David Cook
Sports Scene
Over the years, the DeWitt girls golf team has been one of the premier teams in the Mid-Michigan area. This season is no different as the Panthers have been posting some consistently low scores.
Heading into October and with the state tournament looming, DeWitt is ranked seventh in the state in Division 2. The Panthers are also in third place in the ultra-competitive Capital Area Activities Conference (CAAC) Blue Division that includes Okemos, ranked first in the state in Division 1, and Grand Ledge, ranked 10th in the state in Division 1.
Leading the way for DeWitt this season are a pair of seasoned seniors who bring a wealth of experience and talent to the course. Seniors Courtney Novak and Cate Piesko are both four-year varsity players and are leading the way for the Panthers. Novak is averaging 42.6 for nine holes while Piesko is close behind with a 44.0 average for nine.
DeWitt is also receiving a strong contribution from junior Sydney Ferguson. In her first year of playing golf for the Panthers, Ferguson is averaging 46.8 for nine holes.
DeWitt started the season strong with an impressive performance at the Sydney Carfine Memorial tournament at The Meadows on the campus of Grand Valley State University. In a field loaded with top teams from across the state, the Panthers placed eighth out of 18 teams.
A couple weeks after that, the Panthers turned in one of their top performances of the season. That is when they placed third behind Okemos and Grand Ledge at the Holt Invitational. DeWitt finished just two strokes behind second-place Grand Ledge and seven shots behind first-place Okemos. DeWitt scored their lowest team total of the season at the Holt Invitational and placed five golfers in the top 17 individually.
DeWitt was led at Holt by Ferguson who placed sixth with an 85. Novak also finished in the top ten as she placed eighth with an 87. Hannah Kukulski took 11th with an 88, Piesko placed 13th with an 89 and Sophie Beland placed 17th with a 92.
DeWitt also placed second at the Coldwater Invitational where they were led by Beland and Novak who both placed in the top ten individually.
The Panthers are gearing up for the state tournament that is closing in. The regional is slated for October 8 at the Coldwater Golf Club. The regional is stacked with state-ranked teams including No. 2 South Lyon, No. 3 Dexter, No. 6 Mason, No. 10 Fenton and the Panthers. DeWitt has won back-to-back regional titles and adding a third is the goal.
“If the girls find a way to stay relaxed, enjoy the moment and play to their ability, there is a good chance we can steal one of the state finals spots,” said DeWitt coach Chris Thelen.
A total of three teams from the regional qualify for the state finals.
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