Sabers hold on to
1st in league with 2 wins at jamboree
Onekama
goes 2-0 behind Capper’s 77
By MATT WENZEL Manistee News Advocate
Sports Editor
BEAR LAKE — After 18 holes of league play
among six teams with 12 separate nine-hole matches and a lot of math,
the situation was boiled down rather simply with a little friendly trash
talking between coaches.
Manistee Catholic Central is in the drivers’ seat for a West Michigan D
League title and it’s up to Onekama to catch up.
“We want to beat MCC in the conference tournament so we can share the
conference,” said Onekama coach Mary Jo Zadow. “That will be the goal.”
The Sabers won both their matches in a jamboree at Bear Lake County
Highlands Tuesday to move to 5-0 in the league. The Portagers won both
of their matches as well, but at 4-1 this season, will have to wait
until the league championship next week at The Colonial in Hart to get a
shot at a split.
Although there was a significant breeze to
deal with at times Tuesday, the Portagers, Bobcats and Sabers all had
players turn in solid rounds and season-lows for 18 holes.
Onekama senior Levi Capper led the way with a five-over-par 77 after
going out in 39 and coming in with 38. “I was feeling great,” said
Capper, who was the match medalist in both of Onekama’s wins. “I just
managed the course really well, played it safe and settled with par.”
For Brethren, which co-ops with Bear Lake, senior Patrick Spalding shot
a 79 total and was the match medalist in the Bobcats’ loss to MCC on the
front nine with a 38. “I hit it all right,” he said. “I was putting out
of my mind, really.”
MCC sophomore Nick Kolanowski forgot his hat Tuesday, but the sunburn on
his face was soothed by an 80, including a match-medalist winning 39 on
the back nine against Mason County Eastern. “It wasn’t bad,” Kolanowski
said. “The 39 was nice. I might leave the hat at home from now on.” |
MCC defeated Brethren on the front nine,
172-184. Kolanowski and Zach Luomala both shot 41, Zack Bialik fired a
43 and Nolan Gunia came in with 47. For Brethren, Spalding led the way
with a 38, Roger Mullet shot a 41, Dillon Arlt a 51 and Dillon VanderBie
a 54.
The Sabers defeated MCE on the back nine, 167-217, led by Kolanowski
(39), Luomala (40), Bialik (42) and Zach Smith (46).
Onekama won its front-nine match against Pentwater with a 168, while the
Falcons didn’t have enough players to turn in a score. Capper shot a 39,
Brenner Johnson went out with a 41, while Drew Griswold and Jake
Matthews both shot 44. The Portagers beat the Bobcats on the back,
169-178. For Onekama, Capper came in
with a 38, followed by Johnson (40), Griswold (45) and Matthews (46).
Spalding led the way for Brethren with a 41, followed by Arlt (43),
Mullet (45) and Justin Brown (49).
“On a windy day like this, we’ll take it,” Zadow said. “Levi shot the
lights out.”
The host Bobcats went 0-2 on the day, but improved as a team from the
day before against McBain NMC, when they shot 203.
“We lost both matches today, but our scores came down,” said Brethren
coach Tom Anderson. “The 178 we shot against Onekama was definitely an
improvement.”
There are two scheduled league events left, but both are team events and
will not factor into the head-to-head matchups, which made up the first
portion of the season.
With an undefeated record, the league title is the Sabers to lose, while
the Portagers are looking to sneak up and earn a split.
“We’re moving on and next week is going to be the big one,” MCC coach
Pete Solwold said of the league championship. “It’ll be interesting.”
Photos below. |
