The All-Flint/Genessee County 2012 Prep Golf Team

Top of the leaderboard: The 2012 Flint Journal All-Area boys golf team

Ross Maghielse | rmaghiel@mlive.com, July 06, 2012 4 p.m.

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Zak Kiefer of Mt. Morris lines up a putt at a recent Flint Junior Golf Association tournament at Atlas Valley Country Club. - (Ryan Garza | MLive.com file photo)

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Grand Blanc's Connor Carey makes his club selection during the Division 1 state finals this season in Allendale, Mich. - (Ross Maghielse | MLive.com file photo)

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Davison's Zac Brammer is headed to play at Bowling Green State University in the fall. - (Lathan Goumas | MLive.com file photo)

GENESEE COUNTY, MI -- Golf has long been a strength in Genesee County. With programs such as Davison and Grand Blanc routinely competing at a high level and a seemingly endless emergence of standout individuals, picking a select few as the area’s best can be as tough as getting out of the heather. Nonetheless, we took a swing at it.
Here’s our 2012 All-Area boys golf selections, beginning with the first team:
First team
Zak Kiefer, Senior, Mt. Morris -- Kiefer put it all together this year. While natural talent led him to success on the golf course throughout his tenure at Mt. Morris and his playing days with the Flint Junior Golf Association, Kiefer reigned in the mental side of the game as well this season.
“Now his mind has come around to match his physical abilities and he’s really just put it all together and is playing the best golf I’ve ever seen him play,” Mt. Morris coach Tom Ureche said when Kiefer was represented at the Donald B. Sark Student-Athlete of the Year Awards Luncheon earlier this year. “I think he’s started to realize that he’s got the ability to overcome a bad shot and still put together a good round even if every shot or hole doesn’t go the way he wants.”
That should serve Kiefer well as he moves on to the next level and joins the golf team at Ferris State University next season. This year, he contended for several tournament titles and finished third among individuals at this year’s Division 3 state championship.
Mike Engelman, Senior, Grand Blanc -- Engelman was the frontrunner for the Bobcats all season. During the state tournament, he stepped up to another level and paced Grand Blanc through districts and regionals while also shooting two solid rounds at the Division 1 state finals. He also is expected to be one of the top players on the Flint Junior Golf Association circuit this summer.
Connor Carey, Grand Blanc -- Carey helped form a great one-two-punch at the top of Grand Blanc’s golf lineup this year, in addition to the Bobcats overall depth, to help lead Grand Blanc to its best season since it won the state championship in 2004.
Ben Zyber, Sophomore, Swartz Creek -- Zyber is part of a young core that has to have Swartz Creek golf coach Wes Hull grinning ear to ear heading into next season. The sophomore had a 78 average this year and played well under the pressure of the state tournament.
“He was the most consistent guy for us,” Hull said. “All of our guys really stepped up at points throughout the year but Ben really was consistent. Other guys on the team would tease him for seemingly always double-bogeying the first hole because he’d then go out and par the rest of the round or drop a couple birdies… He was really good in the district at Davison with the rain there and was our top golfer in the regional.”
Zac Brammer, Senior, Davison -- Brammer came into his senior season with incredibly high expectations for himself after outstanding sophomore and junior campaigns. While he fell short of qualifying for the state finals and winning his third straight Genesee County Championship, Brammer still turned in a strong season for the Cardinals.
He had a season average of 75 and notched 12 top 10 finishes playing as Davison’s No. 1 guy. He also won both the preseason and postseason Big Nine tournaments.
“Zac always expects better of himself and I know he was disappointed in not making the state finals, but he still was a great year for us,” Davison golf coach Mike Leffler said. “He just didn’t play his best in regionals and that cost him a little bit, but he’s been an All-Big Nine guy since he’s been here and really took on the pressure of being our top golfer.”
Brammer will play at Bowling Green State University.
Coach of the Year: Rick Kent, Grand Blanc.
Player of the Year: Zak Kiefer, Mt. Morris.
Second team (In alphabetical order)
John Lloyd (Fenton)
Chet Ryeson (Lapeer West)
Gabe Schiller (Davison)
Jake Thompson (Davison)
Bailey Truesdell (Grand Blanc)
Jack Weller (Swartz Creek)