Grosse Pointe Farms

South girls golf takes state championship

By Christian Davis
C & G Sports Writer

» click to enlarge « Photo provided by Linda Boyle The Grosse Pointe South girls golf team won the program’s first state championship Oct. 15 at Grand Valley State University. Pictured, the squad stands with its Division 1 trophy. Photo provided by Linda Boyle The Grosse Pointe South girls golf team won the program’s first state championship Oct. 15 at Grand Valley State University. Pictured, the squad stands with its Division 1 trophy.

GROSSE POINTE — It was a wind unlike any the Grosse Pointe South girls golf team had seen before, and it just so happened to be the final day of the Division 1 state final.

“We had to take into account the yardages a lot,” senior Ella Pendy remembered. “Sometimes the wind would be a three- or four-club difference. Even putting was hard because the ball was constantly moving on the greens.”

As the majority of the field faded Oct. 15 at Grand Valley State University, the Blue Devils got even better, leading them to the school’s first golf state title.

South finished with a 692 two-day total from its top four players. It dropped four strokes on the second day; 11 of the top 15 teams shot worse in the second round.

“The mental discipline and focus that they’ve learned throughout the year was definitely there, and they really wanted it,” Coach Peter Kingsley said. “The hardest part when the wind blows is to not quit. Maybe you won’t shoot 75 that day, but 84 sure isn’t bad.”

South blitzed the field, finishing 21 strokes ahead of second-place Rochester Hills Stoney Creek and 40 strokes ahead of third-place Plymouth High. The Blue Devils held a six-stroke lead after the first round.

Kingsley said he was confident going into the tournament that his squad could make history. South hadn’t lost a match all season and finished fourth in the state last season.

This time around, the coach said, swings were sharp; short games were precise; and they were managing their games well.

“We felt really good,” Kingsley said. “Last year finishing fourth, I think we all felt we could have done better, but we got the experience. Starting this year, we knew we were hitting on all cylinders.”

In the final, South’s top four scorers all finished within the top 13 individually.

Sophomore Tenley Shield led the way with 167; Pendy carded 174; senior Claire Boyle finished with 175; sophomore Lily Pendy tallied 176; and junior Hannah Buzolits shot 197.

“Even though those conditions aren’t conducive to scoring, we still did our best,” Boyle said. “I think it shows we’re just a mentally strong team that was able to pull through when we needed to.”

You can reach C & G Sports Writer Christian Davis at cdavis@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1062. Follow Christian on Twitter.