Kingsford, Marquette's Luke Land Fantastic 1sts, Negaunee's Niskanen Repeats

By Jack Hall
Special for MHSAA.com

May 31, 2023

HARRIS – There's a first time for everything.

That old saying was certainly proved true Wednesday afternoon during the MHSAA Upper Peninsula Division 1 Girls Golf Final at the steamy Sage Run Golf Course.

The firsts? A U.P. championship for Kingsford High School, and a hole-in-one for Marquette junior Abigail Luke.

The Flivvers took home the team trophy for the first time in school history by topping the leaderboard with 412 strokes, seven clear of second-place Escanaba (419) and 22 ahead of third-place Negaunee (434).

It was a dream come true, said junior Bryonna Sanders, who was the individual runner-up shooting a 99.

Sault Ste. Marie’s Liliana Gutierrez putts during her Division 1 round.“It feels pretty awesome,” Sanders said. “We came out here yesterday (for practice) and we put out a full effort. I think with our team spirit and pushing each other, we did pretty well.

“I didn't really have a game plan, but I went off with my nine-hybrid on every hole. … My driver wasn't hitting it today. Just have to wing it, and golf does its thing!”

Luke’s hole-in-one came midway through the front nine.

“It's crazy,” Luke said. “I was really upset about my last couple holes, but then I made a hole-in-one! It was just tears of joy. I haven't done it before. I was 99 yards away, and so I took my 50-degree (club) which I knew could go 95. And then I rolled it in. I could see it right from where I was! I was speechless when it happened.”

Luke ended up shooting a 101, which tied her for fourth with Escanaba freshman Kamrie Scott. Eskymos senior Sierra Scott was one stroke further back at 102.

The repeat medalist was Negaunee senior Rachel Niskanen, but she wasn't thrilled about how she got to her victory this time – even though she won by seven strokes over Sanders in firing a 92. Niskanen has routinely shot in the 70s and 80s all spring long.

“Honestly, it was a really rough day out there for me,” Niskanen said. “I was having a hard time hitting my irons, and it was probably one of the worst rounds of my whole spring season. But, I mean, a win's a win, I guess!

Marquette’s Abigail Luke. “I had a lot of fun with Negaunee golf. They do a really good job, putting on tournaments. Overall, I shot pretty well this season, mostly pars and birdies. But today was just a rough day.”

Kingsford had three of the top 10 individual finishers, with Grace Maki (tied for sixth, 102) and Ella Rizzo (tied for 10th, 105) joining Sanders at the top of the leaderboard.

In all, there were nine schools and 47 golfers playing in the event, which took roughly five-and-a-half hours.

Marquette finished fourth, followed by Menominee, Calumet, Sault Ste. Marie, Houghton, and Westwood.

Click for full results.

PHOTOS (Top) Kingsford celebrates its first Upper Peninsula Finals team championship Wednesday at Sage Run. (Middle) Sault Ste. Marie’s Liliana Gutierrez putts during her Division 1 round. (Below) Marquette’s Abigail Luke. (Photos by Jack Hall.)

Performance of the Week: Muskegon Reeths-Puffer's Paige Anderson

October 5, 2023

Paige AndersonPaige Anderson ♦ Muskegon Reeths-Puffer
Senior ♦ Golf

Anderson carded a personal-best 4-under 69 at Oak Ridge Golf Club in Muskegon to finish as medalist at last week's Greater Muskegon Athletic Association championship tournament and also lead Reeths-Puffer to the team title with a 353, three strokes lower than Whitehall. 

An individual qualifier for the Lower Peninsula Division 2 Finals the last two seasons, Anderson also has been part of some memorable team accomplishments this fall as Reeths-Puffer won its first Ottawa-Kent Conference Green jamboree in five years. The Rockets capped their league run Wednesday with the O-K Green Tournament title, guaranteeing them a shared league title with Mona Shores, and Anderson carded a 72 to win the individual championship. She'll lead her team into its LPD2 Regional on Oct. 13 at Muskegon's Lincoln Golf Club. 

@mhsaasports ⛳️POW: Paige Anderson #golf #birdie #reethspuffer #letsgo #part1 #highschoolsports #tiktalk #interview #performanceoftheweek #mistudentaid #fyp #MHSAA ♬ original sound - MHSAA

@mhsaasports ⛳️POW: Paige Anderson #tiktalk #questiontime #part2 #chicfila #pretzels #friends #family #phone #cryingemoji #performanceoftheweek #mistudentaid #fyp #MHSAA ♬ original sound - MHSAA

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Past 2023-24 Honorees

Sept. 29: MacKenzie Bisballe, Lake City volleyball - Report
Sept. 22:
Jhace Massey, Gladwin football - Report
Sept. 15:
Kaylee Draper, Sturgis swimming - Report
Sept. 8:
Owen Jackson, Traverse City St. Francis tennis - Report
Sept. 1:
Rachel Forsyth, Ann Arbor Pioneer cross country - Report

(Photos courtesy of the Muskegon Reeths-Puffer athletic department.)