Golf: Skyline qualifies for state finals with second place at Regionals

Playing in tournaments such as league championships, Regionals and the State Finals, every shot counts. Pioneer found that out the hard way while Skyline discovered it with great joy on Oct. 6 at the Division MHSAA Regionals at Washtenaw Golf Club in Ypsilanti.

What an amazing job by the Eagles! Skyline finished fourth at the SEC Red Championships late last month but were within a few shots of the leaders in that very competitive tournament. They made up those shots at Regionals – an even more competitive event – and qualified for the State Finals for the first time in program history.

Northville, one of the best teams in the state, fired a team score of 324 to finish first. The Eagles fired a 358 and placed second overall. Plymouth shot a 360 to grab the third and final spot at the State Finals, which will be played Oct. 14-15 at Bedford Valley Golf Club.

Pioneer fired a 369 and finished fourth, just six shots from grabbing that coveted third spot. Saline was fifth (373), Novi was sixth (391), Canton seventh (411) and Huron eighth (413).

Three individuals also qualify for states: Pioneer’s Alex Ellender fired an 85 and was one of the three heading to Bedford. Novi’s Saanvitha (81) and Saline’s Grace Celso (82) were the other two.

Skyline’s Reva Patchava (83, sixth overall) and Ella Kucinski (86. 10th overall) qualified for top 10 medalists. The rest of the Skyline scorecard featured Val von Rutte (91), Ali O’Brien (98) and Vedha Kakarla (98).

The Pioneers, SEC league champions for the fifth year in a row, were led by Ellender (85), Mackenzie Rooney (87), Alysa Zhu (91), Kyra Kahana (106) and Madison Kohn (125).