Prescott boys golf continued to make program history, winning the team’s first ever Sectional title at the Division 2 Hayward Sectional to head to State as a team.

“It’s a big, big program boost first and foremost,” Head Coach Scott Hamilton said. “Means a lot to the kids, they were super pumped yesterday. Since eighth grade that’s what they’ve been saying. They just wanted to get one time to Madison as a team.”

The Cardinals won the Sectional with a 312 score, two strokes better than runner-up Lakeland. Prescott was pushed to its limits as they needed a top two finish to make it to State and had to take on defending Division 2 State Champions Lakeland and other top teams like Aquinas and Rice Lake, but the golfers came through when they were needed.

Senior Tyler Reiter led the team individually with a tie for third on 73 strokes, senior Luke Kinneman took 15th with a 78, senior Harris Linderholm tied for 20th with an 80, senior Sam Vesperman tied for 23rd with an 81 and senior Beau Risdon tied for 62nd with a 93.

Despite the squad running five seniors onto the course for Sectionals, Hamilton said there were some nerves because it was the team’s chance to truly break out and establish a program-defining moment.

“You could see even a little bit of the nerves at Sectionals,” Hamilton said. “First couple tee boxes you see the kids get some hand shaking and all that, but once they get there, they line up the shot and usually that goes away.”

Hamilton hopes the same happens at State, with the golfers dialing in and becoming comfortable as the event goes on. The event takes place at a difficult course in University Ridge at Madison. Hamilton said they will have to dial in with some solid practices but not overwork themselves ahead of the June 9-10 event.

“Just take it one shot at a time,” Hamilton said. “You can’t make up three strokes with one shot. So if one bad hole happens, you’ve just got to let it go.”

He mentioned there were some tough holes at Sectionals, and he was proud to see the team remain mentally fortified. Prescott has played some tough courses already this year, which Hamilton expects to be an advantage at State.

Between golf making it to State, baseball and softball making it to Sectionals and track and field having a great year, Prescott’s Spring sports are on an absolute roll. Hamilton cited the strong youth programs and coaching staffs across the sports for the continued success.

“Part of it is this senior class is very athletically talented,” Hamilton said. “The youth programs have been putting in a lot of effort to getting a lot of these kids ready… This spring season has been quite amazing here at Prescott.”

At the conclusion of the season, the full focus goes toward making sure this great year is not left as just a great year. Hamilton wants Prescott boys golf to be a program recognized statewide and is putting plans in place to ensure it. He mentioned things including a weekly youth program over the summer, bringing in some local pros, having some of the middle schoolers practice with the high school team and hosting events at the local course.

“That’s always the number one question with programs is [can] you get the youth to do it too,” Hamilton said.