Top-ranked Middleton, Janesville Craig's Mya Nicholson roll at Big Eight girls golf tournament

But once the top-ranked Cardinals got their bearings and regained their form at Evansville Golf Club, Middleton had smooth sailing to another conference crown.

Middleton finished with a 328, comfortably ahead of runner-up Sun Prairie (365) and third-place Janesville Craig (396).

“We really struggled on the front nine,” Halverson said. “I didn’t know what I was watching on the front nine. It wasn’t how we’ve been playing. It was good to see them come back on the back nine, for sure. I kind of put some pressure on them on the front nine that they have to figure it out here.

“I let them know that they probably needed to step it up a bit. And it was good to see them respond to that and they all got a little more focused. … They are not used to this course, so they didn’t know what to expect. The wind made it tougher than the course already is. I’m definitely happy with the finish we had.”

Individually, Janesville Craig sophomore Mya Nicholson fired an even-par 72 in the windy conditions, earning a five-stroke victory over Beloit Memorial sophomore Sarah Ramsden. Middleton senior Ellie Frisch was third with a 79.

“These courses are short right now,” said the 5-foot-10 Nicholson, an NCAA Division I basketball prospect who’s a long hitter off the tee. “My strength is my strength. That helps a lot when the course is short.”

Middleton, No. 1 in Division 1 in the Golf Coaches Association of Wisconsin state rankings, saw its five golfers finish third through seventh — led by UW-Green Bay commit Frisch.

Sophomore Vivian Cressman was fourth with 81, followed by junior Amanda Beckman (83), senior Milanne Dahmen (85) and sophomore Ellen Close (85). All five Cardinals improved on the back nine, after Frisch’s 41 was the team’s best score on the tight front nine layout.

It was Middleton’s sixth consecutive conference title in years the event was contested.

No Big Eight tournament was held in the fall of 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Before Thursday’s meet, Middleton won five consecutive titles from 2015-2019 and six of seven, dating to 2013.

Middleton won the state title for the WIAA’s alternate fall season last spring in Kohler and is seeking to become the first school to win two state titles in girls golf in the same calendar year.

The Cardinals also won the Division 1 state championship in 2019 at University Ridge Golf Course.

Nicholson shot 36-36 in a round that included five birdies, three bogeys and a double bogey.

“My short game went really well,” she said. “Obviously, my driver was good. My irons, I could have done better with those because they were all over the place.”

In winning her first conference championship, she became the first Janesville girls golfer to win a Big Eight tournament title, according to the Janesville Gazette.

“I’m happy with myself,” she said.

Ramsden had four birdies, two on the front and two on the back, and shot 39-38. She drained a 15-foot putt on No. 9 for birdie.

“This is a tough course,” Ramsden said. “It’s a tough setup. I had a lot of good iron shots into the pins and I made some good putts. My irons on the back nine set me up for some good birdies and some good pars.”

Halverson said Middleton gained confidence entering postseason.

“I definitely feel good watching our back nine,” Halverson said. “So, I think we are in a good spot here, seeing how we rebounded so well from the front nine to the back nine.”