By David Paulsen
SPORTS CORRESPONDENT
Coming into the season, Union Grove High School head girls golf coach Eric Swanson knew he had a promising golfer in freshman Mari Suokko. He just did not know how good she might be in her first year of high school competition.
Suokko ended up being the Southern Lakes Conference Player of the Year, and finished just two spots away from qualifying for the WIAA state meet.
Suokko was ninth overall in the Badger sectional held at Grand Geneva Highland Golf Course, Lake Geneva, on Monday. Suokko carded an 84. That was the fifth-best score among golfers from non-qualifying teams, and was three shots off the score of Mukwonago’s Abby Martin, the final individual qualifier.
“Mari played really well,” Swanson said. “She struggled on the greens on four holes, but outside of that she was excellent.”
Swanson noted that Suokko had the final qualifying spot until the final group, which included two golfers who qualified.
“This was a very tough sectional, with the two-time state champion Emily Joers taking one of the individual spots,” Swanson said. “For Mari to finish as she did is quite an accomplishment, especially for a freshman.”
Suokko was the only Bronco golfer to qualify for sectional, as the team failed to get out of last week’s regional.
In regional action held at Brighton Dale Links Sept. 26, Union Grove finished sixth as a team with a score of 398. The top four teams advanced to sectional.
Suokko fired an 88 on the tough Brighton Dale course. Senior Paige Murdoch was the only other Bronco golfer to break 100. Murdoch carded a 99.
Jorey Staven added a 105 and Tara Manteufel a 106 to finish off the team scoring.
Emily Garbie also competed, shooting a 113.
The future looks bright for the Bronco girls golf team since four of those five girls are underclassmen. Murdoch was the only senior on the varsity squad. Murdoch was SLC Player of the Year in 2011.
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