Baraboo places fourth at Badger Large Conference meet in Milton

Baraboo turned in another steady conference performance Friday, finishing fourth at Badger Large Conference meet No. 4 with a team score of 314 at Oak Ridge Golf Course in Milton. Senior Jon Moon led the Thunderbirds with a 4-over-par 74, good for seventh place individually, while sophomore Peyton Olson followed with a 77 in one of his best competitive rounds of the season.

The Thunderbirds finished behind Waunakee, which posted a 290, and Milton at 292, as Baraboo continued its push toward the Badger Large Conference tournament. The fourth-place finish matched the consistent form Baraboo has shown throughout conference play, even as the team continues to navigate unfamiliar courses in its first season in the league.

Oak Ridge presented a specific challenge for the field. While not especially long, the course demanded quick adjustments with dry conditions, tricky greens and tabletop landing areas that rewarded local knowledge. Baraboo's golfers had not previously played the course, and learning how approach shots, chip shots and putts would react became a major part of the round.

Moon handled those conditions best for Baraboo. He paired consistent ball striking with several timely putts and closed in memorable fashion, birdieing his final hole. That finish proved important, as it allowed them to edge Monona Grove by one stroke in the final standings.

Olson also delivered a strong round, repeatedly putting himself in favorable position off the tee and setting up manageable approach shots on the way to his 77. Sophomore Will Stelling added an 80, sophomore Finnley Schindler shot 83, and Jack Brinker completed the Thunderbirds' scoring with an 84.

With the final Badger Large Conference meet before the league tournament now complete, Baraboo heads toward Door Creek with another respectable total on a new course and a lineup that continues to produce dependable scores. Friday's 314 did not move the Thunderbirds into the top tier of the standings, but it reinforced the steady baseline they have carried through conference competition.