By BUTCH HARMON
Okemos senior Elle Nichols capped her high school golf career by winning the individual state title at the Division 2 state golf finals.
She became only the second player in Lower Peninsula history to win three individual MHSAA golf titles. Nichols posted a two-day total of 155 to win the tournament and also helped Okemos finish second overall as a team.
“I knew I had to go low on the back nine,” said Nichols, who closed with 35 on the final nine holes on the second day, “and the birdie at 10 [capped by a 60-foot putt] helped get me started.”
Sophomore Jessica Kim finished sixth overall for Okemos with 164 for the two days.
Midland Dow placed third as a team and was paced by Stephanie Carras, who fired a two-day total of 159 to place third overall, while Kharissa Carras finished 10th overall with 168.
Fenton placed fifth as a team, led by Samantha Moss, who finished seventh individually with 165.
East Lansing placed eighth as a team and was led by Brianna Forsthhoefel and Molly Ring, who both totaled 180.
Mt. Pleasant placed 12th, led by Lauren Lyon with 184.
Greenville finished 13th, paced by Karli Didion at 190.
At the Division 1 state meet, Holt was the top area finisher, as it placed 11th as a team. Holt’s Pader Her was the top area’s top individual placer, as she placed sixth with 161.
Davison finished 13th, led by Karsen Johnston.
Rockford was 15th, led by Tori Sobkowiak with 191.
At the Division 3 state meet, Lakewood placed fourth as a team. Emily Barker led the way for the Vikings, as she finished ninth as an individual with 173.
DeWitt finished 13th overall and was led by Cassidy Splawn.
Haslett finished 14th and was led by Emily Fulton with 206.
Tri-County’s Taylir Kral qualified as an individual and finished with 188.
At the Division 4 state meet, Lansing Catholic’s Jacqueline Setas captured medalist honors. She shot rounds of 77 and 73 to finish with 150. Setas helped Lansing Catholic to a fourth-place finish as a team.
Powers Catholic placed third as a team. Morgan Zloto and Kristen Wolfe led the way for Powers, as they tied for fourth place individually with 168s.
Freeland finished ninth as a team, led by Tori Argyle, who totaled 191.
Four other area girls also placed in the top 10 at the Division 4 meet: Frankenmuth’s Megan Watkins (6th, 169), Perry’s Megan Baumgartner (7th, 171) and Farwell’s Sammie Balldwin and Bria Colosky who tied for 10th with 172s.