Lakeview golf rounds out season in D-2 state finals By Brad D. Bates The St. Clair Shores Lakeview boys golf team’s trip to the 2010 Division 2 state finals was an accomplishment years in the making. The Huskies may have clinched the trip with a 300 at their regional June 4, but it was working together for multiple years that put them in place for that score. “We knew if we were ever going to have a year, it was this,” coach Dave Murray said. “Because of the buildup of the last three or four years, and because they stuck together and worked hard, it turned out to be the season we thought it would be.” The Huskies placed 11th in the finals’ 15-team field with a 657 June 11-12 at Forest Akers West in East Lansing. Junior Luke Trocchio carded a 156 to lead the squad, followed by seniors Danny St. George (163) and Danny Mahoney (167), sophomore Danny Schwarzwalder (173) and senior Kory Walsh (181). “Our seniors did a really good job maintaining the team’s focus,” Murray said. “Our co-captains, Danny St. George and Danny Mahoney, really played strong and filled the leadership roles.” The Huskies’ focus was particularly dialed in at the regional meet, where their 300 was 11 strokes ahead of runners-up Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood and Orchard Lake St. Mary’s. “They knew they were good, but I don’t think they knew how good,” Murray said of his squad prior to the regional. “They had the experience, skill and confidence, but I think they really surprised themselves with that 300.” Lakeview was the only team from Macomb County to place higher than ninth at the regional. “We were proud to represent the east side and Maple Lane,” Murray said of his home course in Sterling Heights, which he shares with several other Macomb County squads. “The kids really weren’t intimidated at the regional. They knew what they could do and did it.” The trip to the finals was Lakeview’s first since 2005, when Murray’s son, Kyle, was on the team. “When your own kid is in the tournament, it’s more emotional,” Murray said of his previous trip compared to this one. “This time, there was a lot more for me to do, so I was pretty busy.” Having ties to the 2005 team helped put the Huskies in place to make it back to the finals. “We have a pretty strong alumni, and my son and some of his old teammates would come out and practice with the team,” Murray said. “That really helped us a lot and pushed us even further.” Next year’s Lakeview team will have even more alumni support, as the Huskies graduate six seniors. But the return of Trocchio and Schwarzwalder give Murray a place to start building for Lakeview’s next trip to the state finals. “That’s a nice combination, to be sure, but we lose a lot of seniors, so we’ll be rebuilding next year,” Murray said. “Luke will be the leader, and Danny (Schwarzwalder) is good friends with a lot of JV kids, so I expect him to support and mentor them a lot next year.” You can reach Sports Writer Brad D. Bates at bbates@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1029. |
