Golf roundup: Detroit C.C. tops G.P. South for D1 title
Detroit Catholic Central’s defense of its Division 1 boys golf championship on Saturday at The Meadows in Allendale was not nearly as comfortable as its win a year ago.
The Shamrocks’ two-day score of 597 (299, 298) was only eight strokes better than Grosse Pointe South’s 605 (302, 303). One stroke separated Grand Blanc (third, 617) and Warren De La Salle (fourth, 618).
Last year, Catholic Central beat Battle Creek Lakeview by 31 shots. Prior to the final two holes on Saturday, only two strokes separated C.C. and South.
“It was a hard golf course with the wind blowing and there’s heather on both sides of the holes,” C.C. coach Mike Anderson said. “Yesterday we got off to a tough start. The guys were tight and we got off to a shaky start. Today, we had a couple guys playing well, a couple guys playing so-so and a couple guys struggling. The guys navigated through it very well. They’re well-seasoned tournament players.
“It was different last year being up by so many shots because the guys were really able to relax.”
South interim couch Doug Roby, in his third week with the team, said he was generally pleased with his team’s effort.
“For the most part, it was a good weekend,” he said.
Andrew Walker (Battle Creek Lakeview) beat Jack Bozcar (Plymouth) in a one-hole playoff for the individual title. Both were tied with 143 after 36 holes.
Oliver Livingston (South) finished third with 145 (71, 74). Three strokes were the difference between first and fourth place.
“He was solid,” Roby said. “He had no real blowups. He played solid, consistent golf. He was just really on his game and focused.”
Catholic Central had five golfers qualify as individual state finalists. Anderson said all five had phenomenal seasons, going undefeated in tournament play.
Juniors James Piot (Michigan State commit) and Ben Smith (Georgia Tech commit) led the way, finishing in a five-way tie for fifth place, with Evan Theros (South), Jonathan Brillati (De La Salle) and Drew Gandy (Midland) with a two-day total of 148.
“They’ve been the leaders of the team all year long, so it’s kind of fitting that they played the best,” Anderson said.
He said Sean Niles -- who finished in a four-way tie for 15th, with a 151 (75, 76) -- also deserved some credit.
“He had one of the best seasons in high school golf this year,” Anderson said.
Anderson said his plans for next year are simple.
“We’re going to go into next year with the expectation of getting to the state championship and to win again,” he said.
Division 2
At Bedford Valley in Battle Creek, Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood’s Devin Degoun won the individual title, after taking a playoff against Eric Nunn (St. John’s). They were tied for first place, after shooting a two-day total of 139 (69, 70). Gibraltar Carlson’s Brendan Meadows finished third with a 143 (69, 74), while Imaad Qureshi (Detroit Country Day) and Jackson Stowe (Pontiac Notre Dame Prep) tied for sixth with a 145. As a team, Notre Dame finished in a tie with Byron Center for seventh, scoring a 625 (314, 311) for the weekend.
Division 3
At Forest Akers East in East Lansing, Macomb Township Lutheran North’s Scott Sparks was the individual champion, after his two-day 67 put him five strokes ahead of Brennan McNally (Essexville Garber) and Owen Rush (Lansing Catholic), who finished in a tie for second. In the team finals, Jackson Lumen Christi and Tawas Area tied for first with 303.
Division 4
At Forest Akers West in East Lansing, Clarkston Everest Collegiate won the team title in a landslide with a two-day total of 637 (317, 320), 18 strokes better than runner-up Kalamazoo Christian (319, 346) and 38 ahead of Muskegon Catholic Central (339, 346). Parker Jamieson (Lansing Christian) won the individual championship with a 147 (71, 76), two strokes ahead of Everest’s Tyler Rozwadowski.
Al Willman is a freelance writer.
Twitter: @AlWillmanSports