BOYS GOLF: Avondale raises bar on links
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
Twitter: @LocalSportsFans
BIG RAPIDS — There were only six boys golf teams that made the cut for the Division 2 state finals in both 2011 and 2012. Auburn Hills Avondale was one of them.
What made it so special for the Yellowjackets was that they had never even qualified for the state finals until last season despite competing for the sport for decades. Now they have set a new standard for the program, surrounded by schools with a long history of golf.
SAILING AWAY: Auburn Hills Avondale's Blake Blomberg helped the Yellowjackets reach the Division 2 state tournament in both 2011 and 2012. Staff Photo | Dan Stickradt
“Our golf program has come a long ways,” smiled Avondale coach Jim Maley, who has been head coach for Avondale for 12 seasons. “We have had some individuals make the state finals over the years, but never before have we qualified as a team until last season. Now we have played in the state finals two years in a row. There were only (five) other schools that did that in Division 2.”
At the Division 2 state finals this season, Avondale finished 14th with a two-day total of 666 (335-331) at The Kadke Golf Course on the campus of Ferris State University. The Yellowjackets tied for 12th last season (631).
“I am proud of what the boys were able to accomplish this season, but I know they are disappointed with their play at the state finals,” said Maley. “There goal was to get back to the state finals this year and finish in the top 10. They just didn’t play all that good at the state finals. We had some weird things happen to us.”
The other school s to qualify both this season and last season ere Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood, DeWitt, Big Rapids, Tecumseh and East Grand Rapids and each of those schools has a traditionally strong boys golf program.
“This was the best class of golfers we’ve had come through here,” said Maley. “We had seven seniors on varsity and we’ll miss them. But they have brought our program to a new level. They have raised the bar. There is a lot of interest with the younger kids and they can look up to what this group accomplished.”
Avondale counted seven seniors in its top nine and four of its top five were seniors this season.
At the state finals, Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood, which hailed from Avondale’s district and region, won the team state title at 588 (299-289). DeWitt was second (615), followed by big Rapids (621), Haslett (622) and Tecumseh (626) in the top five of the 15-school standing.
Hamilton’s Nick Carson was medalist with a139 (71-68), edging DeWitt’s Tyler Polulak (68-71—139) on a playoff hole.
Avondale did not have any players near the top 10 in the medalist standings. Steven Carter (78-78—156), Blake Blomberg (85-81—166), Troy May (88-83—171), Nikolas Senkowski (85-89—174) and Spencer Jacobson (87-93—180) all competed for the Yellowjackets. All are seniors except for Senkowski, who is a freshman.
Avondale still had a fine season overall, finishing second at both the Heather Highlands district (326) and Fieldstone regional (323) and 11th at the prestigious Oakland County Division I Championships (326). Avondale also won the OAA Blue Division league title, going unbeaten in duals and winning both league tournaments.
“Looking back, we accomplished a lot of our goals,” said Maley. “We won our league, qualified out of our district and regional and made it to the state finals. I know we didn’t finish in the top 10 because they guys believed they were good enough. They just had a couple of off days at the state finals. That’s golf.
“But what they have accomplished overall is what I am really proud of,” continued Maley. “Now I look down in the lower grades and in the middle school and see a lot more interest in golf than I did a few years ago. I’m hoping that this group of seniors helped lay the foundation for something greater.”
To submit information to www.northoaklandsports.com, e-mail dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com. To advertise, e-mail advertising@northoaklandsports.com . Follow us on Twitter @LocalSportsFans and more than a dozen other social media networks.
FOR MORE GOLF COVERAGE: http://northoaklandsports.com/?s=Golf&x=9&y=14
Have photos or video of this event that you wish to share? E-mail pertinent information to www.northoaklandsports.com Senior Editor Dan Stickradt at dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com or e-mail results@northoaklandsports.com
Category: Auburn Hills Avondale, Featured Articles, High School, High School (M-Z), Most Recently Updated Stories, Prep Wraps, Top Stories, Uncategorized
ADDITIONAL LINKS:
FALL SPORTS
FOOTBALL: http://northoaklandsports.com/?s=Football&x=12&y=12
SOCCER: http://northoaklandsports.com/?s=soccer&x=0&y=0
CROSS COUNTRY: http://northoaklandsports.com/?s=Cross+country&x=11&y=10
GOLF: http://northoaklandsports.com/?s=Golf&x=9&y=14
TENNIS: http://northoaklandsports.com/?s=Tennis&x=13&y=4
VOLLEYBALL: http://northoaklandsports.com/?s=Volleyball&x=0&y=9
SWIMMING: http://northoaklandsports.com/?s=Swimming&x=11&y=14
WINTER SPORTS
BASKETBALL: http://northoaklandsports.com/?s=Basketball&x=13&y=12
WRESTLING: http://northoaklandsports.com/?s=wrestling&x=10&y=9
SKIING: http://northoaklandsports.com/?s=Skiing&x=5&y=14
GYMNASTICS: http://northoaklandsports.com/?s=Gymnastics&x=10&y=12
HOCKEY: http://northoaklandsports.com/?s=Hockey&x=11&y=14
SWIMMING: http://northoaklandsports.com/?s=Swimming&x=11&y=14
BOWLING: http://northoaklandsports.com/?s=Bowling&x=4&y=13
COMPETITIVE CHEER: http://northoaklandsports.com/?s=Competitive+Cheer&x=6&y=10
SPRING SPORTS
BASEBALL: http://northoaklandsports.com/?s=Baseball&x=16&y=13
SOFTBALL: http://northoaklandsports.com/?s=Softball&x=8&y=11
TRACK AND FIELD: http://northoaklandsports.com/?s=track&x=14&y=11
LACROSSE: http://northoaklandsports.com/?s=lacrosse&x=12&y=9
TENNIS: http://northoaklandsports.com/?s=Tennis&x=13&y=4
GOLF: http://northoaklandsports.com/?s=Golf&x=9&y=14
SOCCER: http://northoaklandsports.com/?s=soccer&x=0&y=0