BOYS GOLF: Brother Rice dominates All-County Team
By KEITH DUNLAP- Of The Oakland Press
Lucas Belanger, of Birmingham Brother Rice High School, was one of the key pieces to the Warriors' championship season. (Oakland Press Photo: Vaughn Gurganian)
North Farmington's Max Kollin was among the best in Oakland County this season. (Oakland Press/TIM THOMPSON)It was in a literal sense because the Division 1 crown was captured by the Birmingham Brother Rice Warriors, who won their first state title since 1998 and had five golfers that could’ve been No. 1 players on any other team. It was one of two state titles won in this area this year, as Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood won in Division 2.
In a figurative sense, it was about other players who proved to be warriors on the course as well with their outstanding play.
All of those individuals made the cut on this year’s all-county boys golf team, which was selected by the Oakland County High School Golf Coaches Association.
Here is the squad starting with the first team.
Max Kollin (Sr.), North Farmington — Arguably the best player in school history at North Farmington, Kollin had a 72.2 tournament average and 35.8 nine-hole average in being named first team all-state in Division 1. Kollin won the prestigious Azure Dynamics Invitational by shooting a 66 at Oakland Hills North and shot a 67 at Huron Meadows to win the district tournament. He’ll play in college at Indiana.
“What a great player, one that’s really going to be missed,” North Farmington head coach Bruce Sutton said. “He surely has left his mark on North Farmington as he owns every record imaginable that I keep track of.”
Aaron Knutson (Sr.), Pontiac Notre Dame Prep — Will go down as one of the best to ever play at Notre Dame Prep after compiling a terrific career for the Fighting Irish. This year, Knutson finished as the individual state runner-up at the Division 3 tournament after he won it last year. He will play in college at Detroit Mercy. Attempts to obtain stats on the season were unsuccessful.
Sean Friel (Sr.), Birmingham Brother Rice — Another in the fine line of golfers to come out of Brother Rice, Friel was the only county golfer named to the all-state Super Team.
Signed with Michigan State, Friel had eight top-10 finishes, a 73.8 tournament average and a nine-hole average of 39.25. Friel shot a 72 to win the regional at Timber Trace and finished in a tie for fourth at the Division 1 state tournament to help lead the Warriors to the team title.
“Sean capped off a fabulous career with a stellar senior season,” Brother Rice head coach Dan Bumpus said.
Lucas Belanger (Sr.), Birmingham Brother Rice — A veteran leader to be counted on all season for state champion Brother Rice, Belanger finished with a 40.67 nine-hole average and a 76.40 tournament average to go along with four top-10 finishes. He’ll play in college at Queens University in Charlotte.
“Lucas has been a four-year player,” Bumpus said. “His consistent played helped lead us to league, district, regional and state titles.”
Eric Shyu (Sr.), Rochester — The MVP of the Falcons for the last three years, Shyu finished a wonderful career by finishing in a tie for seventh at the Division 1 state tournament. He finished with a 77.3 average in tournaments and also sports a 3.8 grade-point average.
“An absolute gentleman from a great family,” Rochester head coach Paul Marti said. “Eric is modest but very focused and very dedicated. In the four years Eric was on varsity I never heard him complain or blame anyone else for anything in any way or act in a negative manner. Just a wonderful individual who will be missed as a player and a leader.”
Zach Preuss (Sr.), Auburn Hills Oakland Christian — One of the top players in the state in Division 4 the last three years, Preuss followed up winning the individual state title as a sophomore and finishing fourth last year as a junior by recording a third place finish at this year’s state tournament. Named first team all-state in Division 4, Preuss had a 76 tournament average and a 39 average in duals. He’ll play in college at Cornerstone University.
“He has been one of the most consistent golfers in the state through his high school career,” Oakland Christian head coach Randy Johnson said.
Kyle Gaines (Jr.), Birmingham Brother Rice — Gaines had a breakout this season for the Warriors and proved to be as valuable as anyone on the team later in the year. He finished with a 76.2 tournament average and a nine-hole average of 40.2. Named first team all-state in Division 1, Gaines also had five top-10 finishes and finished sixth individually at the state tournament for the Warriors.
“His five top-10 finishes were highlighted by a second place 76 at the Milliken Millworks Invitational at Indianwood and a fourth place 70 at the Azure Dynamics Invitational at Oakland Hills North,” Bumpus said.
Charlie Green (Jr.), Novi Detroit Catholic Central — One of the top golfers in the state who still has a year left, Green was named honorable mention all-state in Division 1 after he had a 75.3 tournament average. He also won the Catholic League title by shooting a 70 at the University of Michigan.
“He was probably overall the best player I had, if not one of the best in the Catholic League,” Catholic Central head coach Bill Hayes said. “He’s truly a leader and an extremely hard worker. He played well all the way through.”
Eric Busa (Jr.), Rochester Adams — A big reason why Adams won the OAA Red title this year was because of Busa, who was named honorable mention all-state in Division 1. Busa had an average of 76, nine top-10 finishes and led the Highlanders in driving accuracy and putting.
“He was very consistent all year,” Adams head coach Dan Picot said. “(He had) nine top-10 scores while having a nagging back injury that held him out of the regional.”
Jeremy Ball (Soph.), Birmingham Brother Rice — Ball followed up a nice freshman season with an even better sophomore season for the Division 1 state champion Warriors. Named honorable mention all-state in Division 1, Ball had a 75.3 tournament average, a 39.80 nine-hole average and five top-10 finishes.
“Jeremy had a wonderful season,” Bumpus said. “Jeremy’s strong play helped propel us to Catholic League, district, regional and state championships.”
Brandon Barrows (Fr.), Rochester Adams — Barrows figured to be an impact freshman and that’s what he was, qualifying individually for the Division 1 state tournament and finishing with a 74.5 tournament average. He has qualified for the U.S. Amateur for the second straight year also.
“He joined our team on May 14 and instantly made a difference,” Picot said. “He had our best average and has great potential to be one of the greatest golfers to ever walk the halls of Rochester Adams.”
Head coach
Matt Gump, Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood
The Cranes didn’t always play their best golf throughout the year, but Gump kept his players on track and they delivered when it mattered most, as Cranbrook crushed the field at the Division 2 state tournament to win its first state title since 1999.
Honorable mention (in alphabetical order)
Tyler Coyne (Sr.), Auburn Hills Oakland Christian; Jeremy Glod (Jr.), Birmingham Brother Rice; Johnny Fortuna (Jr.), Bloomfield Hills Lahser; Gavin Garris (Jr.), South Lyon; Mason Gorris (Jr.), Lake Orion; Calvin Greer (Jr.), Birmingham Groves; Nick Hocker (Sr.), Oxford; Alex Kleckner (Soph.), Lakeland; Jake Kneen (Soph.), Lakeland; Brad Kozinski (Jr.), Novi; Justin Pahl (Soph.), Lakeland; Tim Pearche (Jr.), Birmingham Seaholm; Rishi Patal (Soph.), Birmingham Detroit Country Day; Michael Ray (Sr.), Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood; Matt Sherry, South Lyon East; Griffin Smith (Sr.), Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood; Ben Van Orman (Sr.), Rochester Adams; Alex Waelchli (Jr.), Lake Orion;
E-mail Keith Dunlap at keith.dunlap@oakpress.com; Twitter: @kd2578
Last Updated: 7/25/2012 6:58:57 PM EST
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