Led by Braden Mueller’s third-place finish, the Shawano Community High School boys golf team finished second Friday in the Spartan Invitational at NorthBrook Country Club in Luxemburg.
The Hawks (346) finished three strokes ahead of third-place Oconto Falls. Marinette (329) won the tournament.
“For us, we kind of like to use it as a warm-up for the regional,” Shawano coach Dean Kugler said. “Sit around for a whole week, that’s not going to do you any good. We keep playing and competing. That’s why we do it.”
The Hawks will compete in the WIAA Division 1 regional Tuesday at Reid Municipal Golf Course in Appleton. Qualifiers will move on to the sectional June 4 at Thornberry Creek at Oneida.
Mueller, a junior, shot a 78 Friday. Senior Ian Lewis came in a shot back, at 79, finishing fifth.
“They should finish in the high 70s,” Kugler said. “Seven over par, eight over par, for those guys, that’s about right. They shot about what they normally do, and then the other guys went back up to over-bogey golf, which for us just doesn’t get it done.”
Garret Schlise and Cole Huntington, who played well in Tuesday’s Bay Conference tournament, faded a bit, coming in at 97 Friday. Ryan Hoffman had the third-best score on the team, carding a 92.
“We’ve kind of dealt with that all year, up and down, up and down,” Kugler said. “That’s golf. One day you’re good and the next you don’t play as well.
“Hopefully that means Tuesday they’ll be ready to go.”
Kugler said the temperatures in the 70s were a welcome change after a season of rain and cold.
“It was nice to actually be out in shorts,” Kugler said. “I think the guys enjoy it. The warm weather is so much better. The ball travels better. Everything is nicer.”
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