By Chris Bennett
Correspondent
The Elkhorn Area High School boys golf team improved last week, even if the team is perhaps not elated over the scores posted in competition.
The Elks finished sixth in the Falcon Invitational April 16 at Brighton Dale Links in Kansasville and fifth April 13 in the Walworth County Invitational at Hawk’s View Golf Club in Lake Geneva.
Elkhorn competed Monday in the Geneva National Invitational at Geneva National Golf Club in Lake Geneva and Tuesday in the season’s first Southern Lakes Conference Mini-Major at Rivermoor Golf Club in Waterford.
Elks coach Steve Fisher said the pack set a blistering pace at Brighton Dale Links in the two-man best ball format.
Two golfers from the same team are paired in such a format. The two each play the hole, and the best score is counted.
“Some of those scores were super,” Fisher said. “There were some really good scores, and that’s not a terribly easy course, either. They were playing really well. Our kids played solid.”
Freshmen Kyle Schoeneberg and Liam Ahler led the Elks with a 45. Troy Steinfest and Grady Welsh finished with a 46 and Alex Balestriei and Robby Meuret carded a 47.
“Kyle and Liam, I was very happy with their score,” Fisher said. “For being freshmen, and both still being new to the program, I’m very pleased with their score.
“They’re two kids, and I’m still getting to know them, they’re just kind of detached, from what I’ve seen. Not too high, or too low – they just kind of stay in the moment.”
The Elks finished with a team score of 138. Wilmot won with a team score of 116. Waterford finished second (119) and Westosha Central and Union Grove tied for third (122). Burlington finished fifth (136). The Demons’ Brian Dankle & Justin Meseberg won individual medalist honors (34).
Elkhorn finished fifth in the Walworth County Invitational with a team score of 407. Steinfest finished sixth with an 87 and medaled.
“We would like to have been maybe one higher, up to fourth, or even third, but Hawk’s View is always a challenge for us, as it is for most teams,” Fisher said.
Fisher said conditions were breezy that day, which are only amplified in Hawk’s View’s open layout.
“It definitely makes things different when the conditions are like that, but they were the same for everybody,” Fisher said.
Balestrieri finished at 98 and Schoenberg shot a 108. Brett Schmieden carded a 114 and Jake Trewyn battled back trouble and posted a 114.
Fisher said Balestrieri breaking 100 pleased him, and added that Schoenberg did well for his first time playing the course in what also was his first varsity round.
“Some kids look at that course and it can eat you up, mentally,” Fisher said. “He did a solid job.”
In team standings, Badger finished first (322). Delavan-Darien finished second (374), Big Foot third (392) and Williams Bay fourth (402). East Troy finished sixth (424) and Whitewater seventh (454). Williams Bay’s Grant Germano won individual medalist honors (77).
Elkhorn competes Saturday in an invitational at Brighton Dale Links.
