With only four returning letterwinners, the play of the other varsity players will dictate the success of the United North Central boys and girls golf teams this spring.
Leading the UNC boys will be senior Jimmy Hillukka, junior Nick Treinen and sophomore Andreas Aho.
Those three helped the Warriors finish third in Northern Pines Conference play and seventh at the Section 8AA North tournament. Aho's 90, Hillukka's 93 and Treinen's 99 helped UNC end the season with a 382 at the subsection meet.
During Northern Pines Conference play, Aho earned a spot on the First Team by finishing sixth overall with 266 strokes for a 44.3 average in his best six nine-hole rounds. Hillukka earned a spot on the Second Team after carded a 279 (46.5 average) in his best six rounds to place 11th overall. Treinen placed 16th overall with a 294 (49.0 average) on his best six rounds in NPC meets.
For the season, Aho had a 44.0 average, Hillukka had a 46.0 average and Treinen had a 47.0 average. Joining those three on last year's subsection team were the senior crew of Anthony Wurdock (100), Mikko Johnson (102) and Bobby Pietila (106).
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Being counted on to fill the other varsity spots are senior Mason Hotakainen, junior Keegan Womble, sophomore Jared Tolkkinen, freshman Nicholas Wurdock and eighth grader Joey Hillukka. Also out for golf this spring are sophomore Andrew Litzau; freshman Richard Johnson; eighth graders Jeron Pinoniemi, Josh Hillukka, Paul Peterson and Ryan Tolkkinen; and seventh graders Casey Blixt, Henry Hulberg, Carter Hillukka and Wesley Hodge.
For the girls, only sophomore Elly Hillukka returns from last year's varsity. Hillukka finished with an nine-hole average of 55.0 while carding a 115 at the subsection meet and finishing 15th overall in NPC play with a 59.3 average in six nine-hole rounds. The Warriors had an incomplete team at the subsection meet with Madi Womble carding a 106 and Megan Hendrickson carding a 126.
Joining Hillukka on this year's varsity squad will be junior Jenna Pinoniemi, freshman Hope Shepersky and eighth grader Alayna Day.
"Although indoor practice is dull, the players have been diligent about tweaking their swings and mastering the new USGA rules," said UNC head coach Tim Wurdock, who will be assisted by Kevin Sommers and Austin Storm. "We ought to be in the top half of the Northern Pines Conference. The key for the season will be the same as most years: get drives in the fairway and have a reliable short game. Another key will be to golf as much as possible to make up for the weather. This will mean many nights of golfing till sunset and playing on the weekends, which our players are up for. I feel like we can get quite a few individuals in the section meet with an outside shot at state. The boys could have three or four guys break 40 occassionally and all the girls could shoot in the 40s. If so, we will be tough."
BOYS SEASON SCHEDULE
April 26 - at Walker-Hackensack-Akeley Invitational at Tianna Country Club, 10 a.m.
May 2 - Northern Pines Conference meet at Bigfork, 5 p.m. May 3 - Park Rapids Invitational at Headwaters Golf Club, 9:30 a.m. May 9 - Northern Pines Conference meet at Deer River, 5 p.m. May 14 - Northern Pines Conference meet at Bemidji Castle Highlands, 4:30 p.m. May 21 - at Warroad Invitational, 10 a.m. May 28 - Subsection 8AA North tournament at Warroad, 10 a.m.
June 3-4 - Section 8AA tournament at Bemidji Town & Country Club.
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GIRLS SEASON SCHEDULE
April 29 - at Walker-Hackensack-Akeley Invitational at Tianna Country Club, 10 a.m. April 30 - Northern Pines Conference meet at Cass Lake, 5 p.m.
May 2 - Northern Pines Conference meet at Pine River-Backus, 5 p.m. May 7 - Northern Pines Conference meet at Deer River, 5 p.m. May 14 - Northern Pines Conference meet at Bemidji Castle Highlands, 4:30 p.m. May 21 - at Warroad Invitational, 10 a.m. May 28 - Subsection 8AA North tournament at Warroad, 10 a.m.
June 3-4 - Section 8AA tournament at Bemidji Town & Country Club.
