Olson shoots 74 as Baraboo finishes ninth at Battle at the Rock
Baraboo posted a team score of 324 and finished ninth Monday at the Wisconsin Dells Battle at the Rock tournament at Wild Rock Golf Club, with sophomore Peyton Olson leading the Thunderbirds with a 2-over-par 74 that tied for third overall.
Olson turned in his best competitive round to date on a course Baraboo knew well, giving the Thunderbirds a strong start in a field that included several teams they expect to see again in the postseason. According to team notes, Olson's play was steady throughout the day. His ball striking off the tee stood out, and he backed it up with solid approach shots and a sharp short game on a demanding course.
Cooper Jauch added Baraboo's next-lowest counting score with an 82, followed by Finnley Schindler at 83, senior Jon Moon at 85 and Will Stelling at 90. Those five scores produced a team total that was higher than Baraboo's usual average this season, but it came against what the Thunderbirds described as a strong tournament field and on one of the area's tougher layouts.
The round also served as an important measuring stick. Baraboo entered the event looking forward to competing against several regional and sectional opponents, using the tournament as a preview of the competition ahead in the WIAA series. Team notes said the Thunderbirds played the course with focus and intent, even if the overall total did not rank among their lowest rounds of the spring.
Conditions were favorable once play began. The team described clear skies, sunshine and little wind at Wild Rock, a welcome setup for a tournament on a familiar course in Wisconsin Dells. That familiarity appeared to help Olson in particular, as Baraboo's top scorer put together the kind of complete round the Thunderbirds have been waiting to see.
Baraboo now turns its attention to next week's conference tournament at Door Creek, followed by the WIAA regional tournament at Sparta. Monday's event did not produce the Thunderbirds' lowest number, but Olson's 74 and the experience against postseason-caliber teams gave Baraboo a clear benchmark heading into the most important stretch of the season.
