KALAMAZOO, MI — Familiar faces and newcomers will represent the Kalamazoo area in next week’s men’s golf final, after seven local teams continued their seasons with strong performances at their respective regional tournaments.
Richland Gull Lake was the region’s only regional champion, and the Blue Devils also had regional senior medalist Bryce Wheeler, who is among the state’s top Division 2 title contenders.
Portage Central ended a long state finals drought by clinching their berth in Division 1, and the Mustangs also featured regional junior medalist Ethan Tiller, who tallied five birdies to shoot his second straight round. below normal.
Mattawan, Vicksburg, Schoolcraft, Kalamazoo Hackett and Kalamazoo Christian round out the area teams that advance to the state finals. So follow to see all the local athletes who will be competing in the state finals.
Center Port
Division: 1
Regional Score/Result: 314, 3rd place at Stonegate Golf Club
Final info: June 10-11 at Ferris State’s Katke Golf Course
Condition Rating: Unclassified
Top 5: Ethan Tiller (Jr.), Will Thomas (Soph.), Noah Sidell (Sr.), Garrett Trumblee (Sr.), Anthony Lalomia (Sr.)
Remarks: Although Portage Central has produced several individual qualifiers over the past decade, the Mustangs are back in the team national finals for the first time since 2006, following a regional third-place finish at Stonegate on Thursday. Ethan Tiller took medal honors with a 71, which was tied for the fifth-best regional round in Division 1. Sophomore Will Thomas carded a 79, while Portage Central’s senior trio of Noah Sidell, Garrett Trumblee and Anthony Lalomia shot rounds of 81, 83 and 84, respectively.
Richland Gull Lake
Division: 2
Regional Score/Result: 314, 1st place at North Stonehedge
Final info: June 10-11 at The Meadows in Grand Valley State
Condition Rating: No. 2
Top 5: Bryce Wheeler (Sr.), Chase Kosin (Fr.), Hank Livingston (Fr.), Ben Szabo (Soph.), Will Beardsley (Jr.)
Remarks: Gull Lake won its second straight region and is heading to the state finals for the fifth consecutive season, thanks to impressive performances from veterans and youngsters. State title contender Bryce Wheeler took medal honors with a 71, tied for the fifth-best regional round in Division 2. Rookies Chase Kosin and Hank Livingston had rounds of 79 and 80 in their first regional tournament, while Ben Szabo and Will Beardsley rounded out the Blue Devils top five with scores of 84 and 86.
According to the iWanamaker rating system, Gull Lake is the second highest rated team in the state in Division 2 behind South Lyon East, so expect the Blue Devils to be in contention for a state title in a little over a week.
Mattawan
Division: 2
Regional Score/Result: 322, 2nd place at North Stonehedge
Final info: June 10-11 at The Meadows in Grand Valley State
Condition Rating: No. 10
Top 5: Matthew Novak (Soph.), Cameron Graver (Soph.), Will Kuiper (Jr.), Eason Haller (Soph.), Logan McClish (Sr.)
Remarks: Mattawan returns to the State Finals for the first time since 2018, when the Wildcats placed seventh in Division 2. Matthew Novak and Logan McClish are the only ones to return from last year’s season-ending top five with a 10th place finish in their division. 1 regional tournament, but Division 2 has been much kinder to the Wildcats in 2022.
Novak led the way with a 73 at regionals which was good for second place overall, while Cameron Graver (81), Will Kuiper (83), Eason Haller (85) and McClish (85) all made it to shoot solid rounds and help the Wildcats advance.
Vicksburg
Division: 2
Regional Score/Result: 330, 3rd place at Stonehedge North
Final info: June 10-11 at The Meadows in Grand Valley State
Condition Rating: Unclassified
Top 5: Riley Briggs (Fr.), Luke Malocha (Soph.), Garrett Schramer (Jr.), Josiah McClelland (Jr.), Landon Daniels (Soph.)
Remarks: Vicksburg earned its first trip to the State Finals since finishing fifth in Division 2 in 2010, and it looks like the Bulldogs’ program has a bright future. Despite not having a senior in its top five, Vicksburg kept an even pin on the course and earned a stellar regional round from rookie Riley Briggs, who shot a 79 to lead the Bulldogs. Luke Malocha (83), Garrett Schramer (84) and Josiah McClelland (84) all stayed in the 80s, while Landon McDaniels shot a respectable 92 to round out the top five.
school crafts
Division: 3
Regional Score/Result: 365, 2nd place at Beeches Golf Club
Final info: June 10 and 11 at Frankenmuth Fortress
Condition Rating: Unclassified
Top 5: Tyler DeGroote (Sr.), Ty Rykse (Sr.), Lucas Wheeler (Fr.), Jack VanDam (Jr.), Aidan Flinton (Jr.)
Remarks: Schoolcraft clinched their ticket to the state finals for the seventh straight season thanks in large part to a few key contributors to the Eagles state basketball championship team – Tyler DeGroote and Ty Rykse – who opened the lane with rounds of 87 and 89, respectively. Lucas Wheeler (93), Jack VanDam (96) and Aidan Flinton (99) all beat 100 points at regionals to round out the team’s top five.
Kalamazoo Hackett
Division: 4
Regional Score/Result: 351, 2nd place at Klinger Lake Country Club
Final info: June 10 and 11 at Forest Akers West, Michigan
Condition Rating: Number 6
Top 5: Joey Blondia (Fr.), Niklas Johansson (Jr.), Chris Ogrin (Fr.), Noah Emmer (Fr.), Andrew Ogrin (Fr.)
Remarks: Without the canceled 2020 season, Kalamazoo Hackett would likely be aiming for their fourth straight state title, but the Irish still bring a target on their backs on their 15th straight trip to the Division 4 finals after winning it all in 2019 and 2021. Hackett won’t features just one returning top-five player from last year at juniors Niklas Johansson, who finished tied for the team lead with an 86 at regionals. The rest of Hackett’s top five consists of freshmen, but the youngsters kept their cool and continued the team’s state title streak, with three of the four rookies beating 100. Joey Blondia carded an 86, while Chris Ogrin shot an 88, Noah Emmer a 91 and Andrew Ogrin a 101.
The Irish won’t be favored to keep their league streak alive, but they have a bright future.
Christian Kalamazoo
Division: 4
Regional Score/Result: 353, 3rd place at Klinger Lake Country Club
Final info: June 10 and 11 at Forest Akers West, Michigan
Condition Rating: No. 9
Top 5: Drew Vanderlaan (Jr.), Ethan Verkaik (Jr.), Isaac Riggs (Fr.), Nathan Fetterley (Fr.), Jack Gano (Soph.)
Remarks: Like rival Kalamazoo Hackett, K-Christian doesn’t have a senior on his roster, but the Comets also impressed in regionals to secure their seventh straight trip to the state finals. Drew Vanderlaan and Ethan Verkaik were both part of a top five K-Christian who finished fifth in the Division 4 Finals last year, and they paved the way for this year’s regional tournament with rounds of 80 and 83, respectively. Isaac Riggs also beat 100 with an 87, while Nathan Fetterley and Jack Gano rounded out the group shooting 103 rounds.
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