It is very difficult to qualify for the state high school golf championships. Most regional events have 12 teams, and only the top three teams — plus top three individuals not on a qualifying team — advance to states.
So the bar is high. But that didn’t stop 26 girls who are former TGA students or current assistant coaches (many are both) from competing in the state championships Oct. 16 and 17 in East Lansing. Congratulations to these players, plus many more who competed on varsity or junior varsity teams but didn’t advance to states.
Pictured at right are three exceptional golfers who earned special honors at states.
Top left: Assistant coach Ariel Chang, a senior at Utica Eisenhower, shows her power and focus while winning regionals with a two-under-par 70. She finished second in the state Division 1 tournament with a 73.
Top right: Former student and current assistant coach Lauren Timpf shot a one-under-par 71 in the state Division 3 event, finishing one stroke out of a playoff. Lauren, a freshman, led Lutheran North to second place in the team competition.
Bottom: Former student Samantha Coleman, a sophomore, led Northville High to the team championship in Division 1. She tied for sixth individually with a 75.
And here is the full list of TGA competitors:
Avondale — Ria Narang
Bloomfield Hills — Brooke Bugajewski, Sanju Swamy
Cranbrook Kingswood — Sienna Ilitch
Dakota — Bryn Duncan, Helen Buk
Detroit Country Day — Trinity Chen
Farmington — Sydney Chap, Venetia Chap
Farmington Hills Mercy — Leah Glover
Grosse Pointe South — Audrey Becker, Elli Richter
Lutheran North — Lauren Timpf, Sarah Doletzky, Emily Hohensee
Northville — Samantha Coleman
Rochester Adams — Carly Ortwine
Rochester Stoney Creek — Addie Delcamp, Rebekah Drake
Romeo — Sarah Himmelsbaugh
Troy Athens — Olivia Hemmila, Ava Weeks
Troy — Jennifer Liu, Kaylee Szczublewski, Theresa Wei
Utica Eisenhower — Ariel Chang
