Golf: Pioneer finishes third to qualify for State Finals; Skyline fourth, Huron eighth

The Pioneer girls’ golf team is heading to Lansing – and, yes, that’s a good thing!

Pioneer fired a team score of 357 to place third on Thursday at the Division 1, Regional 2 at the Links of Novi and will pack their (golf) bags for the State Finals. The top three teams qualify for the State Finals on Oct. 18-19 at Forest Akers West on the campus of Michigan State University.

Skyline’s Cammi Tirico also made the cut by placing third in the individual-qualifier scorecard. The senior fired a team-best 84 to qualify for the State Finals.

Northville, the top-ranked team in the state, shot a Regional-best score of 313. The Mustangs had three players in the 70s and a high score of 82. Plymouth finished second (336) followed by the Pioneers (357). Skyline finished one spot from qualifying with a 366 and a fourth-place finish.

Salem was fifth (386), Bedford sixth (408), Saline seventh (420), Huron eighth (424), Novi ninth (432) and Canton 10^th (443).      

Pioneer was led by junior Amaya Melendez who shot a 77 and freshman Mackenzie Rooney who shot an 89. The rest of the Pioneer scorecard featured junior Jillian Giordano (93), senior Olivia Lyle (98) and senior Katie Liu (101).

The Eagles (above) may have finished out of the state tournament but the Eagles had an excellent season. Tirico led the way with her 84. Senior Nikki Lama and sophomore Adie Maki both shot an 87. Senior Evelynne Crumm and sophomore Riya Patchava both fired a 108.

Huron was led by senior Karli Messer, who just missed a trip to the states with an impressive 87. Lydia Miteza shot a 101 followed by Varvara Bashkirova (114), Aico Miao (122) and Olivia Conatser (122).  

There will be 18 teams and 18 individuals at the State tournament next Friday (18th) and Saturday (19th) at MSU Forest Akers West.