The biggest goal of the season for River Falls girls’ golf was qualifying for sectionals as a team. The Lady Wildcats did exactly that on Thursday, Sept. 29, at the Mill Run Golf Course in Eau …
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The biggest goal of the season for River Falls girls’ golf was qualifying for sectionals as a team. The Lady Wildcats did exactly that on Thursday, Sept. 29, at the Mill Run Golf Course in Eau Claire.
River Falls' team score of 393 qualified for sectionals by a single stroke. The Superior Spartans posted a score of 394. One stroke lower, and the Wildcats and Spartans would have had to go to a playou to determine the team that would play in the WIAA Division 1 Sectional at the Troy Burne Golf Course in River Falls on Tuesday, Oct. 4.
Throughout the 2022 fall golf season, River Falls head coach Tim LaVold has stated that he and the girls’ biggest goal was getting to sectionals as a team. Earlier this season, River Falls played well at Mill Run, the regional host site, which gave the Wildcats confidence heading into the regional.
“It is always exciting to achieve a goal that a team sets out to accomplish at the start of the season,” LaVold said. “We did that at regionals and we are all very happy to be moving on to sectionals.”
River Falls’ trip to the sectional tournament certainly didn’t come easy. Superior had an earlier set of tee times and because of that, they finished the 18-hole round first and posted a score that was within striking distance of the Wildcats. LaVold spoke about seeing Superior post a 394.
“We knew going in that it was going to be close,” LaVold said. “We knew with six holes left that it was going to be a fight to the finish. Superior posted a good score while we were still on the course. Each one of our girls played some very good golf at points throughout the round.”
River Falls played most of its good golf through the first 13 or 14 holes of the tour nament. The Wildcats ran into some issues in the closing stretch, which almost cost them a trip to sectionals. LaVold spoke about the finishing holes at Mill Run.
“Our toughest part was the end and we didn't finish very well which brought the final score closer than it could have been," LaVold said.
Individual scores include junior Mahlia McCane’s round of 95, juniors Aili Lassi and Ellie Krueger posted rounds of 96 and 100 respectively, while seniors Alisha Latham and Mollie Schmidt both shot 100. LaVold spoke about some of the highlights for his girls.
“On the individual side Aili had one of her best 9’s of the season posting a 45 on the front nine,” LaVold said. “Alisha had some excitement on holes 11 and 12 making backto- back birdies which she has never done before. Ellie was very solid through 12 holes today while Mollie and Mahlia both had strong starts to their rounds. You only have to beat them by one shot and that’s what we did today.”
The one-shot victory means that River Falls’ season gets to continue, and it gets to continue at a familiar course. While the River Falls Golf Course is technically the Wildcats’ home course, many of the players take lessons at Troy Burne and consider that their home course.
Not only do they play there throughout the ouseason, River Falls occasionally hosts an invitational tournament there which teams from all around the state attend. LaVold spoke about what having a home course advantage might do for his squad.
“We are very excited about playing Sectionals at Troy Burne,” LaVold said. “We have all played there a number of times and like the course very much. I think it improves our chances of having a successful day by playing at Troy Burne.”
Since River Falls has achieved its main goal for the season, anything else in terms of the team or an individual advancing would be a bonus. The Wildcats’ #1 player, the aforementioned McCane, is capable of going low on any given day. At one point this season she shot a 77, which would almost certainly qualify her for state as an individual.
For LaVold, having the opportunity to play in a sectional meet is a special experience. He spoke about what he expects from his girls in what is likely their final meet of the season and for some of them, their careers.
“I always tell the players at Sectionals that all I expect from them is that when you walk ou the 18th hole you can hold your head high and say you gave it everything you had,” La-Vold said. “Sectionals is tough and there are a lot of good players all competing for that trip to Madison. We are going to give it everything we have and see what happens on Tuesday.”
The WIAA Division 1 Sectional is slated to tee ou at 9 a.m. at the Troy Burne Golf Course in River Falls.