Top cat: Stoney Creek golfers seeking state title

WORKING IT: Rochester Stoney Creek junior Gabby Yurik is one of the state's top players and hopes to help the Cougars claim some championship hardware this weekend at the Division 1 state finals. Staff Photo | Larry McKee, www.northoaklandsports.com

Being tabbed as a favorite is one thing, while living up to those expectations is another..

Rochester Stoney Creek took over the No. 1 slot in the girls golf Division 1 rankings in late August. Since then, the Cougars have lived up to their billing despite playing with a target on their back for a bulk of the season..

Now Stoney Creek can attempt to put the finishing touches on a dream season at this weekend’s Lower Peninsula Division 1 state finals at Eagle Crest Golf Course in Ypsilanti. The Cougars are the heavy favorites, having the best regional score in the state by 20 strokes and playing with confidence with a talented top five contingent…

Stoney Creek, which finished second at the Holiday Inn Express and Ann Arbor invitationals back in August by a combined five strokes, have won every other meet this season. The Cougars won the Seaholm Invitational, both OAA Red Division tournaments, the Grosse Ile tournament, the Temperance Bedford Invitational the Oakland County Division I, the Division 1 regional, and the Rochester City meet, among others..

But the school hopes to earn just its second team state champion in school history. The Cougars’ competitive cheer team won the school’s first state crown last March..

“That’s been our goal since the end of last season, to win (the state title),” said Devon Compton, one of two seniors in the Cougars’ top five and a shoe-in to become a four-time all-stater. “We knew (defending champ) Rochester was losing some very good players. We were bringing back a lot of our players. We thought we could have a great chance this year.”.

Compton, along with junior teammate Gabby Yurik, have finished in the top-10 at every tournament this season. Yurik was medalist at the recent county meet and posted a season-low 69 at last week’s regional at Twin Lakes. Both finished in the top five at the state finals last season with Yurik second and Compton tied for fourth..

Compton also finished as the state runner-up as a sophomore. .

The course at Eagle Crest will provide some stiff challenges for the Cougars, who will also be pushed by Grosse Pointe South, Saline, Temperance Bedford, Troy and Rochester. Those five teams entered the state tournament ranked second through sixth, respectively..

“There’s only six holes out of the 18 where you can drive,” said Stoney Creek coach Todd Vince, acknowledging the difficulties of the course’s many water hazards and sand traps. “The rest is going to be playing up, playing the elbows. There is a lot of water. You have to play golf-smart.”.

Rochester, which is making its 12th straight trip in the state finals, has won the past two state titles, finished second in the fall of 2007 and third in the spring of 2007. The Falcons also won the state title in 2002. This time Rochester is hoping for a top-five finish..

“I think a top-5 finish or something like that would be a great season for us,” said Rochester coach Jeff Haney. “That’d be awesome. We’ll see what happens.”.

Troy is also making its second straight trip to the D-1 finals and is also looking for a high finish. The Colts were 12th last season but have consistently been ranked in the top-10 this season..

Stoney Creek, Rochester and Troy all hail from the OAA Red Division and posted three of the top regional scores across the state last week..

“We’re thrilled to be there, but we also are going in with three juniors (and two seniors) out of our top four golfers,” said Troy coach John Getzan. “It gives us a chance to make that next step. Our goal this year is to get into the top five and hopefully set the stage for a return (to the finals) next year.”.

Clarkston sophomore Betty Pan also made the cut as an individual in D-1..

At the Division 2 state finals at Forest Akers West in East Lansing, Rochester Adams sophomore Kaela Sakorafis will represent the Highlanders as an individual.

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