08/17/2006

Strong finish sparks Suttons Bay

FROM STAFF REPORTS

ACME — A strong finish helped the Suttons Bay golf team do the same at the first day of the Traverse City Tee-Off Invitational at Grand Traverse Resort.

The Norsemen shot a team score of 299 at The Wolverine on Wednesday to sit in second place heading into the final day of the tournament, which finishes on the Spruce Run course.

Hudsonville sits atop a crowded leaderboard with a 296. Okemos is third with a 302 while Brighton and Grand Blanc are tied for fourth at 306.

Suttons Bay's six players played the final two holes in a combined 2-over par in the tournament, where the four lowest scores count towards the team total.

"With a 6½-hour round, my biggest concern was how we would finish," Suttons Bay coach Todd Hursey said. "The fact that all six guys finished their rounds strong is why we're in second place."

Leading the way for Suttons Bay was Nate Kelly, who carded a 72 to share first-day medalist honors with Robbie McNiff of Muskegon Mona Shores. Kelly's 4-under broke the school record of 2-under par previously held by Nate's older brother, Sean Kelly, and Nick Stanek.

Josh Schaub added a 76, Charlie Olson a 77 and Drew Palmer a 78 for Suttons Bay. The two scores the Norsemen didn't count were a 79 by David Tropf and an 80 by Chris Wanroy.

Two other players broke par on Wednesday. Matt Fuller of Clarkston and Alex Simson of Columbus Academy in Ohio each fired 71s.

"The kids really played well," TC Central coach Dave McMellen said. "A lot of the teams were up here for three or four days practicing, getting a feel for the courses. So I wasn't surprised by the scores."

TC West is 20th after the first day with a 333. Counting for the Titans were Shane Hoffman (82), Brian Kelly (83), Travis Walkowiak (84) and Josh Peterson (84).

Cadillac is 21st with a 335, a stroke ahead of TC Central. The TC Central Black team is 26th with a 350.

Alex Smith led Cadillac with a 77 while Phil Gorman added an 82, Micky Malmborg an 87 and Adam Hodges an 89. Ben Jones led TC Central with a 76 while Shane Darrow and Matt Gauthier carded 86s and Clay Lesley an 88.

Brent Stevens paced TC Central Black with an 83. Blake Knoblock added an 87, Chris Boone an 89 and Billy Korreck a 91.

In addition to battling for the top spot, Hursey is also trying to stay in front of his brother. Ty Hursey is the coach at Okemos.

"It'll be interesting to see that little family competition," McMellen said.

TC St. Francis captures Russ Harvey Invitational

Andrew Walukonis was medalist with a 73 to lead Traverse City St. Francis to victory at the Russ Harvey Invitational on Wednesday.

The Gladiators finished with a score of 319 on Boyne Mountain's Alpine course.

In addition to his 73, Blaine Casciano added an 81, Mike Dendrinos an 82 and Tony Casciano an 83.

University of Detroit-Jesuit was second and first among Division 1-2 teams with a 323, seven shots ahead of Alpena.

Harbor Springs was second in Division 3-4 and fourth overall with a 333.

The Rams had two players on the all-tourney team in Tyler Parkin (76) and Teddy Griffin (79). Duke Dyksterhouse added an 85 and Kyle Anderson a 93.

Other area players on the all-tournament team with Walukonis, Parkin and Griffin were Joey Garber of Petoskey (78) and Zach Rygwelski (79).

Kingsley 162
L.L. St. Mary's 182

Sean Overheul shot a 39 to lead Kingsley to a season-opening victory over first-year team Lake Leelanau St. Mary's, 162-182.

Miles Guy added a 40, Andrew Overheul a 41 and John Bodjack a 42.

Adam Peplinski led St. Mary's with a 41. Brad Schaub carded a 44, Stephen Haibel a 48 and Greg Alsip a 49.