is the month of May, conditions were more on par with early spring, with temps in the lower 50’s, and a breeze that swept through the course at over 15 miles per hour.

Butkus said the course was in excellent condition, but played very fast and that the rolling hills and unique features posed more than a few questions for the Hornets to navigate through.

“There is a lot of slope to the course (hilly). The course is set up very nice, greens are extremely fast, Fairways are mowed like the greens and the rough is extremely thick and deep.”

Once again, it would be the McDonell/ Regis Saints who proved victorious, topping Marshfield Columbus/Spencer 337 to 389 strokes.

Colby and Thorp tied for ninth with 521 strokes apiece. Senior Jaden Underwood carded the best score among the Hornets with a tally of 125 strokes for 43rd.

Carson Rau was not that far from Underwood, and he very nearly finished first among all Hornets earning 45th place with 125 stroke - just two shy of Underwood.

Maggie Sobeck has been steadily improving as the season has progressed, and she finished third on the team on Monday, tallying 134 strokes to finish inside the top 50 at 48th overall.

Justin Hill was 51st at Eau Claire, finishing with 139 strokes, and Tony Derrico was fifth man on the team, finishing 54th overall with 178 strokes.

The Hornets enjoyed the challenge, Butkus said after the match, as well as the privilege of being on such a great golf course, but are eager to lower their scores and improve their games.

“We didn’t fair very well at this match but look for improvements at the Marshfi eld County Club.”