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June 2, 2009

Royal reversal of fortune

By Scott Williams
Daily Tribune staff

IOLA -- Joe Lownik and the Wisconsin Rapids Assumption golf team knows what it's like to experience the agony of defeat, having suffered it nearly a year ago to the day.

After winning a regional title a year ago, the Royals had the misfortune of missing out on a state berth by finishing third in a Division 3 sectional.

Fast forward 365 days and the Royals are relishing in the thrill of victory, capturing the Iola-Scandinavia sectional championship and automatic berth to the state meet at University Ridge Golf Course in Verona.

The irony is Assumption finished third at the regional this time around, only to take its game to another level when it mattered most.

"Golf is a funny game," said Assumption coach Joe Birkhauser. "Throughout the year we've been a little inconsistent, but the past week, or two weeks the guys really picked it up."

The result was a classic case of role reversal for the Royals.

Leading the charge were Lownik, a senior, and junior Jake Kubisiak, who showed they were the best players in the sectional field on the best team on this day.

Lownik, who qualified as an individual in 2008, turned in the low round with a sizzling 79, while Kubisiak was right behind, shooting an 80.

"Making it last year was fun, but being able to experience it as a team will be even better," Lownik said. "It definitely means a lot making it as a team. Everyone stepped it up."

Kubisiak and Lownik did much of the heavy lifting for the Royals.

But a state tournament berth would never have been possible without the solid rounds turned in by Austin Lindemood and Eric Struebig on a tough scoring day.

Lindemood, another seniors, and sophomore Struebig put Assumption in a position to make some serious noise with rounds of 91 and 93, respectively.

"When you have the top two guys in the sectional on your team, you have a pretty good chance," Birkhauser said. "This was all about individual effort to get to the next level.

"Joe, Jake and Austin have been together for three years, and for them to pull something like this out is a real special time for them."

Iola-Scandinavia sectional

Teams scores: 1. Wisconsin Rapids Assumption 343; 2. Sevastopol 348; 3. Manawa 353; 4. Marathon 367; 5. Gibraltar 376; 6. St. Thomas Aquinas 379; 7. Marshfield Columbus Catholic 384; 8. Laona 387; 9. Wabeno 390; 10. Lena 397; 11. Wausaukee 402; 12. Crandon 410.

1. Wisconsin Rapids Assumption: (343): Joe Lownik 79, Jake Kubisiak 80, Austin Lindemood 91, Eric Struebig 93, Sam Wenzlaff 107..

Joe Lownik of Wisconsin Rapids Assumption follows his fairway shot Monday morning during play in a Division 3 Sectional golf meet at Glacier Wood Golf Course in Iola. (DOUG WOJCIK/For the Daily Tribune)