By BUTCH HARMON
To say that the Grand Blanc girls golf team has a family feel to it would not be stretching the truth; it would actually be accurate.
With two sets of sisters on the team, the Bobcats are closer and have more of a family atmosphere than the typical team.
Not only does the team have two sets of sisters, but they are also broken up into the same grades. Senior Anna Marie Gainey is joined on the team by her sister, sophomore Kaleigh Gainey. Senior Rhiannon Rush is also joined by her sister, sophomore Sierra Rush. Joining the sisters on the varsity team are senior Taylor Prokott and sophomore Savannah Cass.
“This is really a good group of kids to work with,” Grand Blanc coach Tom Timlin said. “They are all close, and they all get along great. It makes coaching them a pleasure.”
Along with putting up good scores on the golf course, the girls have been getting high marks in the classroom.
“They are all academically a 3.7 or better,” Timlin said. “That’s something that says a lot about the girls, too.”
On the course, the Bobcats are turning in a solid season. Grand Blanc began the season by winning six out of its first eight league matches. The team also placed second at the Perry Invitational and was third at the Flint Powers Invitational.
Anna Marie Gainey has been leading the way for the team. Gainey is shooting in the low 80s and recorded a third-place finish at the Powers tournament and a fourth-place finish at Perry.
“She has been very consistent for us,” Timlin said. “She can do it all. She’s not very big but she hits it fairly long. Her irons are solid and her short game and pitching is good. Overall, she’s been pretty consistent.”
Anna Marie did suffer a defeat lately when her sister recorded a round of 42 to come into the clubhouse ahead of her big sister.
“Kaleigh was all excited about beating her big sister,” Timlin said. “She hadn’t broke 50 more then once or twice all year, and she was pretty happy and excited to have finally beaten her big sister.”
What would make the team even more excited would be to make it to the Division 1 state meet in mid October. Last season, the team missed out on qualifying for the state finals for the first time in 13 years, and the Bobcat golfers are determined to make it back this fall. Qualifying will not be easy, however, as the team plays in a rugged regional.
“We have Brighton in our regional and nobody is going to beat them,” Timlin said. “Davison is also in our regional and so is Walled Lake Central and Milford. We will need everyone to shoot their best round for us to make it to state.”
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