Wykons sweep Calumet Invite
By PETER PIETRANGELO, DMG Sports Editor
POSTED: May 16, 2008
CALUMET — April Hibbard was as high as the kite she was flying. The West Iron County junior shot a 50 at the Calumet Invitational on Thursday to medal and lead the Wykons to an easy 231-242 win over Houghton.
“I didn’t expect to do that good,” Hibbard said. “My drives were going right, but my chipping was good and my putting was good.”
After the girls finished up their nine holes and waiting for the boys to finish up 18, the Wykons crossed the street to the driving range to fly kites to pass the time.
By avoiding the water hazards that were the bane of golfers all day, she improved on her 58 shot at Gogebic this week.
“Before that I didn’t do that well,” she said. “I think it was a lot of luck out there.”
Her score was five strokes better than second place L’Anse’s Samantha Lloyd and Houghton’s Steph Mewbourn. Calumet’s Kristen Therrian was fourth with a 57, while teammate Becca Tikkanen and Houghton’s Ellyn Hurst tied for fifth with a 59.
Lloyd, who had never golfed a full nine holes before the start of the season, is having a solid freshman campaign, which included medalling at L’Anse Golf Club earlier this season.
Her inexperience is offset by her athleticism and determination. Though she hadn’t done much formal golfing, she plays frequently on the L’Anse course — just not in succession.
“I asked her what her nine-hole score was when the season started and she said, ‘I don’t know,’” said George Crum Jr., whose Purple Hornets are a point back in the WestPAC standings. “I said, ‘Sam, you stay with it and you will be an excellent golfer.’”
Calumet was third with 257 and Hancock fourth with 264. L’Anse did not record a team score as one of its golfers was disqualified for not finishing a hole.
Crum’s boys team has no stars — he refers to them as “grinders,” keeping calm on the course despite not having overwhelming power off the tee. Jaron McIntyre, who medalled with a 79 as the Purple Hornets fell by three strokes, 334-331, to West Iron County, agreed.
“That’s how it’s been for us all year,” McIntyre said. “I’ve shot 93, 91 and 86. It’s been inconsistent.
“We are where we are because of (Crum). He tells us to keep our cool, keep our head.”
McIntyre’s teammate Matt Salli was second with an 80, while West Iron Duo Todd Sabotta and Brandon Nocerini tied for third with 81. Houghton’s JP Britz and Blake Heitala were next with 82s.
In a topsy-turvy season where no team has a standout golfer, the Wykons again proved that to be true. No. 1 golfer Jake Donati had an 85, tying for his team’s lowest score.
“Our Nos. 3 and 4 have been pretty consistent,” WIC coach Mike Dallavalle said. “We kind of rely on our (Nos.) 1 and 2 to shoot in the 70s.”
The Gremlins were third with 338, followed by Calumet (347), Hancock (365) and Ironwood (386).
Peter Pietrangelo can be reached at ppietrangelo@mininggazette.com
BOYS
WEST IRON COUNTY (331) — Todd Sabotta 81, Brandon Nocerini 81, Beau DuBois 84, Brad Chartier 85. L’ANSE (334) — Jaron McIntyre 79, Matt Salli 80, Dan Sterbenz 86, Greg Pirkola 89. HOUGHTON (338) — JP Britz 82, Blake Heitala 82, Davy Sproule 87, Jake Kaarto 87. CALUMET (347) — Tyler Junttila 84, Greg Helminen 86, Pete Helminen 88, Donald Rogers 89. HANCOCK (365) — Jordan Roy 88, Alex Roy 88, Mitchell Peterson 90, Reece Anderson 99. IRONWOOD (386) — Jake Ansami 93, Max Johnson 94, Andrew Burla 97, Brett Johnson 102.
GIRLS
WEST IRON COUNTY (231) — April Hibbard 50, Alyssa Camps 57, Jaci Salonen 60, Sarah Fuller 64. HOUGHTON (242) — Steph Mewbourn 55, Ellyn Hurst 59, Taylor Kaurala 62, Toria Stein 66. CALUMET (257) — Kristen Therrian 57, Becca Tikkanen 59, Cassie Huls 70, Ariel Kargela 71. HANCOCK (264) — Lisa McMullen 63, Jacie Fisher 66, Michelle Juopperi 67, Skye Saari 68. L’ANSE (NTS) — Samantha Lloyd 55, Becca Mills 67, Jackie Collins 75, Katelyn Darey DQ. IRONWOOD (NTS) — Erin Nelson 62, Rhona Campbell 74, Maria Fairfield 74.
