Traverse City Record-Eagle

Tennis

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  • Douglas Tesner

    Traverse City Central Girls Invitational
October 15, 2009

6 area teams in tennis finals; 2 in golf

Six area squads at tennis states; two-plus in golf

BY MIKE ECKERT

TRAVERSE CITY -- State titles in golf and tennis will be on the line this weekend.

And northern Michigan will be well represented. Six local teams will compete in tennis while two teams and four individuals will seek honors in golf.

The finals run Friday and Saturday at various sites.

In golf, Traverse City Central returns to the Division 1 finals for the first time since the spring of 2007.

"This is my 12th trip down there in 12 years (with teams or individuals) and I keep telling the girls when they go, they treat you like queens. It's a totally different experience," TC Central coach Lois McManus said. "I've reminded them that they have to think of the hundreds of girls across the state that will be sitting at home this weekend. This is a privilege."

The Trojans will be led by junior Chelsea Guoynes, who was seventh last year as an individual. Other contributors include Courtney Dye, Rachel Jurik, Maria Frick and Katie Madison.

Guoynes has consistently been one of the top players at each tournament this fall, averaging 77 for the season. Her teammates are coming on, significantly lowering their scores since the start of the season.

"I'd say we've consistently dropped 25-30 strokes," McManus said. "I credit most of that to starting a new chipping and putting routine. We've spent a lot of time going through those drills."

The strong short game should be a plus at the lengthy Forest Akers West course at Michigan State, where many players will struggle to reach the long par-4s in two shots.

Traverse City West senior Gaby Muller will be in the field as an individual. Her season average was a shade above 80.

Meanwhile, no local teams qualified for the Division 3 tournament at Grand Valley's The Meadows, but Cheboygan senior Jaycee Garrow will compete as an individual.

For the first time, the state will hold a Division 4 tournament at Eastern Michigan's Eagle Crest Golf Club.

Harbor Springs qualified with a lineup that includes Andi Shepherd, Nicole Laughlin, Kate Cwikel, Meg Shepherd and Holly Mathews.

Manistee's Ashley Teifenthal and Kristen Merkey reached the finals as individuals.

In tennis, Traverse City Central will head to Midland for the Division 1 state finals, where it finished 11th last year. The Trojans -- ranked No. 10 in the state poll -- didn't receive any seeds, but do have a 36-1 tandem at No. 1 doubles with Chris Heimburger and Peter Pappas.

Petoskey and Cadillac will travel to Jenison for the Division 3 finals. The Northmen are ranked No. 9 in the state poll while the Vikings are 10th.

Harbor Springs, St. Francis and Leelanau County will represent northern Michigan in the Division 4 finals at Kalamazoo College.

Leelanau County is a three-school co-op program.

St. Francis finished seventh a year ago and will have four seeds. Head coach Annie Murphy said the team goal is to finish in the top five.

"The guys on this team have worked really hard to get where they are," Murphy said. "Not just this season, but for the whole year."

Earning seeds: Mac Corcoran is a No. 4 seed at No. 3 singles, Alex Primeau a No. 5 seed at No. 4 singles, Sean Paquet and Newton Calcutt a No. 5 seed at No. 1 doubles and Pat Wilson and Josh Kurtz a No. 6 seed at No. 3 doubles.

State finals

TENNIS

Division 1 at Midland
TC Central

Division 3 at Jenison
Petoskey, Cadillac

Division 4 at Kalamazoo
St. Francis, Harbor Springs, Leelanau County

GOLF

Division 1 at MSU
TC Central

Division 4 at EMU
Harbor Springs

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