Although they failed to qualify as a team for the state competition, being held Oct. 16 at Michigan State University, the Lake Orion varsity boys golf team still can celebrate this season as a success, as far as coach Monty Gallaher is concerned.
‘The way that I (coached) my team is to play to the best of their ability, and be gentlemen…if I stand by that statement, this season was a victory,? he said.
The Dragons finished fourth in their regional at Romeo on Oct. 7, two shots short of what they needed to qualify for state as a team. Lake Orion will instead send to individual qualifiers, junior captain David Kurtz and senior Jeff Peters, to MSU.
‘We had a lot of good golf this season,? said Gallaher. ‘We finished first in our first league tournament, and set a new school record with 294. That’s a great accomplishment for this team.?
After the league tournament at Bald Mountain, Gallaher said he called former Lake Orion golf coach Gary Newcomb to ask if he’d ever broken 300 before as a coach.
‘My personal best as a coach was 307,? Gallaher said. ‘Newcomb said his best was 303.?
Lake Orion finishes this season third overall in OAA Division I, and 3-3 in duel meets.
Rochester Adams won the league as well as the regional competition.
‘I had a great season, there was a lot of good camaraderie on the team,? Gallaher said.
‘They were a good team to coach. When I’d sit one down there was never any questioning.?
The Dragons finished the regional competition with 325, with Peters leading the team with 76. Kurtz had 78, while Nick Bierschbach had 85.
Adam Haddad rounded out Lake Orion’s line-up with 86.
The top three teams from the regional qualify for state, and the top five individuals advance.
‘For us to have two of the top five individuals is unbelievable,? said Gallaher. ‘Last year Kurtz went as a sophomore. This is Peters second time at state because he went with the team as a sophomore.?
Gallaher said his team has practiced hard and tried their best all season.
‘Kurtz has played very well all season. He has one of the lowest scoring averages in school history…78.3,? he said. ‘He led by example, he’s quiet…He was a very valuable team player. He’s a junior and we look forward to having him back.?
Gallaher said he is pleased to see Peters getting the opportunity to return to state as a senior.
‘I’m really happy for him to be able to go back a second time,? he said. ‘His scoring average on the year is 80. He’s very, very consistent.
‘When he scored a 76 in the regional, that was one of his better tournaments,? Gallaher said.
‘He had 73 at the league at Bald Mountain.?
Gallaher said Kurtz finished with 71 at the league tournament, his lowest score.