Prescott wins MBC title, sets sights on bigger things

The Prescott girls golf team accomplished team goal number one Wednesday, winning the Middle Border Conference championship and breaking a six-year string of titles by New Richmond.

And, on top of that, it was Precott’s firstever Middle Border title in girls golf.

It was even more impressive to win the event on New Richmond’s home course.

This week, Prescott was scheduled to compete for a Division 2 WIAA Regional title in an event Sept. 30 at Pheasant Ridge Golf Course in Hammond. The WIAA Sectional meet on Oct. 7 at Turtleback Golf Course in Rice Lake.

Prescott would like also to add first place trophies from those events en route to the WIAA State Championship Meet, planned for Oct. 12-13 at Blackwolf Run's Meadow Valley Course in Kohler.

While the Cardinals don’t have much unfinished business this season – they dominated the Middle Border from the opening tee shot to Ava Salay’s final putt at New Richmond. As the state’s top-ranked D2 team that was state runner-up last year, Prescott has its sights set to go all the way.

If last week was any indication, look out D2!

“These girls worked unbelievably hard for this,” Coach Chad Salay said after taking a team photo with the champs on the New Richmond practice green.

The Cardinals blistered the course on the beautiful afternoon, finishing with a team score of 352. New Richmond was second at 364, followed by St. Croix Central at 383, Baldwin-Woodville 423, Somerset 448, Osceola 449, Ellsworth 456 and Amery 520.

Salay was edged out of the individual title for the day, finishing with a 79, earning her runner-up Golfer of the Year honors. First place went to New Richmond’s Lanie Veenendall.

Prescott finished with three of the top five scores on the day, as Liz Rohl and Rhi Stutz fied for fifth with 89. Jessica Heinsch was 11th with a 93 and Maddie Reiter was right behind at 13th with a 95.

Salay and Stutz earned first team All-Conference honors, while Rohl and Heinsch were second team.

Salay was obviously pleased with the Middle Border title.

“These girls just played awesome. This is an incredible accomplishment,” he said.

He expects them to be ready for state competition.

“I trust our girls on any course, honestly. We’re playing so well. Sure, Rice Lake is going to be new territory, but we’ll get up there and do a practice round,” he said. “We know everyone is looking out for us. The girls are comfortable with that. That’s how it’s been all season. What impresses me about this team is that they just keep fighting. We made some tough shots today, but they came back with great holes and fought back. They just work so hard. They honestly put in the work, and they deserve everything they have. They’re good kids, and they get along so well. We have a really, really good thing going.”

Photo by John McLoone.

Photo by John McLoone.

Photo by John McLoone.

Photo by John McLoone.

Ava and Chad Salay looked over a par 3 tee shot on the 17th hole at New Richmond Golf Course Wednesday.

Jessica Heinsch lined up a putt for Prescott.

Rhi Stutz at the Middle Border Conference Golf Meet last week.