2013 ALL-AREA GIRLS GOLF: Youth movement drives postseason squad
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BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
Twitter: @LocalSportsFans
In terms of individual and team success in 2013, the talent pool of girls golf gained plenty highlight moments this past season.
After somewhat of a down year in 2012, four local teams finished in the top 10 at the state finals in either Division 1 or Division 2. Rochester Stoney Creek landed second in Division 1 with Troy finishing third and Lake Orion 10th. Over in D-2, Auburn Hills Avondale placed seventh with its best-ever state finish.
Area teams also dotted the landscape with dozens of top-10 finishes at a variety of tournaments, including Troy and Rochester Stoney Creek winning regional crowns.
Individually, the talent on area teams was improved and the future looks bright as many area schools will bring back a bulk of their talent for the 2014 season.
The All-North Oakland Area Team, selected by NOS staff, highlights several of these talented players, who have compiled impressive resumes in recent months. Below are the profiles of the 11-member first team:
JENNIFER YANG, Troy Athens: Perhaps the area’s top golfer, this four-time state qualifier capped her prep career by finishing sixth overall at the Division 1 state finals (77-84-161). The senior won four tournaments and placed second at three others. She was second at the Dearborn Country Club regional (75), won the second OAA White Division tournament (71) and placed second at the first league tourney. Yang also won the Davison Invite, Farmington Invite and the Milford Invite and placed second at the Lapeer Open. She led the area with a 74.6 tournament average and 37.1 dual match average and wound up on the All-State First Team Division 1 for the third consecutive season. Yang also garnered All-Oakland County First Team and the All-OAA White Division honors.
CHLOE GUSCHEWSKI, Rochester Stoney Creek: A four-year varsity veteran, Guschewski helped the Cougars return to the state finals after a one-year absence and finish in the state runner-up slot for the third time this decade. The senior averaged 80.3 for tournaments and 41.4 for dual matches and was consistent in tournaments all season. She was 13th at the D-1 state finals (87-81-168), finished fourth at the second OAA Red Division Tournament and won the first league tourney with a 71. She also won the Troy Invitational (71) and Port Huron Country Club regional (80) and placed sixth at both the Oakland County Division I Tournament and NextTee Invitational. Guschewski topped off the campaign by earning All-State First Team, All-Oakland County First Team and All-OAA Red Division accolades.
LAUREN INGLE, Rochester Stoney Creek: One of three freshmen named to the All-Area First Team, Ingle’s debut season featured a 79.6 tournament average and a 39.3 dual match average. She placed 15th at the D-1 state finals (88-82-170), fourth at the regional, 17th at the County D-I tourney, second at the first OAA-Red Division and sixth at the second league tournament, third at the Troy Invitational (73) and won the NextTee Invitational with a season-low round of 71. Overall, she impacted the scene with seven top-10 finishes at tournaments and earned All-State Honorable Mention Division 1. She also garnered All-OAA Red Division and All-County First Team honors.
BAILEY COMPTON, Rochester Stoney Creek: A junior in her third season of varsity competition, Compton stepped up her game in the latter stages of the campaign to aid her team’s regional championship and state runner-up showing. She tied for 19th (86-86-172) at the D-1 state finals after winning both the Port Huron Country Club regional (80) and Oakland County D-I Tournament (75) as a tri-medalist. Compton also had a pair of 10th-place finishes at the OAA Red Division tournaments and earned All-OAA Red Division and All-County Second Team status.
MACKENZIE BLOMBERG, Auburn Hills Avondale: In her third varsity campaign, Blomberg helped the Yellowjackets claim their best-ever season and did so by finishing as medalists at three dual matches along with several high finishes at tournaments. Named All-State First Team Division 2, All-OAA White Division and All-County Honorable Mention, Blomberg’s season ended with a 12th-place finish at the state finals (84-85-169). She also claimed second at the Heather Highlands regional (79), won the Oakland County Division II Tournament (76), placed fourth at the second OAA-White Division Tournament and 10th at the second league tournament, 27th at the Suntel Invitational and 12th at the Highlands Invitational. The junior averaged 41.0 for duals and 83.6 for 18 holes.
SWING AWAY:Auburn Hills Avondale junior Mackenzie Blomberg is one of 11 players selected to the 2013 All-North Oakland Area Girls Golf Team. File Photo | Larry McKee, www.lmckeephotography.com
VERONICA HAQUE, Rochester: Another talented freshman, Haque’s debut season ended up with her qualifying for the Division 1 state finals and placing 19th overall (84-88-172). She finished as the tri-medalist at the Oakland County Division I Tournament and posted several other top-10 finishes. Named All-County Second Team and All-OAA Red Division, Haque’s resume included placing fifth at the Port Huron Country Club regional (83), fourth at the second league tournament (78), third at the first league tournament (74), 10th at the Brighton Invite (80), second at the Traverse City Invite (87-70-157), sixth at the Holt Invite (78) and third at the 3Ms Invite (77). She averaged 41.6 for duals and 80.2 for tournaments.
MOYEA RUSSELL, Lake Orion: Lake Orion reached the state finals for the first time since the spring 2007 season and landed many notable performances thanks to this freshman’s steadiness during her inaugural varsity season. Russell was 24th at the D-1 state finals (88-87-175), placed sixth at the Port Huron Country Club regional (84), 25th at the County D-I tourney (86), third at the first OAA Red Division tournament (74) and eighth at the second league tourney (82), and finished fourth at the Troy Invite (74).
NAOMI KIM, Troy: On a team dominated by underclassmen, this sophomore was instrumental in helping the Colts win a regional and place third at the D-1 state finals, where she finished 12th overall (86-81-167). Kim also placed in the top 10 at both OAA Red Division tournaments to garner all-league honors, placed fifth at the Dearborn Country Club regional (78) and 17th at the County D-I championships (82). She also earned All-County Honorable Mention accolades.
JENNIFER CUI, Troy: A 23rd-place finish at the D-1 state finals (86-89-175) capped this sophomore’s fine season which featured many notable finishes. The sophomore was sixth at the Dearborn Country Club regional (79), tied for fourth at the County D-I Tournament (77) and was top-10 at both OAA Red Division tournaments. She earned All-OAA Red Division and All-County Honorable Mention honors.
PAIGE JOHNSON, Holly: Despite an off weekend at the Division 2 state finals, this sophomore had a fine season with several quality finishes. The All-Flint Metro League selection was third at the league tournament (87), seventh at the county D-II Tournament (88), seventh at the Heather Highlands regional (85), 13th at the Traverse City Invitational and 40th at the D-II state finals (93-99-192).
KYLA KURCHEWSKI, Oxford: A senior and one of the Wildcats’ all-time best golfers, Kurchewski earned all-conference honors all four years of her prep career. The All-OAA White Division honoree was top 10 at both league tournaments including a victory at the first league tournament (81), finished 13th at the Port Huron Country Club regional (83), 23rd at the Oakland County D-I tournament (84) and ninth at the Lapeer Open (86). She has committed to play golf for Olivet College.
COACH OF THE YEAR
ANDREA MARTIN, Auburn Hills Avondale: In her first season with the program and her first as a head coach overall, Martin guided this junior-heavy team to its best-ever season. Although the Yellowjackets were 3-4 overall in duals and 2-2 inside OAA White Division play, Avondale won the Oakland County Division II Tournament for the first time and also placed third at the Heather Highlands regional to advance to the Division 2 state finals for the first time in school history. A true rags-to-riches story as Avondale only finished with two golfers in 2011, Avondale’s season was capped by a fine seventh-place finish at the D-2 state finals (373-374-747), a stellar turnaround.
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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.
2013 ALL-NORTH OAKLAND AREA GIRLS GOLF TEAM
FIRST TEAM
NAME SCHOOL GRADE
Jennifer Yang Troy Athens Senior
Chloe Guschewski Roch. Stoney Creek Senior
Lauren Ingle Roch. Stoney Creek Frosh.
Bailey Compton Roch. Stoney Creek Junior
Mackenzie Blomberg A.H. Avondale Junior
Veronica Hague Rochester Frosh.
Moyea Russell Lake Orion Frosh.
Naomi Kim Troy Soph.
Jennifer Cui Troy Soph.
Paige Johnson Holly Soph.
Kyla Kurchewski Oxford Senior
COACH OF THE YEAR
Andrea Martin A.H. Avondale First Season
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Auburn Hills Avondale: Courtney Morton, jr.; Caroline Riley, jr.; Clarkston: Dana Olsen, sr.; Miranda Marshall, jr.; Holly: Jenna Pepper, soph.; Lake Orion: Lauren Donaldson, soph.; Sam Fox, jr.; Ortonville Brandon: Kelsey Edwards, jr.; Oxford: Emily Cleland, sr.; Pontiac Notre Dame Prep: Maddie McClune, jr.; Samantha Raggio, sr.; Rochester: Brooke Busse, fr.; Erika Yang, fr.; Rochester Adams: Carly Densmore, sr.; Briana Beger, sr.; Andi Chaloult, soph.; Troy: Amanda McCafferty, sr.; Troy Athens: Jenna Yora, soph.
Category: All Area Teams, Auburn Hills Avondale, Clarkston, Featured Articles, Golf, High School, High School (M-Z), Holly, Lake Orion, Most Recently Updated Stories, Ortonville Brandon, Oxford, Pontiac, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, Prep Wraps, Rochester, Rochester Adams, Rochester Hills Lutheran NW, Rochester Stoney Creek, Sport, Stats / Area Leaders, Top Stories, Troy, Troy Athens, Uncategorized, Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes
