Hayward golfers win Northwestern invite

The Hayward Hurricanes cruised to a first-place finish in Thursday’s Northwestern Invitational at Hidden Greens Golf Course in Solon Springs.

The host Tigers finished in second place, while the Superior High School girls golf team came in sixth.

Hayward’s Brittany Neff was the meet medalist with an 84.

Northwestern’s Gwen LaPole was fifth with a 96 and teammate Reggie Semanko was seventh at 99.

Superior’s Kali O’Neill carded a 102 to finish ninth.

“Kali has a lot of confidence in her game right now, which is a good sign with the regional meet less than two weeks away,” SHS coach Andrew Heytens said. “She carded a season-low 48 on the front nine, but the back nine was playing much tougher with most holes playing into the wind to coincide with some very difficult pin placements.

“Kali shot 54 on the back, including a spectacular par on the signature 15th hole. Only one other girl (Neff) made par on that hole in the field of more than 40.”

Other Superior scores were Amanda Hinaus, 112; Alisha Moran, 119; and Hailey Gronquist, 136.

Other NHS scores were Molly Lattery, 107; Lyndi Graff, 112; Marissa Delvas, 124; and Kayla Janowicz, 137.

The Spartans and Tigers will play in the Heart O’ North Conference meet at 9 a.m. Thursday at Sioux Creek Golf Course in Chetek.

The Spartans will then compete in the WIAA regional meet at 9 a.m. on Sept. 26 at New Richmond. The Tigers’ regional meet is at 9 a.m. Tuesday at Spooner.

NOTES: Hayward improved to 52-1 on the season by winning its third invitational of the season. … The HON JV meet is Tuesday in Cumberland.

Northwestern Invitational

Thursday, Sept. 13

At Hidden Greens North – Solon Springs

Hayward, 370; Northwestern, 414; Spooner, 417; Luck/Unity, 442; Cumberland, 456; Superior, 469; St. Croix Falls, 570; Chetek/Weyerhaeuser, DNQ; Barron, DNQ.

Top 10 Individuals

Brittany Neff, Hayward, 84; Avery Steen, Luck, 87; Emilee McCusker, Hayward, 95; Aly Tremblay, Hayward, 95; Gwen LaPole, Northwestern, 96; Ashley Hansen, Hayward, 96; Reggie Semanko, Northwestern, 99; Larissa Schmock, Spooner, 102; Kali O'Neill, Superior, 102; Audi Griffith, Spooner, 102.

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