By BUTCH HARMON
The Lansing Catholic boys golf team carried the banner for mid-Michigan schools in the state tournament this season.
The Cougars came from seven strokes down on Friday to overtake four-time defending Division 3 state champion Lumen Christi Catholic to win the Division 3 state title at Bedford Valley Golf Course in Battle Creek.
Catholic Central golfers combined to shoot 302 on the second day of the tournament and defeat Lumen Christi by five strokes to win the school’s fifth boys’ golf state championship.
The Cougars were paced by junior Brent Marshall, who finished second as an individual to Grand Rapids West Catholic’s Sam Weatherhead, who repeated as state champion in Division 2. Weatherhead shot 68 on the second day of the tournament to finish with a two-day total of 140. Marshall finished with 147. Marshall’s teammate, senior Jacob Johnson, who is heading to Oakland University to continue his career, finished in a tie for ninth place with 152.
Alma also enjoyed a big weekend at the state finals, finishing in third place as a team with a 627 score. Alma totaled 312 on the first day of the tournament and 315 on Saturday.
Brent and Jay Green led the way for Alma. Brent fired rounds of 73 and 75 to finish with 148 total and tie for third place as an individual. Jay Green carded rounds of 73 and 77 to finish with 150 and in a four-way tie for fifth place overall.
Garber also qualified for the state finals. The Dukes finished in 11th place overall. Seth Studer led the way with a two-day total of 156, while Zach Brewer finished with 160.
A number of area golfers also qualified for state as individuals, including Alec Cramer of Powers Catholic, who totaled 153; James Wilson of Chippewa Hills, who also shot 153; Dustin Pumford of St. Charles, who shot 159; Jagger Richard of Laingsburg, who carded 164; Chris List of Frankenmuth, who totaled 166; and Brandon Brown of Hemlock who totaled 172.
DIVISION 1
Lakeview won the Division 1 state team title. It finished in a tie for first place with Plymouth with 601 but won the tie-breaker, which was the combined No. 5 player score from the two days.
Plymouth’s Kyle Rodes won medalist honors by defeating Alex Kleckner of Huron Valley Lakeland in a three-hole playoff with a birdie on the third hole.
The Rockford Rams finished in 12th place overall. Junior standout A.J. Varekois, who was the medalist at the regional tournament the week before, finished third overall at the state meet with 147, three strokes behind the first-place finishers. Varekois fired rounds of 73 and 74 at the state meet.
Other area golfers who qualified as individuals included Jack Weller of Swartz Creek, who shot 151; Austin Deiters of Midland Dow, who totaled 155;, Brandon Poll of Lowell, who shot 160; and Ross Lazar of Okemos, who totaled 165.
DIVISION 2
Grand Rapids Christian golfers won the first boys’ golf title in school history by capturing the Division 2 state title at Grand Valley State University. The Eagles totaled 636 to outdistance second-place Marshall by six strokes.
A pair of mid-Michigan teams finished in the top ten, as East Lansing was fourth with 650, and DeWitt finished in a tie for seventh place with 665.
All five East Lansing golfers finished within seven strokes of each other for the tournament. They were led by Matt Rogerson, who carded 162 both days.
DeWitt reached the state finals for the sixth consecutive season. The Panthers were paced by Owen Beyer, who totaled 158 to finish in a tie for 10th place individually.
Junior Ryan Bayer of Comstock Park won medalist honors at the D2 state meet.
DIVISION 4
Hackett Catholic Central captured the Division 4 state title with a score of 600. Nouvel Catholic Central placed second overall with 621, while New Lothrop placed fourth with 642, and Fowler fifth with 657.
Hacket was led by Ted Rider, who won medalist honors with 142 after defeating Zack Bialik of Manistee Catholic Central in a two-hole playoff with a par on the second hole.
Brody Schiller and Nick Ludka led the way for Nouvel. Schiller finished fifth as an individual with 146, while Ludka tied for sixth place with 146.
Fowler’s Austin Feldpausch also tied for sixth place with 146. Andy Birchmeier totaled 163 for Fowler.
New Lothrop was paced by Mike Mucha who shot 155. Aaron Beach and Austin Newman both totaled 161 for New Lothrop, while Connor Birchmeier totaled 165.