The COVID shutdowns of 2020 negatively impacted most high school sports, as the inability to compete in team settings that spring and summer resulted in lower participation totals in the years that followed.
But out of those dark times, golf is the one sport that seems to be thriving the most.
Livingston County teams have massive turnouts for golf this season. Howell had 53 players try out, Hartland 50 and Brighton 40. Even though their numbers can’t match those from the larger schools, turnouts of 24 at Pinckney and 20 at Fowlerville are high totals for those teams.
Howell coach Jeff Hughey said the turnout at Howell is the largest since boys golf moved to the spring in 2008. During the COVID shutdowns, golf was one of the few sports kids could play.
“When COVID hit, golf started getting popular again,” Hughey said. “That’s been four or five years. Mom and dad might not have been working because of COVID. They were like, ‘Hey, let’s golf.’ That’s a big reason why the game has exploded. We’re seeing the fruits of that now. It’s great to see those numbers up.”
Brighton coach James Dewling said he’s seeing more golfers entering high school playing at a high level.
“We’re seeing in our younger players far greater potential at a younger grade level than what we used to,” Dewling said. “That’s the COVID class of golfers.”
Competition for spots on golf teams was tough this year, which county coaches hopes produces another strong year for golf in the area.
Here’s the outlook for the county’s teams:
Brighton
► Last season: KLAA, 1st place; regional, 4th place
► Top returners: Jacob Daavettila (Sr.), Adam Forcier (Jr.), Jackson Frelich (Sr.), Mitchell Stoll (Jr.)
► Outlook: Missing the state finals by one shot last season was a tough blow for Brighton after an outstanding regular season that produced a KLAA championship. The Bulldogs were also coming off back-to-back third-place finishes in the state tournament. Brighton doesn’t have a golfer with state finals experience, though Daavettila was on the bubble to make the state lineup two years ago. Daavettila (77.6), Forcier (77.6) and Frelich (78.4) averaged less than 79 last year. With a deep program, the Bulldogs have been able to maintain a high level by cycling in players from their junior varsity who could have played varsity for most other teams. Sophomore Grady Bissett is expected to make an impact coming up from the J.V.
► Coach James Dewling: “We get to showcase each year how much depth we have and how seriously our athletes take it. There are athletes from different sports who are well-rounded competitors. When they come out in the spring season, it starts quick and it’s over fast. If you’re not competitive quickly, you could get lost in a season. Our guys have to sharpen their skill on the course coming out of the snow, but usually their mindset is ready to go.”
Fowlerville
► Last season: CAAC Red, 5th place; regionals, 15th place
► Top returners: Levi Baker (Sr.), Tommy Cox (Soph.), John Miller (Sr.), Nolan Peterson (Jr.), Cole Sova (Sr.)
► Outlook: Fowlerville brings back Sova, Cox, Baker and Miller from its regional lineup. Sova and Cox were the Gladiators’ top scorers at regionals, shooting 94s. Fowlerville kept 16 of the 20 players who tried out, which should create some depth in the program. Senior Will Shrader is on the golf team for the first time, competing in his fifth different varsity sport.
► Coach Nick Campbell: “There are a decent amount of freshmen and sophomores who can learn the ropes from the juniors and seniors. The big focus is not so much on winning, but ‘this is what I want you to pass on to guys when you play with them and practice.’ Just situational golf, hitting the right club, not automatically going driver all the time or 60-degree around the green. Now it’s building the steps for a program where you’re using your head.”
Hartland
► Last season: KLAA, 4th place; regionals, 4th place
► Top returners: Michael Maurin (Jr.), Aidan Oake (Soph.)
► Outlook: Like Brighton, Hartland fell one stroke short of going to the state finals last season, losing a tie-breaker with Traverse City West at regionals. Maurin and Oake are the only golfers back from the Eagles’ regional lineup. Oake averaged 78.8 and Maurin 79.4 for 18 holes last year. Sophomores Liam Kastamo and Grant Sturos could fill some of the holes coming up from the J.V. Senior Alex Hernandez, in only his second year in the program, has earned a varsity spot.
► Coach Nathan Oake: “I’m optimistic about the youth in our program. We have a lot of ninth- and 10th-graders. A couple of them have shown some real promise. That’s our job to try to develop them and get them excited about the program and coming into the fold. You do have to work hard year-round to continue to get better at this game.”
Howell
► Last season: KLAA, 2nd place; regional champion; state Division 1 finals, 11th place
► Top returners: Luke Downing (Sr.), Derek Kantola (Sr.), Gavin Hill (Sr.), Zach Spencer (Sr.), Rory Sturos (Sr.)
► Outlook: Big things are expected of Howell, which returns all five players from the lineup that won a regional championship to qualify for its first state tournament since fall 2004. Spencer averaged 76.3, Kantola 76.5, Hill 78.7, Sturos 80.0 and Downing 80.4 for 18 holes last season. The Highlanders kept 28 golfers in the program, rather than their customary 24, because they will graduate their top five players.
► Coach Jeff Hughey: “We’re not going to sneak up on anybody like two years ago, because we’ve had the same group of guys the last couple years. I told the guys, ‘There are seven or eight of you who on any given day could be the low scorer on the team, and that’s not because someone played bad.’ It takes a lot of pressure off knowing you don’t have to go out and shoot the round of your life because you’re carrying the team. Our practices are extremely competitive, because they know playing time is at a premium.”
Pinckney
► Last season: SEC White, 5th place; regionals, 10th place
► Top returners: Emmett Edin (Jr.), Carson Plante (Sr.)
► Outlook: Plante was Pinckney’s top player last season, placing 12th in the SEC White tournament with an 83 and 20th at regionals with an 86. The Pirates hope that the depth of a 24-player lineup allows them to move up the SEC White standings after taking fifth in the six-team league last year. Edin is the only other returner from regionals, where he was the team’s No. 3 golfer.
► Coach Jim Paradise: “With 22 other players to compete for the remaining varsity spots, it has already become a very competitive atmosphere. My philosophy is to not cut a player, but let them grow as a player and learn the game.”
Contact Bill Khan at wkhan@gannett.com. Follow him on X @BillKhan
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