10/22/2006

Norsemen save best for last

Suttons Bay edges St. Francis for state crown

From staff reports

ALLENDALE — No district title. No regional title. No problem for the Suttons Bay Norsemen.

Suttons Bay won the biggest prize of all Saturday, claiming its third Division 4 state golf championship since 2000 at Grand Valley State's The Meadows.

Led by sophomore Charlie Olson — the only underclassman in the lineup — Suttons Bay held off St. Francis, 647-651.

"This is exciting," Norsemen coach Todd Hursey said. "Everybody stepped up.

"But I'm really happy for our seniors — that they could finish their careers with a state championship. There have been high expectations for these guys since their freshmen year. They've had great careers, but they knew what they needed to do this weekend to validate it."

The Norsemen finished second in 2004 and third a year ago.

"We've been right there the last two or three years," senior Nate Kelly said. "This time we were able to get it done."

Olson shot a 79 to spark the Norsemen, who posted a 328 on Saturday. Kelly chipped in with an 80, David Tropf 84 and Josh Schaub 85. Drew Palmer, the team's low scorer on Friday, fired an 87. All are seniors — except Olson.

"At no point did I say it's now or never," Hursey said. "But they (seniors) knew this was their last chance to do it. It was a great thrill to see them put it together like this — when they had to.

"I was concerned — because we are so senior loaded — the guys might put too much pressure on themselves. It's tough to play your best like that. But these guys did exactly what they had to."

St. Francis entered Saturday six strokes behind the Norsemen. The Gladiators, the 2004 state champions, could only make up two.

"We gave it a valiant effort," St. Francis coach Jim Hornyak said. "My hat's off to Suttons Bay. They have a great team. They deserved it."

St. Francis was led by sophomores Andrew Walukonis and Tony Casciano. Walukonis shot a 79 Saturday, Casciano an 82. Blaine Casciano, who did not play Friday, also carded an 82. Chris Dendrinos fired an 83.

Overall, Walukonis and Tony Casciano tied for third with a two-day total of 158.

For Suttons Bay, Kelly was sixth with a 159 and Olson ninth with a 160.

"We've been close with Suttons Bay all year," Hornyak said. "We would win one (tournament), then they would win one. That's how it went this weekend. They beat us Friday, we beat them (Saturday). We just spotted them too many strokes (entering Saturday's round)."

Harbor Springs, which beat Suttons Bay and St. Francis in the regional, finished fourth with a 670. Teddy Griffin shot an 80 Saturday. He tied Kelly and North Muskegon's Evan Aamodt for sixth overall with a 159.

Tyler Parkin carded an 82, Kyle Sanderson 90 and Jordan Lechowicz 91 Saturday.

"I think this (state tournament) says something about how strong northern Michigan golf is," Hursey said.

St. Francis, ranked No. 1 entering the state tournament, returns four of its top six next season.

"We're looking forward to next year," Hornyak said. "In the last five years we've finished fourth, third (tied for first but lost a three-team tiebreaker), first, second and second. We should be competitive again."

Three players were at the Division 4 final as individuals. Traverse City Christian's Matt Yeiter finished just outside the top 10 with a 78 on Saturday after an 86 in the first round. Inland Lakes' Brent Vizina finished with a 169 (84-85) and Manistee Catholic's Zach Smith a 184 (93-91).

Playing as an individual at the Division 2 state final, Petoskey freshman Joey Garber finished second overall with a 142. Garber shot a 66 in the second round.

At the Division 3 final, Elk Rapids finished 15th with a 709. Jason Gray led the Elks on Saturday with an 85 while Andy Paulosky added an 88, Aaron Mayes a 90 and Tyler Cody an 93.