The Hillsdale Academy boys golf team has qualified for the state finals as a team in recent seasons. However, the team was unable to win a regional title since their 2017 season. The 2023 Hillsdale Academy golf team, led by three top 10 golfers, took home their second regional title in school history on Saturday, June 3. This qualified the team for the D4 state championship on the weekend of June 9-10.
The Colts took on some of the best teams in the state, including league rivals Lenawee Christian, at the Ella Sharp Golf Course in Jackson. The Colts dominated their competition, with three Colts ending their days with top 10 individual scores and two of those golfers in the top five. The Colts finished 25 strokes ahead in the final team totals over rival Lenawee Christian. The Colts had a final team score of 318 to win the championship.
The Lenawee Christian Cougars took second place with a final score of 343. Hudson took third with a final score of 344. The Colts were led by junior Rykert Frisinger, of Coldwater, who finished tied for individual regional champion after shooting a 75 final score. Rykert finished four over 71. Frisinger had two birdies on the day, one on a par-four at hole one and another on a par-three at hole 11. He had five pars on the front nine and six pars on the back nine.
Colt junior Ridley Fast tied for third overall with a final score of 77. Fast tied with junior Brad Davis of Webberville for third place overall in individual scores. Fast also birdied hole one. He had another birdie on hole 15. Fast had seven pars on the front nine and three pars on the back nine. Colt sophomore Kahle Welden also had a top 10 finish, taking eighth overall with a final score of 82. Welden had four pars on the front nine and six pars on the back nine.
Colt eighth grader Lincoln Knirk took 11th overall with a final score of 84. Knirk had five pars on the front nine and three pars on the back nine. Senior Conner Welden took 14th overall in final individual scoring with a total of 86. He had four pars on the front nine and three pars on the back nine.
With a conference title and a regional title already on their shelves, the Colts and head coach Rolla Frisinger will now set their sights on the Division 4 MHSAA state golf championship. The finals will include two days of 18-holes of golf taking place on Friday, June 9 and Saturday, June 10. The D4 state finals will be held at the Gull Lake View Golf Resort in Battle Creek. The finals will be played on the Bedford Valley course. The course includes three par-three holes and four par-five.
Tickets are $10 per vehicle for the finals. The Finals start at 9:00 am on both days. You can track the tournament using the MHSAA Golf App.
This article originally appeared on Hillsdale Daily News: Hillsdale Academy Golf wins regional championship