There was no high school version of Tiger Woods posting impossibly low scores and carrying the team on his mythical back for the Clarkston golf team this year.
But, through consistency, the team found themselves back at the State Finals on Oct. 14-15 for the second time in as many years.
‘Consistency is definitely the theme of our team this year,? said senior captain Rob Ronk. ‘Our top five guys all averaged in the 70’s and in every tournament we showed up to win.?
This year the Wolves improved on their 10th place finish in 2004, ending the two-day tournament tied for sixth place with a score of 605.
Muskegon Mona Shores won the state championship, played at Forest Akers East at Michigan State University, shooting a combined score of 582.
‘As a team, we played really solid on the first day. The course allowed the players on the team to show their true ability,? said senior Mike Horn.
Clarkston, who came into the state finals ranked sixth in the state, enjoyed a wonderful first day, shooting 295 as a team and ending in third place.
‘Quite honestly we performed beyond our expectations. When we finished third that first day it was just outstanding,? said Clarkston Coach Tim Kaul.
Leading the Wolves at the State finals, and especially on the first day, was senior Zach McDonald, who shot a 71 on the first day followed by a 75 the second day for a combined score of 146.
‘Zach played his best golf of the year,? said Kaul.
‘The course suited my game well. I could really attack it. It felt like I was attacking the course instead of weathering the storm,? said McDonald.
The experience at states for McDonald, who along with Ronk and Horn took part in last year’s state finals, was much better the second time around.
‘Not only did I play better, this time around and the team played better but it wasn’t 30 degrees and raining like last year. This was a good way to go out,? said McDonald.
On the second day of action, winds made things tougher on the course and the Wolves could not keep up their torrid pace from the first day, shooting a 310 combined. Because Clarkston finished in the top three the first day, they played in the lead group on the second day of action along with eventual state champion Mona Shores and runner-up Saline.
‘It’s fun to play with kids like that to see how they go about playing the course,? said senior Pat McIlrath. ?(The state finals) were really good fun. We all played good this year and came together in the tournaments.?
The enormity of the state finals was not lost on Clarkston’s golfers.
‘The state finals was a really new experience and a really competitive experience. I mainly just tried to stay inside myself,? said sophomore Matt Fuller, who shot a 74 to lead the Wolves on the second day of action.
Clarkston’s finish at the state finals this year is one of many highlights this year. The team went 7-0 in dual match play and won the OAA Division I league title and also finished first in events like the Troy and Eccentric Tournaments, the latter featuring the best teams in the County. Clarkston also finished in second place to Grand Blanc, who finished third at states, in both the district and regional tournaments.
?(In the post-season tournaments) we get in a different mind set where every stroke counts. You have to cherish every stroke at districts, regionals and states,? said Ronk.