Belding sophomore Aaron Velding watches on as drives a ball down the fairway on his first shot of the hole at the Sparty Cup on Friday at the Falls at Barber Creek. — DN Photo | Alex Freeman
KENT CITY — Three area boys golf teams were in action in Kent City on Friday as they ventured out to the Falls at Barber Creek for a uniquely formatted tournament.
Sparta’s annual Sparty Cup pairs golfers by seed with another golfer of that same seed from another school. Greenville golfers were paired with West Catholic, Belding with Sparta and Tri County was paired with Holland.
The golfers headed out in groups of four and competed while using a different scramble variation every six holes. On holes 1-6, golfers used a best-ball format where each golfer would shoot for the entire hole, with the lowest score being counted for the pair. Holes 7-12 featured a traditional scramble format where the players each shot and chose which ball to play after each shot until the ball was holed. On holes 13-18, the duos played an alternate shot format where they would take turns hitting the same ball.
Golfers were permitted to use golf carts during the competition and music was also allowed, so long as all golfers in the group agreed to it. The unique format is a fan favorite among the players, according to area coaches.
“We’ve done it for quite a few years now,” said Tri County head coach Corey Renner. “It was at North Kent for a few years and we did it for one or two years at Cedar Chase even, so it’s been six or seven years we’ve done it and the kids love it. It’s a nice change of pace, it’s something a little different from what the normal is, they really enjoy it. It’s unique that they get to be paired up with a kid from another school.”
“It’s probably the most fun these kids have, absolutely,” said Belding head coach Doug Anderson.
“It’s something we’ve been a part of for 10 years, if not more.”
The fun didn’t stop there, however, as the coaches also got in on the action. Coaches were paired together in the same team pairings while their golfers played, allowing them some additional friendly competition among their peers.
“It was good, not bad for my second time out this spring,” Anderson said. “It was a little breezy and a little wet out but it was fun.”
“I ended up playing with the Holland coach who I’ve never met before,” Renner added. “Real nice guy, we didn’t win but we were pretty respectable, had a lot of fun and now I know another person.”
Scores for the Sparty Cup were not posted online and were unavailable before press time.
TRI COUNTY
The Vikings weren’t eyeing victories on the scorebook on Friday as they were without their top four golfers for various reasons.
Tri County sophomore Austin Lenon eyes the hole as he prepares to hit a short shot to the green during the Sparty Cup on Friday at the Falls at Barber Creek. — DN Photo | Alex Freeman
As a result, Renner was able to bring some new kids up to play and treated it as more of a fun practice day.
“I had two exchange students there who hadn’t played in a competition yet so they were both pretty excited to be part of the team and they had fun,” Renner said. “I had a freshman there and at the end of the day he was in the van saying, ‘That was fun, I had fun, thanks for taking me.’ … The way the weather has been this year, we’ve asked the kids to do a lot of stuff that hasn’t been a lot of fun. So it was nice for them to have a fun day.”
The Vikings are in the midst of one of their best seasons in recent memory, consistently finishing in the top five at CSAA jamborees, including a fourth-place finish on Monday at Big Rapids. Renner noted that there’s an opportunity to move up, however. While top dog Big Rapids will not be slowed down, Renner thinks the Vikings could potentially get up to that second spot as spots two through six are very close in scores.
“On any given day, we could be second,” he said. “Chip Hills is getting a little bit better, too, but at the beginning of the year, they were pretty similar to us. Reed City is pretty good but if they have an off day, we can get them. We have a couple more league jamborees, we could be second in those but probably when it’s all said and done, third would be a good goal.”
The Vikings are led by senior Gavin Welch and have a nice complement of players in sophomore brothers Andrew Lenon and Austin Lenon, along with senior Robert Zemla.
“Gavin, he’s eighth in the conference right now and the other day we got rained out nine holes into it and he was tied for fourth; he’s good enough to be top three or four,” Renner said. Robert Zemla is another kid, he’s a senior and he’s got so much potential. He can hit great shots but he just hasn’t put a consistent round together yet. The two Lenon brothers are really coming along nice, that’s been a real bright spot. Last year they were really green and by the end, they were starting to come around. This year, they’re both right there where they can break 100 on a given day. … They have such great attitudes, they’re a lot of fun.”
Greenville sophomore Caleb Clements looks on as he watches hit putt roll to the hole during Sparta’s Sparty Cup on Friday. — DN Photo | Alex Freeman
The Vikings are putting well, have good long drives and are hitting the mid-irons well as a group. Renner sees only the short game in the 50- to 100-yard range being an issue for the Vikings.
The Vikings next play at Clear Lake Golf Club in Big Rapids for their next CSAA jamboree at 9 a.m. Tuesday.
BELDING
The Black Knights are a solid third in the O-K Silver this season behind NorthPointe Christian and Calvin Christian.
While scores have remained close in jamborees, the Mustangs and Squires are just out of reach in the overall standings but the Knights have also made quite a gap between third and fourth place. It doesn’t mean the Knights can’t celebrate the individual victories, however, such as what took place at their home meet on Wednesday.
“We did beat Calvin at Candlestone, we shot a 171, Calvin shot 172 and NorthPointe shot 168,” Anderson said. “That may be the first time in my memory that we have beaten Calvin and to only be off three from NorthPointe is a big deal.”
Belding is led by All-State senior Mason Anderson, who finished eighth at the Division 3 state finals last year. Mason is playing up to his ability this season and looks to be right on track for another run at a high finish at this year’s state finals and in the O-K Silver, as well.
“He took first in the conference last year so it’ll be a battle coming down the stretch but he does have a stroke lead,” Doug Anderson said of his son, Mason. “After six or seven rounds, making up a stroke is a little difficult in an 18-hole tournament but it can be done. He’s kind of hitting the nail right on the head, he’s hitting his stride again. His stroke average is up a little bit from last year and I’m going to say it’s weather and wind-related but all in all, a great season.”
The Black Knights are eyeing more than Anderson’s potential finals appearance, however, as scores are budding from where they’ve been in recent years as a team. With the group looking at their competition in regionals, there’s a real possibility that the Knights could qualify for the Division 3 state finals as a team — something no boys or girls golf team at Belding has done as far as Anderson can recall.
Greenville sophomore Noah Foster watches as his putt on hole No. 1 heads toward the hole during Friday’s Sparty Cup in Kent City at the Falls at Barber Creek. — DN Photo | Alex Freeman
“I think the general consensus is they all need to work on their games and if we’re going to make that giant leap to the state tournament, we have to keep playing,” he said. “They got back from the Sparty Cup today and they’re all out playing Candlestone as we speak, so the fire has been lit. They’re all touching their clubs a lot more than they had in the past, I think they all see that we have a chance to do something like that and they’ve become great teammates and great friends. They’re working on their games, they see the future as being bright and they want to keep going.”
Belding will next be at the Ionia County Shootout at Morrison Lake Country Club in Saranac on May 21.
GREENVILLE
The Jackets are led this season by freshman Sutton Schroeder, who has quickly burst onto the scene as a top golfer in a talented O-K White.
In conference jamborees this season, Schroeder has placed ninth twice, third and seventh, with a nine-hole average in the low 40s to high 30s. Schroeder takes over as the top golfer following the graduation of Jack Korson, an O-K White All-Conference golfer in 2021.
As a team, however, the Jackets have been at the back of the back in the O-K White, falling short of the talented competition.
Greenville head coach Jason Bialochowski was unavailable for comment on Friday. The Jackets will next be at the Mona Shores Invitational at Muskegon Country Club on May 16.
