Sabers win pair of
jamborees
Posted by Dylan Savela,
Manistee News Advocate
ONEKAMA — Manistee
Catholic Central’s Zack Bialik and Onekama’s Derek
Hobart went shot for shot down the Heathland’s par-5
No. 18 Thursday, each landing within 12 feet of the
pin for an eagle putt.
“Before we teed off,
Zack told me we’re going for it in two,” Hobart
recalled. “I said ‘all right,’ and we ended up right
next to each other.
“He’s better than I am
for sure,” he added with a laugh, “but it’s fun
playing together.”
Bialik sunk his putt
and Hobart settled for birdie as the two paced their
teams Thursday in an 18-hole round that was split
into two West Michigan D League jamborees to close
out the regular league schedule.
Bialik carded an
even-par 36 on the front and a 4-under 32 on the
back to earn the match medals and pace the Sabers to
a pair of victories. They clinched at least a share
of the league title by winning four of five
jamborees this season, while the other 50 percent is
up for grabs in Tuesday’s league championship at
Bear Lake County Highlands.
“We’re really pleased
with our play today, obviously,” said MCC coach Pete
Solwold, “but the nice thing is we still can see
room for improvement down the road.”
Counting the front
nine as the first jamboree, the Sabers shot a
season-low 158 to edge Pentwater (165), Brethren
(180), and Onekama (200). The team standings were
steady on the back as MCC shot a 161, Pentwater a
165, Brethren a 176, and Onekama a 187. Mason County
Eastern did not have enough golfers to post a team
score.
On the front, Bialik
was followed by teammates Gabe Toczynski (37), Joe
Nelson (42), and Jaime Sierra-Nielsen (43) to round
out the team score while Nick Bialik (46) and Gabe
Sidor (54) did not factor into the total.
Manistee
Catholic Central’s Jaime Sierra-Nielsen chips to
the 18th green at The Heathlands during
Thursday’s jamboree. (Dylan Savela/News
Advocate)
|
Onekama’s
Brandon Bohannon blasts out of the bunker on No.
2 at the Heathlands during Thursday’s West
Michigan D League jamborees. (Dylan Savela/News
Advocate)
On the back,
Toczynski (39), Sierra-Nielson (46), and Nick Bialik (44) scored
while Nelson (57) and Sidor (49) did not.
“Gabe is just killing
it now,” Solwold said of Toczynski’s play of late. “I always
tell him he’s an All-Stater waiting to happen, and if he keeps
this up, I’m sure he’ll get recognized.
“Zack, of course, is
still playing phenomenal, which he’s done all year.”
Brethren’s Bryson
Waller paced the Bobcats with splits of 37 on the front and 39
on the back while Colton Podbilski (48, 46) and Joe Riggs (42,
44) factored into both team scores. Cory Hilliard’s 53 was used
on the front while Sam Mullet and Eli Garcia each shot a 61 that
didn’t factor into the total.
Mullet made an
impressive turnaround on the back and contributed to the team
score with a season-low 47 while Garcia (53) and Hilliard (59)
did not factor into the total.
“Those are good
scores for us,” Brethren coach Tom Anderson said. “I’m pleased
with that today.
“I think both MCC and
Pentwater are very strong teams and I’m sure they’ll be moving
on through regionals, but for us, if we can continue to shoot
like this, we should move through our district.”
Hobart was consistent
on his home course, and carded a pair of 38s to lead the
Portagers to season-low team totals.
“I thought I played
really well,” he said. “My putting could have been better, but I
was happy with it.”
Hobart was followed
by teammates Brandon Bohannon (55, 49) and Alexis Tribfelner
(56, 49) in both jamborees, while Parker Sternberger’s 51
factored in on the front and Jarrett Bradford’s 51 was counted
on the back. Bradford shot a 61 on the front and Sternberger
shot a 54 on the back while Jack Coryell carded a pair of 57s.
“That’s the first
nine-hole score under 200, which is a great improvement,”
Onekama coach Tom McCraner said of his team’s back nine. “I’m
very happy with that.”
Posted by Dylan Savela,
News Advocate on-line |