BOYS GOLF: Novi wins Oakland County D-I title

BY DAN STICKRADT

SENIOR EDITOR

dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com

Twitter: @LocalSportsFans

COMPLETE STATS: http://northoaklandsports.com/2012/05/16/12860/

WATERFORD — Novi is celebrating its 10-year anniversary of first and only boys golf state championship in 2012.

Perhaps that celebration, along with Wednesday’s performance at the Oakland County Division I Tournament, could be a good omen for the unranked Wildcats.

Behind a play-five, count-four team score of 309, Novi toppled the star-studded field Wednesday at Pontiac Country Club to win its second County D-I tournament title. The Wildcats’ last squad to win a county championship? — the 2002 squad.

“They can beat anybody they play against if they play the way they did today,” smiled Novi coach Brad Huss. “I thought we could be up there this year, because we were third here last season. You never know for sure what’s going to happen at the county.

SOARING: Rochester Sophomore Mike Murri was one of golfer to shoot 75 and tie for third overall at Wednesday's Oakland County Division I Tournament.Staff Photo | Dan Stickradt

“We’re proud of what we accomplished. It’s always a nice thing to win the county,” continued Huss. “We haven’t done so since our state championship year. We are in a loaded district and regional coming up, so this is a nice (springboard) to the state tournament.”

Led by co-medalist Brad Kozinski, who finished with a one-over round of 73, Novi was able to finish two strokes ahead of Birmingham Brother Rice (311) and three strokes ahead of Novi Detroit Catholic Central (312). Rochester Stoney Creek, which won last year’s Oakland County Division II title, was fourth at 318, while Lake Orion (319), Birmingham Groves (320), North Farmington (321), defending County D-I champion Auburn Hills Oakland Christian (322), Rochester Adams (327) and Walled Lake Northern (325) rounded out the top 10 in the team standings.

Of the 25 schools that competed, five schools held a top-12 ranking in one of the state’s four divisions coming in — Brother Rice (No. 3 D-1), Detroit Catholic Central (No. 6 D-1), Rochester Adams (No. 12 D-1), Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood (No. 1 D-2 ) and Auburn Hills Oakland Christian (No. 1 D-4). Cranbrook finished back in 13^thposition (328).

SWING AWAY: Oxford's Doug Schultz and the Wildcats posted a 333 team score to come in 16th place at the Oakland County D-I Tournament. Staff Photo | Dan Stickradt

The aforementioned Kozinski was joined by Johnny Walker (76), Garret Buckley (80), Mike Wenzel (80) and Bryan Fograt (83) as part of Novi’s winning group.

“Coming into today, I thought a sub-70 round would win it,” said Kozinski, who tied for seventh with a 74 at last year’s county event. “But it was playing tricky. The wind was blowing and the greens were tough to putt on. A 73 ended up coming through. It was surprising, but it felt good. It’s always nice to win a tournament like the county.”

South Lyon’s Garris joined Kozinski in the winner’s circle as co-medalist, as he became the first South Lyon golfer to win the Oakland County D-I Tournament.

“My chipping was close, I had some good drives and I put the ball in the right places,” said Garris, who shot a 76 and placed ninth last season. “I got some more putts to fall this year. I expected some scores to be in the 60s today with all of the good players.

“This (was my) best score all year and the right time to do it,” added Garris. “It means a lot with all of the good teams and players here each year.”

SMOOTH STROKE: Tyler Coyne and Auburn Hills Oakland Christian finished eighth at Wednesday's Oakland County Division I Tournament. Coyne carded a 79. Staff Photo | Dan Stickradt

A total of 14 golfers shot 76 or better in the field of 125 golfers, with five competitors tying for third at 75 and seven golfers shooting 76 to tie for eighth overall.

Walled Lake Northern’s Nick Vick, Rochester’s Mike Murri, Stoney Creek’s Spencer Lendzion and Rochester Adams freshman Brandon Barrows all carded 75s, while the Ortonville Brandon duo of Ben Stowers and Tyler Lewis, Oxford’s Nick Hocker, Novi’s Walker, Catholic Central’s Joey Hanba, Lake Orion’s Alex Waechli and Brother Rice’s Sean Friel all followed at 76.

COMPLETE 2012 STATS: http://northoaklandsports.com/2012/05/16/12860/

2011 COUNTY STATS: http://northoaklandsports.com/2011/05/18/boys-golf-oakland-county-division-i-tournament-results/

STATE RANKINGS: http://northoaklandsports.com/2012/05/16/prep-state-rankings-may-16-2/

FOR MORE GOLF COVERAGE:  northoaklandsports.com/?s=Golf&x=9&y=14

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Tags: 2012 Oakland County Division I Boys Golf Tournament, boys golf, featured, golf, High School Boys golf, Prep Boys Golf

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