Francesco Ruffino may be Mr. Golf but is the Counties #2 Prep Golfer

You may say it is sour grapes. 

It's not.

Francesco Ruffino was Mr. Golf in 2011

Max Kollin is off to Indiana and will be a Hoosier in 2013

 







    

     I do not have a dog in this fight and have nothing against Francesco Ruffino. He is a superb talent and may be the best golfer in Oakland County but not based on 2011. Max Kollin is. Ruffino has the trophy and can play a mean game of golf as his 71 tournament average shows, he can go low at the high school level. He did finish third in last year's state tournament but Kollin has trumped him in all three tournaments I have seen him play in 2011. 

     So you want data and not the opinion of a sportswriter.

Let's start with the 2011 Randy Wise Open at Warwick Hills.  Ruffino shot a two over par 146 and led Kollin by three shots after two rounds. In round three Ruffino blew up to an 82 while Kollin shot a one under 71 at the former home of the Buick Open. This tournament had some of the top talent in Michigan and in the midwest. Henry Do of Ypsilanti won with a score of 217 or one over par.

Score

This course provides a quality tuneup for prep golfers

Max Kollin Farmington Hills, Mich. 75-74-71-- +3

Francesco Ruffino - Bloomfield Hills, Mich. 73-73-82—228 +12

Advantage Kollin.

In the County tournament at Pontiac Country Club Max Kollin shot a 68 to Ruffino's 72. Kollin won the medalist honor at the tournament. 


In the State tournament finals at Katke Cousins in Rochester, Kollin posted a two day score of 144 to tie for medalist honors in division one and then won the title outright in sudden death on the first hole. Ruffino was only a few strokes behind but once again Kollin won the title for the state. 


The two are gracious in each others presence and perhaps many of the people who voted for Mr. Golf didn't see what I did but consistently Kollin was the better of the two in 2011. I wouldn't count out either golfer in 2012 and wouldn't be surprised to see Ruffino earn it for real this year.

But if I had to put money on one golfer to make a clutch putt or make a birdie based on last year, it is the future University of Indiana golfer Max Kollin.

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