By Chris Bennett
Sports Correspondent
The Waterford High School girls golf team last won a conference title in 1980. The Wolverines’ title drought of 34 years might come to an end this season.
“We have a lot of experience back this year, so we should be very competitive,” Waterford coach Jon Leonard said. “Our goal is to just keep getting better all year long. Hopefully that gives us a chance to win the conference championship, which Waterford hasn’t done since 1980.”
“It’ll be tough.”
Waterford finished second overall last year in the Southern Lakes Conference, behind Union Grove.
The Wolverines finished second in the SLC at 5-1 in dual meets, with their only loss to Westosha Central. Waterford finished third at the conference meet behind Westosha and champion Union Grove.
Waterford finished fifth last season in the WIAA Division 1 Janesville Craig Sectional Tournament Oct. 7 at Riverside Golf Course in Janesville. The Wolverines finished fourth in the Waukesha Regional Tournament Oct. 2 at Broadlands Golf Club in North Prairie.
Waterford opened its 2014 season Aug. 14 in the Badger Varsity Par-3 Invite at Hawk’s View Golf Course in Lake Geneva. The Wolverines won the meet with a team score of 272, 14 better than second-place Union Grove (286).
Each SLC school with a girls golf team participated in the invite. Wilmot finished third (315), Westosha Central fourth (320) and Burlington fifth (323).
Host Lake Geneva fielded two teams. Badger Cardinal finished seventh (354) and Badger White finished eighth (382). Elkhorn finished ninth (393). Delavan-Darien does not field a girls’ golf team.
Waterford’s top four golfers each finished in the top 10. Breanna Bertschinger won individual medalist honors with a 63, highlighted by three birdies, and set the invite’s individual scoring record.
“Breanna was awesome,” Leonard said. “She was just so composed and focused. She put in a lot of work in the offseason, and it is great to see her senior year get off to such a good start.”
Waterford’s Brittany Raab finished third (68) and Taitum Beck finished fifth (69). Lauren Torhorst placed eighth (72). All are returning letter-winners. Bertschinger earned First Team All-SLC honors last season. Beck earned Second Team All-SLC honors.
“We have a lot of experience back this year, so we should be very competitive,” Leonard said. “Our goal is to just keep getting better all year long. “
The Wolverines finished third in the Mukwonago Invitational Aug. 18 at Edgewood Golf Course in Big Bend, the home course of Mukwonago High School. Waterford carded a team score of 383.
Leonard said Waterford finished ahead of five other SLC teams in the 15-team field. Union Grove did not participate.
Mukwonago’s Blue Squad won the meet (350). Arrowhead finished second (379).
“It is always good to play against good competition to see where you are at,” Leonard said. “We played well, but I think we can play even better.”
Bertschinger finished fifth (89). Beck finished 10th (92), Raab 14th (95) and McKenna Stanek 15th (96) for Waterford.
Colleen Krueger of the Mukwonago Blue Squad won individual medalist honors (84).
A good portion of the Wolverines’ schedule will be complete before school starts on Sept. 2.
The Wolverines golfed Wednesday in the Elkhorn Invite at Evergreen Golf Club in Elkhorn and Thursday in the Brighton Dale Invite at Brighton Dale Links in Kansasville.
Waterford plays Aug. 25 in a varsity invitational at Wanaki Golf Course in Menomonee Falls.
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