GRANDVILLE – If only last year’s Division 4 Boys Golf Final had been extended another day. 

Grandville Calvin Christian played its best during the final round of the 2024 season, and it resulted in the team’s highest Finals finish since 1990.

The Squires finished runner-up to repeat champion Clarkston Everest Collegiate at The Meadows at Grand Valley State University, just eight strokes back after entering the final round in fifth place and trailing by 17.

“Last year I think the guys really didn’t know what to expect going into the state tournament,” Calvin Christian coach Herm Medema said. “But they were ready to play and were familiar with the golf course, which really helps. They found out they could play with some of the higher-echelon teams that we are trying to chase and emulate. That we can do as well as they have in the past.

“We had a really good second day so we are kind of feeding off of that, and they were wishing it was a three-day tournament.”

The Squires recorded the best team total on the second day of the Final, posting an impressive 322 – a 28-stroke improvement from their first round.

Three golfers improved by nine strokes or more from the first round, including junior Will Orme. He fired a second-day 75 after an opening-round 87 and jumped into seventh place individually.

As this year’s No. 1 player, Orme, a returning all-state selection, is one of four starters back from that Finals lineup. The experience and veteran leadership has created lofty expectations.

“Coming into the season, we had thoughts of being a good team because of how well we did last year,” Orme said. “Even though we got second, we knew we were only losing one guy, so coming back this year I think our confidence was higher than ever.

“We were all excited to see how well we could do and get our revenge this year.”

So far, the Squires have built off their success from a year ago.

A win in their first Ottawa-Kent Conference Silver jamboree was a promising start, and they followed with a victory at the 15-team Kent City Invitational. 

“We’ve played pretty good this year, and anytime you can have experience then it’s really going to help,” Medema said. “And they really like each other. These guys really care for each other, and they do a lot of things together. They go on spring break together, they hang out together and they play other sports together.

“Most of them are multi-sport athletes too. Two of them play basketball and did really well, and our No. 3 guy was an all-state hockey player. I think it helps a ton to have multi-sport athletes.”

Three seniors – Josh VanderWal, Mason Schroeder and Caleb Teusink – occupy the next three spots after Orme.

Schroeder has been playing exceptionally well early this season with a second-place finish Monday at Egypt Valley Golf Course and the medalist honor in Kent City.

It’s been a positive sign that any of the top four can go low on any given day.

“I think our biggest strength is any guy can go out and just have a great round,” Orme said. “And when one of us doesn't, then the others can cover for each other because we’re pretty consistent. We don’t have really bad rounds, and we play well off each other. We mesh really well.”

The Squires have steadily moved up in their Finals standings over the last few seasons. They placed ninth in 2022 and seventh two years ago before last spring’s runner-up finish.

“We’ve been to the state tournament three years now, and it’s about experience,” VanderWal said. “Each time it’s gotten easier. The nerves are going to be there, but it’s about how you deal with them, and all of us have another year under our belt.

“We have a deep team this year, so everyone is picking each other up and we’re doing well. It's been fun, but I’m hoping for warmer weather and less wind.”

While the MHSAA Tournament is still several weeks away, Calvin Christian is simply trying to make strides in the meantime in hopes of competing once again for a Finals championship.

“I think we all want it pretty bad,” Orme said. “We had a great time and it was a great experience last year getting runner-up, but we are all hungry this year and want to get what we wanted last year. I think we have just as good, if not better, chance this year.”

Dean Holzwarth has covered primarily high school sports for Grand Rapids-based WOOD-TV for five years after serving at the Grand Rapids Press and MLive for 16 years along with shorter stints at the Ionia Sentinel and WZZM. Contact him at dream100@comcast.net with story ideas for Allegan, Kent and Ottawa counties. 

PHOTOS (Top) Calvin Christian’s Caleb Teusink sends an approach shot during last season’s Division 4 Final at The Meadows. (Middle) The Squires take a team photo after last year’s runner-up finish; all but one golfer is back this spring. (Click for more from High School Sports Scene.)