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MCC golf team posing with pointer finder up to signal number 1

As the fall golf season competition progresses, Doug Harkema knows his team is getting close to putting things together.  

For at least one day, that moment was during the Hawks Invitational at the Riverview Highlands Golf Course in Riverview, Michigan, Sept. 28. The Montcalm Community College Centurions men’s golf team posted a school-record 292 team score, beating out Delta College by 11 strokes.  

“Those come few and far between where everyone shoots a stellar round,” Harkema said. “But I’m happy that we’re leveling out and playing consistently. That wins the big tournaments.” 

Leading the way for the Centurions was sophomore Spencer Denney (Battle Creek, Mich.), who topped the leaderboard by finishing one stroke under par. MCC dominated the individual leaderboard, with four players topping the list. Following Denney were three freshman teammates — Dominic DeMello (Holt, Mich.), Parker Saunders (Marquette, Mich.) and Jackson Howe (Brandon, Vt.) — who all tied for second place, each scoring 1-over.  

MCC beat six other teams at the invitational. Delta (+15) finished second, followed by Schoolcraft College (+21), St. Clair County Community College (+25), Oakland Community College (+34), Henry Ford College (+36) and Wayne County (+45). 

This was Denney’s first time topping the individual leaderboard. On the front nine, he shot 2-under and then shot a 1-over on the back nine.  

Sophomore Landon Elder (Louisville, Ky.) finished seventh with a 3-over, and sophomore Chase Couchman (Holly, Mich.) finished 5-over, taking 13th place. 

“I was really most proud of Chase and Landon, who were rock solid,” Harkema said. “Chase’s score didn’t count but he shot well and Landon did, as well. That’s them leveling out.”  

Other MCC players results are as follows:  

  • Brayton Butler, 7-over (T-16th) 

  • Jayville Boyd, 9-over (T-27th)  

  • Ethan Wempen, 12-over (T-35th) 

 

Centurions take second at Skipper Invitational 

The Centurions kept up their “leveling” play at the Skipper Invitational at Port Huron Golf Course in Fort Gratiot. 

MCC finished second at the tournament, following Grand Rapids Community College. The Centurions finished +25 while GRCC totaled +14. 

“We were on a little bit of a rollercoaster earlier this season, but now we’re playing more consistently,” Harkema said. “It was good to see we played rock solid out here and at Riverview.” 

Harkema said his players are starting to grasp his philosophy on playing good golf, which is playing “boring golf.” 

“They’re learning how to be consistent,” he said. “If we can get rid of the double bogeys, we’re going to be in a good spot. They’re learning that playing boring golf is playing good golf. It’s about hitting the correct shot, not trying to hit the hero shot.” 

DeMello was MCC’s best performer, shooting 4-over, which he tied for eighth place. Couchman and Elder finished 6-over, tying for 15th, and Spencer Denney was 9-over, tying for 29th place.  

Jack Higgins, of St. Clair County Community College, topped the leaderboard with a 1-under score, finishing ahead of Muskegon Community College’s Isaac Utzinger, who finished second at 2-over.  

Other MCC player results are as follows:  

  • Javille Boyd, +9 (T-29th) 

  • Parker Saunders, +10 (T-35th) 

  • Jackson Howe, +12 (T-42nd)