EAST LANSING – Bryce Boss admits he wasn’t sure which he wanted more heading into Saturday’s second round of the Lower Peninsula Division 4 Boys Golf Final at Forest Akers West.

"Winning the state title,” Boss said after Charlevoix clinched its first team championship in the sport. “A hundred times out of a hundred. It’s way more fun to win as a team than as an individual.’

The Rayders – who will move to Division 3 next season – rolled with a two-day score of 645 strokes, besting second-place Muskegon Western Michigan Christian by 17.

The championship capped an emotional season for the Rayders, whose season was cut short last year by a vehicle crash that seriously injured several team members and coach Doug Drenth.

“I’m really grateful,” Drenth said, blinking back tears. “Four guys who scored today were in the accident, and how they played today meant a lot. These are fine young men, with fine parents. I’m proud of all of them.”

Drenth achieved a rare double Saturday. While continuing to recover from his injuries this past fall, he coached the Charlevoix boys cross country team to the Division 3 team title.

“I’ve had a lot of help,” Drenth said. “My (golf) assistant, Bruce Beaudion, deserved a lot of credit, too.” 

Boss had a chance at that individual championship as well, when Alcona’s Giovanni Paluch three-putted on the final hole of regulation, forcing a playoff. 

Both posted scores of 149 heading into the tiebreaker.

But after they tied on the first playoff hole, Paluch prevailed on the second

“I was hitting everything to the left,” Boss said. “Kinda hard to win that way.”

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PHOTOS (Top) Charlevoix’s Bryce Boss punches out of a sand trap during his second round Saturday at Forest Akers West. (Middle) Alcona’s Giovanni Paluch putts Saturday; he won the individual championship in a playoff. (Click for more from High School Sports Scene.)