Geoff Mott
Sports Scene
The Freeland girls golf team is making itself at home at the state finals.
For the fifth time in six seasons, the Falcons golfed in the Division 4 state meet. They placed ninth at Bedford Valley Golf Course on October 18-19 with a two-day team total of 780. The Falcons shot 388 on Friday and 392 on Saturday. Grosse Ile won the state title with 716 while Powers Catholic finished third at 722.
Tori Argyle led the Falcons, firing 95 on Friday and 96 on Saturday for 191. Lauren Guentert finished with 194, Kaitie Morrissey added 196, Janna Brown carded 199, and Caitlin Hohn finished with 232.
“It’s been that consistency that has worked for us,” said coach Mike Ritt, whose team captured a sixth-straight Tri-Valley Conference title in mid October.
Freeland qualified for the state meet with a third-place finish at the regional tournament at Bay City Country Club, where it beat Frankenmuth by six strokes. Brown shot 86 and finished fifth overall for Freeland, while Morrissey shot 87 for sixth place.
The Falcons worked hard in the off-season to maintain their dominance in the conference. “I’ve got some girls who play tournaments over the summer and others who seek extra help,” Ritt said. “One girl’s family has a place in Petoskey, and she has help from a golf professional up there. Another plays on those nice courses up there by Suttons Bay. It doesn’t hurt playing golf up there.
“A lot of the other girls get to play a lot around here. Tom Siegreen at Twin Oaks bends over backwards to give us time and allow the girls to come and play at a reduced rate in the summertime. To do that and have that opportunity and support from him is fantastic.”