Hall of Fame
“We are State Champs” for the first time in Catholic Central’s history this chant applied to golf. The place was The Meadows on the Campus of Grand Valley State University (GVSU), where the golf team led by seven (7) strokes after the first day and eventually won the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) Division I State Golf title by six (6) strokes.
Before the season, the Shamrocks were not highly regarded statewide. The 2002 6th place finish was CC’s previous best. “A lot of dedication all summer long” is the reason for winning the state title, said Mike King. “We were out there every day.”
The Shamrocks were guided by Coach Bill Hayes, named Division I Coach of the Year. “Our senior leadership this year was totally unbelievable,” said Coach Hayes. “They knew everything they had to do and did it to become champions.”
All five (5) CC starters won first-place medals during the season. The team captured seven (7) invitational titles, including the Catholic League Championship and the MHSAA Regional title.
Competing in the state tournament were seniors Chris Eliason (72-74-146 - 7th place), Jimmy Burns (75-85-160), Mike King (76-85-161), and sophomores Adam Hogue (77-82-159), and David Denyer (80-86-166). The Shamrocks shot a four-man total of 626, six (6) better than second-place Saline. “It’s awesome…It’s huge,” said Mike King, CC’s All-State 1st team member.
Adam Hogue, one of the team’s outstanding sophomores, was still on cloud nine after the exciting finish. He said, “It’s still sinking in.” Hogue and Eliason also earned an All-State Honorable Mention. Other team members were seniors Brennan Booms and Nathan Kolderman, juniors Nick Foster, Bobby Henderson, Kevin Hughes, George Keller, Ryan Langan, Matt Rutkowski, and Mike Stanford, and sophomores Brian King and Colin Fitzgerald.
“It’s a tremendous boost to the school and a tremendous boost to the golf program.” Coach Hayes commented. After waiting 75 years for the first golf state title – the 2003 Shamrock golf team can finally say we are State Champs. [Spectrum Vol 28, Issue 2]
