Golf: Pioneer’s team, two Eagles book tee times at the State Finals

The Pioneer golf team placed third at Regionals and booked a tee time at the Division 1 State Finals on Oct. 15-16 at The Meadows at Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids. While Skyline didn’t qualify as a team, two Eagles earned spots with their play this week.

Plymouth finished with a score of 335 at the Washtenaw Golf Club on Wednesday to finish first overall in the 11-team Regional field. Northville placed a close second, finishing just five strokes behind the Wildcats. Pioneer shot a 344 to finish third and grab the final team spot for the state finals.

Skyline shot a 360 to place fourth.

Woodhaven was fifth (398) followed by Novi (409), Canton (411), Salem (414), Huron (439), Saline (443) and Monroe (455).

The top three individuals not on a qualifying team also book tee times at the state finals.

Skyline’s Adie Maki is headed back after firing a 77 – only Plymouth’s Bridget Boczar’s 72 was better on the day. Skyline senior Riya Patchava shot a 90 and had the third best score and will head to GVSU along with Woodhaven’s Abigail Saco (88).

“All year we’ve been a team where everyone has contributed and everyone has been the low scorer,” said Pioneer coach Bill Lyle. “It has been a true team effort where everyone has contributed at one time or another. Golf is strange because it’s an individual sport, but this team more than any of my four teams has been a true group effort.”

Lyle was “really proud” of his team’s effort on Wednesday.

“We had a slow start and struggled early but fought hard and finished strong,” he said.

Skyline coach Ashley Mantha was equally as proud of her team, which had a fantastic season.

“The girls shot close to their season average but the tough course got the best of us,” she said. “So proud of how the team played and grinded though adversity.”

Pioneer was led junior Mackenzie Rooney (83) and sophomore Alex Ellender (84). Senior Kara Muckstadt shot an 87, senior Hayley Marchand fired a 90 and junior Alysa Zhu carded a 95.

Skyline senior Lia Tomilo fired a 96, junior Helen Kucinski had a 97 and sophomore Reva Patchava had a 101.

Huron’s scorecard featured senior Lydia Miteza (94), freshman Emmi Conrad (111), junior Aico Miao (113), junior Allison Mi (121) and senior Sasha Lee (125).