The Milan News-Leader
A Heritage Newspaper
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Big Reds tee off 2008 season with solid performances
Milan outperforms Huron League rivals in Ida, Carleton
By Jerry Hinnen, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: April 24, 2008
It was a long wait for the Milan boys' golf team to take the links in 2008 after the extended winter and repeated postponements, but according to head coach Claire Neff, the Big Reds are making up for their lost time.
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Milan shot a 360 at Friday's combination Huron League jamboree and George Williams Tournament, hosted by Airport at Carleton Glen Golf Course. The total was good for 14th out of 18 teams, but placed Milan ahead of Huron rivals Flat Rock and Jefferson and easily within striking distance of 11th-place New Boston Huron and the 12th-place host Jets.
Given the amount of preparation time lost with her young team—of the four scores counted at Carleton Glen, none came from a Big Red senior—Neff was more than pleased with Milan's performance.
"We shot a 360, so we've definitely got room for improvement," Neff said, "but we dropped nine strokes from our first tournament. Our play was much improved. To have all four guys that close to being in the '80s is a good sign for us."
The Big Reds were led by Justin Luft, who carded an 86 after posting his first under-40 score over nine holes. He was followed closely by Joel Dotson with an 87. Tyler Hodges shot a 93 and Warren Losee a 94 to round out the Milan scoring.
The nine-stroke drop came from the Big Reds' debut performance of the season, which came April 12 at the rescheduled Ida Invitational at Green Meadows Golf Course.
Despite chilly temperatures and a wet course, Luft shot Milan's low score of the season-to-date with an 81. Hodges followed with an 88, with senior Matt McIntosh carding a 94 and Dotson's 96 providing Milan's fourth score. Losee finished with a 98.
"It was nice to finally be out on the course, even in those conditions," Neff said. "We were happy with our finish."
The tournament was scored using the unusual Stableford Challenge system which awards points for pars and birdies and subtracts the for bogeys, meaning the team's 339 didn't actually contribute to their finish in seventh (out of 10 teams, including Huron teams like Airport and Jefferson, who the Big Reds outscored for the first time).
But it did give the team a benchmark to surpass, a task Neff said the team has been "completely dedicated" towards accomplishing.
"We've definitely seen a lot of improvement," she said. "The guys are great with course management, learning how to focus in, concentrate, and make a five-foot putt. When they miss a shot, they don't get mad and slam their club down, they ask how they can do better next time.
"I'm very, very optimistic about where this team and this program are headed."
Milan will travel to Monroe for the Jefferson Invitational Friday, visit Grosse Ile Monday, and host their first dual meet of the season Wednesday against Jefferson.
"It's going to be close," Neff said of the chance to get a win against the Bears, "but if we play like we're capable of, we can do it."
Staff Writer Jerry Hinnen can be reached at 429-7380 or jhinnen@heritage.com.
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