A pair of local golfers in the Division 4 rankings are headed to the state finals.
Both Burr Oak’s Flavio Hernandez and Colon’s Simon Vinson qualified as individuals for the finals. The top three individuals, not on a qualifying team, advance to the state finals. Both Hernandez and Vinson finished in those top three spots.
“Overall he played great, 83 is his lowest score in a tournament to date,” Burr Oak golf coach Tyler Hunt said of Hernandez. “He is the first golfer I have taken to state and this is my eighth year. So proud of him and his hard work.”
The regional round was held at Clearbrook Golf Club in Saugatuck.
Hernandez finished second with his 83 for the individual qualifiers. Vinson was third with an 85. Also qualifying for the state finals was Luis Laurenz Diwo of Cassopolis, he fired a round of 81.
Three teams from each region also advance to the state finals. This year, Kalamazoo Christian shot a 325 to finish first. Saugatuck (341) and Kalamazoo Hackett (349) each qualified for the finals as well.
The Division 4 state finals will be held at Bedford Valley in Battle Creek next weekend.
Colon finished eighth as a team overall. Justin Wickey shot a round of 100, Jonathan Greenwald carded a 103 on the day. Connor Hetman shot a 127, Tucker Lafler added a round of 128.
White Pigeon finished ninth with a team score of 416. The Chiefs were led by Isaiah Ryall with a round of 92. Evan Rudloff shot a 98 while Luke Hinkson added a 110, Carter Royce shot 116 and Drew Johnson added a round of 127.
Howardsville Christian finished 10thth as a team. Lukas Krueger shot a 97, Will Boyer fired a 102. Nathan Jergens shot a round of 104, Carter Grandlinard added a 117 and Caleb Schwartz shot a 141.
Marcellus’ Dawsen Lehew shot a 99 on the day.
Mendon finished 12thth as a team with a team score of 432. Cam Bingaman led the Hornets with a round of 92 and Mathew Bakeman added a round of 103. Mason Wilczynski shot a 115, Nick Stiver added a round of 122 while Jaden Behrends shot a 142.
Centerville finished 13thth as a team with a score of 477. Leading the way was Connor Geigley, he shot a round of 108 while Caleb Schwartz fired a 112. Nathan Hartong added a round of 128, Braxton Schrock shot a score of 129 and Zoe Jines added a 137 .
Division 3
Both Bronson and Constantine, a pair of Division 3 schools, competed at The Medalist in Marshall for regionals. Neither team qualified for the state finals.
Bronson had only three golfers and did not finish with a team score. Nicholas Cranson shot a round of 103 on the day while Carson Norton added a round of 106. Mathew Blankenship shot 138.
Constantine had a team score of 456 on the day, good for 16th place. The Falcons were led by Logan Patmalnieks with a round of 99, Michael Watrous shot a 107. Kaden Salisbury finished with a 131, Kodie Cox shot a 129 and Tyler Miller added a 132.
Qualifying as a team in that regional were Dowagiac with a 347, Olivet with a 360 and Hillsdale with a 354.
Division 2
Both Sturgis and Three Rivers had regional rounds at Coldwater Golf Club in Division 2 action. Neither team, nor individuals, qualified for the state finals.
Three Rivers shot a team score of 371 on the day, good for 15th place. The Wildcats finished just one spot ahead of Sturgis in 16ththbut 30 shots better than the Trojans fired a 401.
Leading Three Rivers was Caleb Quake with an 86, Nick Melville shot a 93 and Kaden Ratering added a 95. Max Hoxie shot a 97, Lloyd Ruesink added a 106.
Sturgis was led by Graeme Herald with a 91. Conner Kimes shot a 99 and Nicklaus Berry added a 100 while Carter Wallace shot 111.
Teams qualifying from that regional included Vicksburg with a 299 as regional champions, Mason with a 316 and Gull Lake with a 319.
This article originally appeared on Sturgis Journal: Hernandez, Vinson qualify for D4 state golf finals