The Seaholm High school girl’s golf team, ranked fourth in Division 2, looks to qualify for states for the ninth straight year, and ten out of the past eleven years.
The Maples played in one of the toughest division’s this year- OAA Red Division- after losing Yale Freshman Alex Lipa from last year’s state championship team. They entered the October 5th league meet with a 5-1 record. As of October 2nd, their overall record was 10-4.
Walled Lake Central transfer student Essence Biggs, certainly helped to propel the team to success, earning the number two spot on the team behind Ali Restaino.
“Essence, who is new this year, is now making a bigger impact and we can count on her to have a low score,” said Senior Sarah Norris
At Paint Creek Country Club Biggs scored a 33 for nine holes. Four days later, Restaino posted a 33 at Birmingham Country Club; A school record for the course.
These two aren’t the only players to have contributed to team. Another school record was broken at Birmingham Country Club when four players combined to shoot a 162.
Coach Leon Braisted said, “I have 14 players on varsity and all have contributed very well.”
Of the 14 players on the team, six will continue to play in the postseason. They are Ali Restaino, Elyse Jackson, Sarah Norris, Essence Biggs, and Sophie Harding.
At a recent tournament the team came in fourth behind the number one, two, and three ranked teams in Division One.
The Maples look to ride this momentum into the second league meet, through Regionals on October 8th, all the way to States.
“Our season is going really well and I feel confident that we will place in the top three at Regionals, and move on to States,” said Norris.
There is only one team, East Lansing, in the postseason that the team has already faced, beating them in a tournament earlier in the season.
But the big question is can the Maples repeat as State Champs?
“Would I be surprised if we won the states, no,” Braisted said. “We have a very good team.”
He stressed that all the girls need to be on the same page in order for this to occur.
Restaino seems to be on the same page as Braisted.
She would love to win states as an individual but said, “I would much rather see the team do well than myself.”
If this attitude carries through the rest of the team, look to see the girl’s golf team win States at the MSU-east course on October 16th and 17th.
