|
Eskymos Overcome Elements To Win Golf Tourneys
 ESCANABA---The conditions were about as raw as they could be for the first day of May, and every other high school sporting event in Delta County was called off. But five high school golf teams braved the elements on Thursday to compete in the Eskymo Inivtational at the just-opened Escanaba Country Club. The host Eskymos won both the boys and girls events, with Gladstone taking second. "I guess I was a little on the sadistic side making them stay out there," Escanaba Golf Coach Brian Robinette laughed. "But we're a month away from the U.P. Finals. We have to get some golf in. They'll be a little sore tomorrow, but they're kids. They're resiliant."  There was no playoff hole held. "Dylan shooting a 78 today, under these conditions, was good," Robinette said. "Especially on the Back Nine, where there's more exposure to the elements. I'm thinking that 82 was par today. I think today will be a launch pad to get his season going." Escanaba's Nick Aird shot an 80 to tie for third with Kingsford's Joe Lynn. Aird shot the best nine-hole round of the day...a 35 on the Front Nine. But Robinette says the rough conditions got to Aird on the Back Nine, and he had to settle for a 45. Escanaba's Nick LeMire and Nick Laviolette shot 83's and they tied for fifth place. The Eskymos won the event by eleven strokes over second place Gladstone, 333-344. Kingsford was third with a 350, and Marquette took fourth with 352. The Escanaba "B" Team finished fifth at 357, and Iron Mountin ended up sixth with 373 strokes. ----ESCANABA GIRLS ALSO WIN INVITATIONAL---- The Escanaba Eskymos won the girls meet by 13 strokes over the Gladstone Braves, although Gladstone's Callie Jensen was the medalist with a 45. Escanaba's Abbey Strom was one stroke off Jensen's pace with a 46 as the girls stopped after nine holes. "That was her (Strom) best, by far," Robinette said. "I kind of fed her to the wolves, having her in the top spot. She was in the fourth spot last year. She did a real good job." Escanaba won the meet with 212 strokes, with Gladstone second with 225. Iron Mountain was third (236), Marquette was fourth (260), and Kingsford finished fifth with 261 strokes. Robinette says that given the raw conditions, the girls did well. "I love the (212) score," Robinette said. "I'm very impressed. To have three of the top four is nice. It all came together nicely." Amanda Bink shot a 47 to finish third behind Jensen and Strom. "Nice effort," Robinette said. "She is a totally different golfer than last year." Fellow Eskymo Peyton Shalifoe finished fourth by shooting a 53. Escanaba played without top golfer Kelsey Motto, who was on a trip to New York and missed the meet. "We would have been sub-200 if she was here," Robinette said. "I only had four girls today, so they took all four scores, and the girls did a great job." |
