What seemed impossible six weeks ago is now close to a reality.

The Tomah High School girls golf team used its home course to pass La Crosse Aquinas in the Mississippi Valley Conference as the five MVC teams met at Tomah’s Hiawatha Golf Club Monday.

The Timberwolves posted their best team score of the season at 206. Aquinas also posted its best score of the season but finished seven strokes behind Tomah.

Tomah coach Tonya Gnewikow is very happy that her team has a chance to climb from the MVC basement. The Timberwolves didn’t even have a complete varsity team when the MVC season started but now lead Aquinas by two points in the MVC season standings with just one match remaining.

“We had a very good day,” Gnewikow said. “This is a huge step for our girls. Early in the summer, finishing this high didn’t look possible.”

Had the Timberwolves not gotten big performances from their two letterwinners from last season, they probably would have been passed by Aquinas.

Brianna Francis shot a nine-hole score of 41 and came within two strokes of meet medalist honors. She fired a birdie on the sixth hole and scored no higher than a six on any hole.

Shelby Hoeft carded a 45 and was solid until taking eight strokes on the final hole.

Tomah got a big lift from senior Megan Kennedy-Pierce, who shot a 57. Kennedy-Pierce injured her elbow two days before the first practice and only recently came off the disabled list.

“Megan shot as well as she has all season,” Gnewikow said. “Her arm is finally starting to heal.”

Rounding out Tomah’s scoring were Chelsie Gabower at 63 and Megan McGinnis at 67.

Holmen’s Christina DeBoer was the medalist with a three-over-par 39. La Crosse’s Kay Casto was next at 40, followed by Francis, Holmen’s Christa Beranek and Onalaska’s Alli Path at 41.

Team scores: Holmen 172, Onalaska 180, La Crosse Central/La Crosse Logan 194, Tomah 206, La Crosse Aquinas 213.

Tomah returns to Hiawatha Wednesday to host a WIAA Division 1 Regional.

“It was great to watch them having fun, and it was fun to coach them,” Gnewikow said. “They’re motivated and ready to finish the season on a high note.”

Joining Tomah at the regional will be Holmen, La Crosse Central/La Crosse Logan, Marshfield, Onalaska, Portage, Stevens Point and Wisconsin Rapids. The top four teams and top three individuals from non-qualifying team advance to the sectional in Hayward Oct. 7.