Rochester wins OAA-Red tournament, climbs back into league picture
SWING AWAY: Rochester Adams' Ben Van Orman watches his drive fly down the fairway during Tuesday's OAA Red Division Tournament No. 2 at Katke Cousins. Van Orman was medalist with a 74. Staff Photo | Dan Stickradt
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
ROCHESTER HILLS — Rochester has quietly sat in the background waiting for its moment. It came Tuesday at Katke Cousins Golf Course at Oakland University.
Rochester put together another solid finish at a tournament, posting a play-six, count-four team score of 311 to win the OAA Red Division League tournament No. 2. The Falcons placed fourth at the first league tournament three weeks ago.
“We had a really slow start this season, but we have been playing some very good golf the past few weeks,” said Rochester coach Paul Marti, whose team was sixth out of 25 schools with a 309 at last week’s Oakland County Division I tournament at Pontiac Country Club. “We were actually second at a league tournament last season and with the guys we brought back, plus some pretty good freshmen coming in, that we could be a very good team this season. We’re not the best in the state, but we are getting better and better. I like the way we have been playing, especially our last couple of tournaments.”
Junior Eric Shyu shot a 75, senior Dave Collins a 76 and both junior Mike Santavica and freshman Mike Murri posted 80s to pace Rochester.
“We just seem to be very consistent and we have depth.” said Marti. “The guy that is normally our No. 2 had an off day and shot 86, but we had four guys still turn in some good scores.
“Eric Shyu has been really consistent,” added Marti of his top golfer. “He’s been scoring in the 70s at tournaments. Our whole team has been consistent. Nobody gave us much of a chance (earlier in the year). But we have slowly climbed into the picture and had a really good season.”
Troy, which finished sixth at the first league tournament, finished in the runner-up slot this time around with a 314. Rochester Adams was third (321), Lake Orion fourth (324), Clarkston fifth (331) and Rochester Stoney Creek sixth (334).
Lake Orion won the first league tournament, where only 18 strokes separated all six teams. This time there was a 23-stroke difference.
BIRD'S EYE VIEW: Clarkston's Jimmy Delnick gains a perspective of the downslope of a green during play at Tuesday's OAA Red Division Tournament at Katke Cousins. Staff Photo | Dan Stickradt
Adams’ Ben Van Orman was medalist with a two-over 74. Combining the two league tournaments and dual standings, Adams, which does not boast a single senior in its lineup, earned at least a share of the league title. The winner of the Rochester-Lake Orion dual match will share the overall league title with the Highlanders.
Adams finished 4-1 in duals with a runner-up and third-place finish in the league tournaments. Both Lake Orion and Rochester are 3-1 in duals.
“We won the league tournament and we beat everyone in our league at the county, so I like our chances. We have a mental edge on them right now,” said Marti of Lake Orion, who will host the Falcons Wednesday at Boulder Pointe in Oxford. “Lake Orion won the first league tournament but has faded a little bit the past couple of weeks. They do have some good players, so I’m expecting a great match. There have been a lot of close matches in our league this season.”
LONG DISTANCE: Lake Orion's Tyler Dragoo drills his drive down the fairway during Tuesday's OAA Red Division Tournament at Katke Cousins. Staff Photo | Dan Stickradt
SMOOTH SAILING: Rochester's Eric Shyu finished second at Tuesday's OAA Red Division Tournament with a 75, leading the Falcons to the team title. Staff Photo | Dan Stickradt
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Category: Clarkston, High School, Lake Orion, Prep Wraps, Rochester, Rochester Adams, Rochester Stoney Creek, Troy
