Dan Stickradt
Sports Scene
WATERFORD — Since relocating to Oakland County seven years ago, little has escaped Detroit Catholic Central’s boys golf team except winning the Oakland County Division 1 title.
The Shamrocks, the top-ranked school in Division 1 this season, finally added that elusive trophy to their case May 13 at Pontiac Country Club.
Detroit Catholic Central played five seniors at the prestigious play-five, count-four tournament and came away with an impressive 308 team score. This was despite sitting one of its top players, sophomore James Piot.
It marked the Shamrocks’ ninth tournament win of the season and solidified DCC’s standing as a deep team capable of capturing the grand prize next month. “We do have a lot of depth,” said coach Mike Anderson. “We have had a great year. We have been competitive in every event we have played, and we have won all the events we have taken our top team to. The other tournaments we didn’t have [our top five], and we still did well. We have very high expectations, and it seems like as the year goes on, we keep playing better and better. We look forward to the next month.”
Glenn Piot carded a 73 to lead Detroit Catholic Central. Will Coffman and Joe Shurmur both shot 78, while Nazir Jairazbhoy and Steve Magagba each added a 79 for the Shamrocks, who finished second last season and third in both 2013 and 2012.
Cranbrook Kingswood, ranked No. 1 in the state in Division 2, posted a 312 to grab the runner-up trophy, and Rochester put together its best effort of the season to finish third at 314.
Bloomfield Hills (317) and Rochester Adams (319) were close behind, while Brother Rice (321), Birminghm Seaholm (322), Troy (322), Clarkston (323), and Holly (326) rounded out the top 10 in the 23-school field.
“We have like six guys that are competing for our No. 4 and No. 5 slots,” added Andersen. “We decided to let some other guys have a chance today. We have several guys that can break 80 and put together some quality scores. We have some decisions to make here if we end up [qualifying for state].”
A total of 15 golfers shot between 73 and 77 in a field of 115 golfers. Four golfers shot 73 to tie for first and played a five-hole playoff to decide the victor. Cranbrook senior Dylan Deogun emerged the winner, ahead of North Farmington’s Kitwana Ashford, Cranbrook’s Devin Deogun, and DCC’s Piot.
Dylan Deogun and Ashford played the final three holes head-to-head after Piot dropped out after the first playoff hole and Devin Deogun was ousted after the second playoff hole.
“Overall I hit it very well today,” said Dylan Deogun, who automatically earned a spot on the postseason All-Oakland County team with his victory. “I missed a few short puts but I didn’t miss many fairways. It feels great to shoot well at a tournament [this prestigious].”
Ryan Kauppila of Rochester Adams was fifth overall with a round of 74, and Troy freshman Steve Forman was sixth at 75. North Farmington’s Austin Alexander, Rochester Adams’ Brandon Barrows, Troy Athens’ Jack Stover, and Auburn Hills Avondale’s Nikolas Sienkowski all shot rounds of 76 to tie for seventh.
dan.Stickradt@northoaklandsports.com