It has been a methodical climb for Braden Mueller.
The Shawano Community High School junior golfer qualified for the WIAA Division 1 sectionals as a freshman, finished in the top 10 at sectionals as a sophomore and this year qualified for the state meet Monday and Tuesday at University Ridge Golf Course in Madison.
Mueller shot an 85 Monday and then brought his score down to 79 Tuesday, finishing at 164 and in 60th place.
“I thought I did pretty good, considering the conditions of the course,” Mueller said. “It’s probably the nicest course I’ve ever played on. It was fun.”
Mueller said he liked the fairways, and the greens were perfect, a little too perfect.
“It’s a little different putting on those greens,” he said. “I could have easily shot much lower, but the putting got to me.”
He said figuring out those greens helped bring his score down Tuesday.
“I think he started to make putts today,” Shawano coach Dean Kugler said. “Yesterday, a couple of shots were in the wrong place. Today he was in the right place. He played on the short side of the green a little better, that sort of thing.”
The issue on the greens didn’t crop up in a practice session Sunday.
“Nothing was straight in,” Kugler said. “Every shot had a slope here and a slope there. Just not what we’re used to seeing.”
Making his first trip to state, Mueller was surprised most by the crowds.
“Probably the coolest thing is all the people that come and watch,” Mueller said. “There were a lot of people there. It was very cool to see.”
“This was a learning experience for me as well,” Kugler said. “It was fun to be able to see guys hitting shots and people watching.”
There were also a lot of good golfers. Oak Creek’s Kaylor Steger won the meet, shooting 142 (68, 74) over the two days. Homestead won as a team, shooting 618 to edge out Green Bay Notre Dame Academy (619) and Eau Claire Memorial (624).
“Just really consistent golfers, that’s what it is,” Kugler said.
Since he has improved every year, Mueller hopes a return trip to state is in the cards his senior year.
“Definitely make it back again,” Mueller said when asked about his goals for next year.
Kugler expects to see Mueller improve for a fourth year.
“I think Braden, he sees what he needs to work on for next year,” Kugler said. “He’s probably going to work hard at it.”
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