Wildcat golfers finish 9th in rainy state tournament

A record-breaking performance seemed to be a fitting finish for a record-breaking season for the Wayland High School boys’ golf team at the Division 2 state tournament Saturday.

Despite a six-hour rain delay, the Wildcats checked in with a school record team best 301 score for 18 holes in the second round of the state finals at Bedford Valley in Battle Creek. They concluded with a two-day score of 626 and finished ninth among the 18 teams that qualified.

Wayland carded a 325 on the first day Friday and was well back in 14th place. Pontiac Notre Dame and O-K Gold Conference rival East Grand Rapids were battling for the top spot, both below 300.

The ‘Cats took 24 strokes off their first day total score and inched upward in the teams’ final tally. They moved ahead of neighborhood rival Byron Center and O-K Gold rival Forest Hills Eastern.

Flint Powers won the state title with a two-day score of an even 600 for the 36 holes. Forest Hills Northern was runner-up at 603 and East Grand Rapids was third at 608. Wayland was five strokes away from eighth place DeWitt.

Junior Rory Myers turned in a one-under-par performance on the second day to pace Wayland’s late surge. He finished with a 78, six over par, on day one.

Freshman Tyler Omness carded a one-over par 73 on day two after going 10 over par with an 82 during the first round.

Senior Mitch Salisbury finished the first day at 12 over par and an 84, but came back strong on the second day with an 81.

Junior Carson Sevigny recorded an eight-over-par 80 in day two after a nine over 81 in the first round.

Rory Bessinger had perhaps the best comeback of all on day two. He struggled with an 18-over 90 Friday, but Saturday finished strong at five-over-par 77.

So the final two-day scores were Myers 149, Omness 155, Sevigny 161, Salisbury 165 and Bessinger 167.

Wayland qualified for the state tourney for the first time ever by taking second behind East Grand Rapids the regional tournament earlier this month.