Oxford, Lake Orion’s Waelchli make cut for D-1 golf finals
STATE-BOUND: Oxford's Nick Hocker and the Wildcats qualified for the state finals for the first time since 1998 with a third-place finish at Thursday's Division 1 boys golf regional at Flushing Valley. File Photo.
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
FLUSHING — A collective bad round of golf more than fueled a fire for members of Oxford’s boys golf team.
Finishing in the bottom of the pack at last year’s Division 1 regional at Flushing Valley, the performance served as motivation for this year.
The Wildcats continued one of their best seasons in school history by finishing third in a deep field at Thursday’s regional, again held at Flushing Valley, this time collecting a play-five, count-four team score of 311.
Davison, ranked second in the state, won with a 305 team score and Traverse City Central was second at 309. The top three teams and the top three individuals not on qualifying teams, advance to the Lower Peninsula Division 1 state finals June 17-18 at Oakland University’s Katke-Cousins Golf Course.
“We are thrilled that we are going this year. The boys were not pleased with their performances at last year’s regional,” admitted Oxford coach Terry Kelley.
Lake Orion (313) and Rochester (313) just missed the qualifying group, although Lake Orion took fourth place based on its fifth golfer. Grand Blanc (317), Swartz Creek (317), Traverse City West (327), Rochester Adams (327), Bay City Western (327), Midland Dow (333) and Midland (344) rounded out the 12-school field.
It marks Oxford’s first trip since 1998, when the Wildcats were 10th in Division 2.
“It’s been a long time for us,” offered Kelley. “A couple of years ago, I saw a nucleus of guys who I thought could be pretty good. We brought just about everyone back from last year and added a good freshman into the group. We’ve been able to have a really good season and they get a chance to play in (the state finals).”
Lake Orion was the first team left on the outside, as the OAA red Division co-champions who beat Oxford by two strokes at least week’s district, came up agonizingly short.
The Dragons’ Alex Waelchli shot a 72 to earn medalist honors. Four other golfers shot 73.
“It is what it is. Alex was the medalist and we missed as a team by only a couple of strokes,” said Lake Orion coach Monty Gallaher. “We didn’t have any seniors golf at the regional, so we hope that this will be fuel for next year. We’re going to be very good the next couple of years.”
Davison, a top-10 team last season which has been steadily ranked all of this season, was paced by Jake Thompson’s and Dave Thompson’s identical scores of 73, which tied for second. Cody Minto added a 78 and Zac Brammer an 81 for the Cardinals.
Traverse City Central had three golfers in the mid-70s, including Patrick Colburn and Nikolaj Brons-Piche, who tied for sixth overall at 74, and Zack Smith, who tied for 10th at 75. Winton Munch followed with an 86 for the Trojans.
Nick Hocker and Nolan Chapman both posted rounds of 76, Doug Piesko had a 78 and Josh Hosking and freshman J.J. Lewis chipped in with an 81 for Oxford.
Rochester, fifth in the team standings, had freshman Mike Murri and Mike Santavica both card 74s, which were just off the mark for individual berths.
Traverse City West’s Gates Muller and Swartz Creek’s Michael Kelley both shot 73 to join Lake Orion’s Waelchli as individual qualifiers.
“It’s disappointing to be that close. But as a coach I have been on both sides of that —barley qualifying one year and in another missing by only a couple of strokes,” offered Rochester coach Paul Marti. “We only had one senior in our top four (at the regional) and we had one freshman in there. Plus, we had two other freshmen (in our top eight) this year, so most of our team will be back. We expect to be just as good or maybe even better next year.”
Adams was paced by Eric Busa (tied-10th, 75) and Ben VanOrman (tied-22nd, 79).
Clarkston’s Jimmy Delnick (tied-22nd, 79) and Jack Alli (53rd, 87), along with Rochester Stoney Creek freshman Michael Doyle (tied-29th, 80) were all individual regional qualifiers but finished way off the mark.
To submit information to www.northoaklandsports.com, e-mail dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com. To advertise, e-mail advertising@northoaklandsports.com
Category: Clarkston, High School, Lake Orion, Oxford, Prep Wraps, Rochester, Rochester Adams, Rochester Stoney Creek
