DeForest boys' golf open 2026 season

At last, the start of the 2026 high school boys’ golf team is officially here.

On Tuesday, April 7, the DeForest Norskies boys’ golf team broke in the new season, participating in the 2026 Sauk Prairie Invitational at the Lake Wisconsin Country Club in Prairie du Sac.

DeForest returns to the links hoping to build off last year’s historic season.

The Norskies stuffed the record books last spring, winning the Badger Large title, claiming regional and sectional titles before placing sixth at the 2025 Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) State Tournament at University Ridge in June.

In Prairie du Sac, the Norskies finished fourth overall in team scoring out of 18 teams in attendance. The Norskies totaled a team score of 332 points.

The Madison West Regents won the invitational with 311 points, while the Baraboo Thunderbirds placed second with 319 points. DeForest finished two strokes behind third-place Stoughton, which shot 330.

The five-man crew representing DeForest in Prairie du Sac was junior Nolan Hottmann, senior Parker Bilderback, sophomore Connor Jones, senior Blake Lovick, and sophomore Carter Lovick.

Notably, Hottmann and Bilderback return to the fairways this spring after receiving 2025 Second Team Badger Large All-Conference recognition last season.

Nolan Hottmann led the Norskies on Tuesday, shooting a 78. Hottmann’s 78 resulted in a three-way tie for fourth place individually, according to Wisconsin.Golf.

Meanwhile, Parker Bilderback shot an 84, while both Connor Jones and Blake Lovick shot an 85. Carter Lovick rounded out the scoring for DeForest, shooting a 94.

With its first invitational out of the way, the Norskies’ upcoming schedule will begin to rapidly pick up steam.

Weather permitting, DeForest is set to participate in six invitationals and/or meets from Thursday, April 16, through Thursday, April 23. They will begin their busy stretch in an invitational on Thursday, April 16, at The Oaks Golf Course before taking on an invitational at the Reedsburg Golf Course on Friday, April 17.

The Norskies will close the weekend in Milton on Saturday, April 18, at an invitational at the Oak Ridge Golf Course.