Career bests lead to new season-low for Petoskey golf at Division 2 state finals
EAST LANSING — Petoskey golf coach Chad Loe talks a lot about the process of the sport.
It’s hard to just change overnight and keep that consistency on the course, but over time, those little things and pieces of that process add up to negatives on the scorecard.
Case in point?
Loe will need to point no further than this past weekend’s Division 2 state championship match at Forest Akers East in East Lansing.
Through two rounds of predictably bad weather at the finals, the Petoskey girls turned in a pair of season-low rounds for the year to finish 10th overall within Division 2.
That’s the process at work.
“I’m very proud of the girls,” said Loe. “We had our two lowest round of the year under immense pressure, terrible rainy conditions, it was cold and they played great. You want to peak at the right time and we did. We really did.”
Petoskey entered with a previous low of 353 for the season, though regularly shot around the 360-370 range, depending on the challenges of the course.
On Friday, Petoskey added a new low of 351, tying them for sixth after the first round. On day two, another season-low came, as they fired a 350.
Farmington Hills Mercy earned the D2 state championship with a 317-319–636, followed then by Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood and their 325-328–653.
Petoskey’s 701 total was just a stroke off a tie for ninth with Lowell.
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Along with the impressive team score, everyone within the lineup shined for Petoskey, as they were one of just six teams among the 18 that didn’t have a golfer shoot 100 or higher on either day.
“Both days, all five girls were under 100,” added Loe. “That was great. We were very, very happy about that. Each girl played under their average both days. That’s pretty impressive.
“The four scores we took (Saturday) were all in the 80s, that’s a first. That was very impressive. We had several even on Friday. We had several girls get their career low on Friday.”
Lauren Davis of Coopersville earned the individual state title with a 70-70–140, followed then by Dexter’s Avery Manning’s 76-68–144.
For Petoskey, Marley Spence came through big in her final round for the Northmen, capping her career with an 82-86–168, shooting a new low in the process.
“She had a season-low of 83 earlier in the year, then to come back with a new low in her last two rounds, knowing that it’s the end and under that pressure, she was able to do it,” said Loe on Spence. “She’s been an amazing leader for us all year. She’s very inclusive of the other girls, very caring. It just goes on and on.”
Sophomore Riley Barr tied Spence with an 81-87–168, a stroke off matching her career-low round on Friday. Sara Hasse shot 95-89–184, Emma Berg finished with a 97–88–185, then senior Sophia Gardner shot a new low of 93 in her final round Friday, then freshman Anna Hasse shot a 97 Saturday for a combined 190.
With Spence and Gardner graduating within the lineup, there’s some pieces that need to be replaced obviously, though Loe is excited about that process taking shape with another offseason ahead.
There’s clearly some great momentum to roll into the months and season ahead.
“We have high hopes for next year,” said Loe. “There were some girls that had some injuries this year, so I’m expecting good things out of them too.
“This is just building on the idea of the process. It’s not just that of the season, but the process of a high school career. Seeing that development, the improvement of the mental and physical side. Any golfer knows the mental side is the most difficult part and these girls are doing that.”
DIVISION 4
Charlevoix, East Jordan at State Finals
BATTLE CREEK — The Charlevoix and East Jordan girls golf programs each competed at the Division 4 state championships over the weekend at Bedford Valley in Battle Creek.
Charlevoix came in 12th place with a 449–429–878, while East Jordan carded a 13th place finish with a 440–441–881.
Lansing Catholic earned the state title with a 357–348–705, then Mia Melendez of Ann Arbor Greenhills earned the individual title with a 79–69–148.
Charlevoix’s Avery Kita continued her strong finish to the season and led with a 93-95–188 for the Rayders. Sarah Pletcher show 113-103–216; Emma Meadows, 121-110–231; Macey McKeown, 122-121–243; and Amelia Drenth, 123-123–246.
For East Jordan, Hannah Fortune led with a 105–98–203; Lila Kelly, 113-105–218; Olivia Maher, 111-115–226; Maddy Bearden, 111-123–234; and Jocelynn Cebulski, 130-125–255.
Contact Sports Editor Drew Kochanny at dkochanny@petoskeynews.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DrewKochanny, and Instagram, @drewkochanny
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: New season-low round propels Petoskey golf to top 10 finish
