Waterford’s Beck wins individual medalist
By Mike Ramczyk
ELKHORN – Coming into Tuesday’s Southern Lakes Conference golf meet at Evergreen Golf Course, the Union Grove Broncos had the conference all but wrapped up.
The squad, which went undefeated during the regular season in dual meets, didn’t even need to win the SLC meet to win the overall conference title.
But with an 86 from Mari Suokko that nearly won the event, a 93 from Emily Garbie and a 99 from Sarah Schuster, the Lady Broncos made sure there wasn’t any doubt who is the league’s top team.
Union Grove shot a 378, 16 strokes ahead of second-place Wilmot, and won its third consecutive conference championship.
Union Grove coach Eric Swanson said the score was a little high because of challenging greens, but he was impressed with the team’s performance.
“It feels great,” he said Tuesday after the meet. “We felt some pressure to win this year because we had everybody back, and Wilmot and Waterford are tough competition. It was a sense of relief to pull it out.”
“The greens are incredibly tough here, and they were tough on all teams. Emily Garbie played great. She avoided huge numbers. Mari is always consistent. And the other girls plugged away, and it was enough to win.”
Waterford finished in third place with a 398, and Burlington was fifth with a 439.
Beck stuns the field
Though Waterford didn’t pull out the title as a team, its No. 2 golfer stepped up for the individual title.
Taitum Beck’s mom could hardly believe it when she checked her phone to add up Taitum’s score after the No. 2s finished on hole No. 6 Tuesday.
Unofficially, Beck’s mother had counted an 84, and she was speechless with excitement.
About 30 minutes later when the final tallies were tabulated, Beck’s score came in at an 85, one stroke better than Suokko, who won the SLC Athlete of the Year.
Beck, who earned the third overall spot on the all-conference first team, wasn’t expecting a victory.
“Not so much,” Beck said when asked if she expected to win. “I started off rough but realized I needed to pull it together and do my best. I’ve been working really hard at practices, and it was all clicking today. My back swing is finally complete, so I can follow through and hit the ball a lot farther. I was finally able to make it all smooth.”
Waterford coach Jon Leonard said it was nice to see Beck have a big day.
“The best part of her game is her short game, and she really cashed in on that,” he said. “She added a little distance to every club in her bag. With the tough greens, that’s her specialty. She’s been consistent all year.”
“I’m really proud of her,” Leonard added. “This will give her some momentum headed into next year.”
Waterford’s Breanna Bertschinger, who was the second player on the all-conference first team, had a rough day, Leonard said.
The Wolverines had a chance to win conference this season, but lost in close duals against Union Grove and Wilmot.
“Breanna hit the ball well, so we hope the scores come next week at regionals,” Leonard said. “We had a chance to make a run at the conference championship. But an early loss to Grove put us behind the 8-ball all year. The girls are disappointed not to be conference champs.”
Wilmot’s McKenna Stanek and Marnee Destree joined Suokko, Bertschinger and Beck on the all-SLC first team.
Union Grove’s final tallied score on Tuesday was Tara Manteufel’s 100.
Bertschinger shot a 96 for Waterford. Lauren Torhorst’s 104 and Whitney Look’s 113 rounded out the scoring.
As for Burlington, Lauren Hockman led the way with a 105. Quinne Herolt shot a 109, Kya Kafar, a freshman, added a 110 and Lilly Capozzi had a 115.
“We could’ve done a little better, but everyone played their best,” Burlington coach Wayne Herrick said. “The girls had trouble with the greens. They were very fast. Kya played well for her first conference meet.”
Playoffs start next week
Union Grove, Waterford and Burlington all begin postseason play next week.
The Broncos and Wolverines will both compete in the Ives Grove Regional Wednesday, Sept. 30. Union Grove plays its home meets at Ives Grove, which is located in Sturtevant.
The event features tough Division 1 teams like Mukwonago, Wilmot, Kettle Moraine, Waukesha and New Berlin.
The top four teams at each regional qualify for sectionals.
Burlington battles in the Milton Regional Oct. 2.
“It’s a tough regional,” Swanson said. “Getting out will be a challenge. Being at home should help us. Come tournament time, you have to play well to advance. We have three seniors, so this is our last hurrah.”
Leonard said Waterford’s familiarity with Ives Grove should help in the playoffs.
“We’ve got kids who are hitting the ball well,” he said. “We played well at Ives earlier in the year, and it should be like a second home course for us. We have a chance if everyone puts it together on the same day.”
Herrick, whose team advanced to sectionals last year, said the team must work on its short games.
“We don’t want to 3-putt as much,” he said. “We will work on getting the ball closer to the hole.”
Southern Lakes All-Conference
First Team
Mari Suokko, Union Grove
Breanna Bertschinger, Waterford
Taitum Beck, Waterford
McKenna Stanek, Wilmot
Marnie Destree, Wilmot
Second team
Sarah Schuster, Union Grove
Emily Garbie, Union Grove
Jorey Staven, Union Grove
Lauren Hockman, Burlington
Tara Manteufel, Union Grove
Honorable mention
Quinne Herolt, Burlington. Brittany Raab, Waterford.
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