Prep Wraps
All-Area Boys Golf: Consistency the key for area’s top golfers
BY Dan Stickradt
Jul 09 2010
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
Finding quality high school golfers in Oakland County is the opposite of finding a needle in the haystack. There is a plethora of talented young players out on the links and the level of play in improving all of the time.
Just in the northern and eastern tier of the county, there were four all-state players and several others that put together impressive resumes this past spring, to land spots on the www.northoaklandsports.com All-Area squad, chosen by coaches opinions in conjunction with staff.
The area even featured a state champion and three players that placed in the top 10 at the two-day state finals last month, plus several others that just missed out on a state finals berth.
The profiles of the area’s stars are found below:
MATT BRADY, Rochester Adams: This senior missed some tournament in the middle of the season for advanced testing, but when he was one the golf course he was usually found among the leaders. The four-year varsity veteran posted a 76.5 average for 18 holes to earn all-league honors and he also ended up garnering Division 1 All-State Honorable Mention status. Headed for Division I Elon University on a scholarship, Brady, a co-captain, won the Seaholm Invitational (71), and first OAA Red Division tournament (77), carded a 75 at the Oxford Hills district, a 73 to finish third at the Flushing Valley regional and posted a two-day total of 144 (70-74, even par) at the Division 1 state finals at Forest Akers in East Lansing, good enough to tie him for sixth overall.
“Matt had to miss some tournaments due to some advanced testing the International Academy this season, but when we had him, he was usually one of the top golfers around,” said coach Dan Picot. “He was at his best at the end of the year at the regional and state meet, where he finished up his career in the top 10.”
TYLER COYNE, Auburn Hills Oakland Christian: With No. 1 player Brenden Gres returning to France before the season was completed, Coyne assumed the No. 1 spot for the Lancers during the championship season and led them to a 10th-place team finish at the Division 4 state finals. A sophomore, Coyne averaged 38.8 for nine holes and 78.9 for 18 holes to earn D-4 All-State First-Team status. He was eighth at the MIAC league meet (76), finished fourth at the district (79), third at the regional (76), ninth at the state finals (81-75—155), and 20th at the Holiday Inn Express tournament (77) among his top finishes this season. His best dual meet was a four-under round of 33 at Bald Mountain against Ann Arbor Greenhills.
JAMIE CATTRAN, Troy Athens: A junior in his third season as one of the Red Hawks’ top golfers, Cattran reached the regional level before bowing out. He was top-10 at both OAA White Division tournaments, finished 18th at the Oakland County D-II tournament (78), placed fourth with a 73 at the Hartland district and 23rd at the Farmington regional (76), where more than half of the field broke 80.
JIMMY DELNICK, Clarkston: One of four sophomores on the first team, Delnick was part of the Wolves’ 1-2-3 punch that nearly landed them in the state finals. Finishing with a 78.9 tournament average, the two-year varsity performer was one of three all-league players for Clarkston this season. He finished second at the second OAA Red Division tournament (78), sixth at the Oxford Hills district (75), ninth at the D-I County (75), 10th at the East Lansing Invite (74), 16th at the first OAA-Red tournament (84), 22nd at the Bay City Central tournament (82), 38th at the Flushing Valley regional (82), top-30 at the Traverse City Invite (79-76—155), and 48th at the Huron Valley Invite (82).
“He’s been on our varsity both years in high school and I think he has the talent to be our No. 1 golfer next season,” said coach Pete Gallagher. “Jimmy had some really good rounds this season shooting in the mid-70s on a couple of occasions. I’m looking forward to working with him in the future.”
NICK HOCKER, Oxford: Another sophomore on the first team, Hocker led the Wildcats to a fourth-place finish in the Flint Metro League standings and a berth in the regional round of the state tournament. He was third at the Oxford Hills district (74), fourth at the Lapeer Tune-Up (76), 10th at the Bay City Central Invitational (78) and 10th at the FML tournament (79) among his best outings. He shot an 86 at the regional and out of the top 25. The all-league honoree averaged 79.0 for tournaments and broke 40 in eight of 10 dual matches.
“He has been a two-year starter for us and we saw improvement from the previous year,” said coach Terry Kelley. “He had some really good rounds of golf this season, especially at the district tournament. I think his best golf is ahead of him.”
ZACH PREUSS, Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest: This sophomore finished in the top 10 at all but one tournament this season, but saved his first tournament victory for the big stage. Preuss won the two-day Division 4 state championship (77-71—148) to become the Crusaders’ first state champion in boys golf. He was second at the MIAC league meet, third at the Bald Mountain regional, third at the district, second at the Oakland County Division II tournament and eighth at the Jackson Urschalitz Invitational. He was named to the All-State First Team.
NICK ROBESON, Clarkston: One of two seniors from Clarkston on the first team, Robeson finished with a 78.6 average to earn all-league status in the OAA Red Division.
He was third at the first league tournament (79) and second at the second league tourney (79), eighth at the Flushing Valley regional (76), 11th at the Oxford Hills district (77), 19th at the D-I County, top-20 at the Traverse City Invite (75-77—152), 24th at the East Lansing Invite (77), 48th at the Huron Valley Invite (82), and 50th at the Bay City Central tournament (86).
“I thought Nick played really well at some tournaments, especially at the league, district and regional tournaments and he played tough up at Traverse City tournament,” said Gallagher. “We played a really tough schedule and played on some very tough courses this season and he averaged in the high 70s. He was a big part of our success this season.”
ERIC SHYU, Rochester: A sophomore in his second varsity campaign, Shyu was the Falcons’ most consistent performer this season and earned All-OAA Red Division status this spring. He was champion at the Oakland County Division II tournament (70) to lead the Falcons to the team title. He was top-five at the Temperance Bedford tourney (77), shot a 78 and 80 to finish in the top 10 at both OAA Red tournaments, and carded an 81
at the Flushing Valley regional for 24th place. He held a 79.0 average for the season.
“Although we had another player make the state finals, Eric was our most consistent player all season,” said coach Paul Marti. “He had our best average and he placed high at more tournaments. I think Eric is going to become a very good player. He improved a lot since last season.”
NICK VANBIESBROUCK, Auburn Hills Oakland Christian: The Lancers were ranked in the top 10 in Division 4 the whole season and VanBiesbrouck is one of the reasons why. He finished with an 80 average for tournaments, but was at his best in the final weeks of the season. The junior, son of former NHL goaltender John VanBiesbrouck, also had a 38.0 average for nine holes, was fourth at the MIAC tournament (80), third at the district (77), third at the Bald Mountain regional (76), 60th at the Holiday Inn Express tournament (83), and top-30 at the Oakland County Division I tournament (80), where the Lancers were top 10 in a field of mostly D-1 and D-2 schools. At the D-4 state finals, he finished 22nd overall (85-78—163). He was named all-league, all-district, all-region and All-State Honorable Mention.
ALEX WAELCHLI, Lake Orion: Although just a freshman, Waelchli made quite a debut onto the prep scene as the Dragons’ top golfer in 2010. He collected multiple top-20 finishes at tournaments, including second at the first OAA Red Division tournament (78). He was fifth at the second league tourney (80) to garner all-league status, placed sixth at the Oxford Hills district (75), 14th at the Oakland County D-I tournament (77),15th at the Bay City Central tournament (83), but was well out of the top-20 at the Flushing Valley regional (84).
TAYLOR WALKER, Clarkston: This senior finished with a 77.9 average after several notable finishes for the OAA Red Division champion Wolves. He was second at the Bay City Central tournament (76), third at the first OAA Red Division tournament (79) and 13th at the second league tourney (83), eighth at the Huron Valley tournament (75), ninth at the Oxford Hills district (76), 14th at the County D-I (77), top-25 at the Traverse City Invitational (79-77—157), 22nd at the Flushing Valley regional (79), and 31st at the East Lansing Invite (78).
“Taylor was just really consistent all season,” said Gallagher. “He didn’t win any tournaments, but he placed in the top-10 or top-20 in almost all of them. He shot between 75 and 83 in all of his tournaments.”
MATT WERNER, Rochester Adams: Werner is also known for his skills out on the ice in hockey, as he will play for the Bridgewater Bandits of the Eastern Hockey League. Finishing with an 80 average for 18 holes, Werner was also an Academic All-State honoree. The co-captain carded a 74 on Spruce Run at the Traverse City Invitational, a 77 at the Oxford Hills district (10th) and 79 at the regional (top-20) among his top finishes. He was also fifth (81) at the first OAA Red Division tournament and 11th at the second league tourney (82).
“Matt had some really strong rounds this season and when he was on his game, he was often in the top 10,” said Picot.
Coach of the Year
PETE GALLAGHER, Clarkston: In his first season as head coach for the Wolves, Gallagher led Clarkston to the OAA Red Division championship and numerous top-10 team finishes at a variety of tournaments. Although the Wolves were only 3-2 in duals, they won both league tournaments to capture the overall league title. Clarkston was also second at the Oakland County Division I tournament, third at the Bay City Central tournament, ninth at the Huron Valley Invitational, and 10th at the Traverse City Invitational. In the postseason, the Wolves were fourth at both the Oxford Hills district and Flushing Valley regional, the latter with a 313 team score, one stroke behind Traverse City West and one stroke from a state finals pass.
“What I liked about this group is that, as a team, they were a coachable group and very consistent,” said Gallagher. “The only tournaments we won were the two league tournaments, but I don’t think we finished out of the top 10 at any tournaments except for one and we were top five at the district, regional and county.”
ALL-AREA BOYS GOLF TEAM 2010
FIRST TEAM
Matt Brady Roch. Adams
Jamie Cattran Troy Athens
Tyler Coyne A.H. Oakland Christian
Jimmy Delnick Clarkston
Nick Hocker Oxford
Zach Preuss R.H. Luth. Northwest
Eric Shyu Rochester
Zach Robeson Clarkston
Nick VanBiesbrouck A.H. Oakland Christian
Alex Waelchli Lake Orion
Taylor Walker Clarkston
Matt Werner Roch. Adams
COACH OF THE YEAR
Pete Gallagher Clarkston First Season
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Auburn Hills Avondale: Spencer Jacobson, soph.; Steve Carter, soph.; Auburn Hills Oakland Christian: Brenden Gres, sr.; Clarkston: Andrew Lang, soph.; Clarkston Everest Collegiate: Sam Bellesti, soph.; Lake Orion: Corbin Rainey, jr.; Tyler Draggoo, soph.; Oxford: Doug Piesko, jr.; Rochester: Paul Woo, jr.; Dave Collins, jr.; Rochester Adams: Marcus Robinson, fr.; Ben VanOrman, jr.; Rochester Stoney Creek: John Prosser, sr.; Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest: Thom Kubeshesky, jr.; Troy: J.R. Graham, jr.; Jeff Holmes, soph.; James Heichel, fr.; Troy Athens: James VanNoord, jr.; Brian Flewelling, sr.
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Last updated: Sep 08 2010 at 5:25 AM
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