Marquette Boys Complete Another Finals Sweep, Team Championship Repeat

By Adam Hinch
Special for MHSAA.com

May 28, 2026

HARRIS — It was a great day for golf with temperatures in the 70s and light winds for the MHSAA Upper Peninsula Division 1 Final – and Marquette’s boys played to match to outstanding conditions.

The Sentinels backed up last year’s title as they ended the day with a first-place 295 strokes, finishing ahead of second-place Escanaba at 314 and third-place Houghton with 316. Gladstone finished fourth with 317 and Sault Ste. Marie was fifth with 322.

Marquette junior Seve Swanson had the best day of all in the field as he posted a score of 70 with four birdies.

“The depth of our roster was the key to success today,” Marquette coach Ben Smith said. “Everyone stepped up, and our seniors set the tone and (I’m) just happy for our players.”

Swanson had to use some damage control after a double bogey on the 14th hole. He bounced back with a birdie and three pars to finish the round.

Marquette senior Boden Moore, the 2025 medalist, scored a 72, highlighted by an eagle on the 11th hole – a 501-yard par 5 – and a pair of birdies on holes 9 and 18. Senior teammate Jack Pond also had a good day carding a 74 with a trio of birdies as he rebounded from a tough start on the front nine that included a pair of bogeys and a double bogey all coming during the first six holes.

Escanaba junior Jared Plourde put up the best performance of the day for his team with a score of 74. Plourde got a birdie early, on the third hole, but closed out the front nine with a pair of bogeys. On the back nine, Plourde birdied on the 11th but had bogeys on the next two holes before closing the day with five consecutive pars.

“Our boys played exceptional today,” Escanaba coach Jake Berlinski said. “Jared finished the day tied for third. I couldn't be happier for him and for our team for the way we played today.”

Carson Artley placed fifth on the day with a score of 75 with birdies on the first and ninth holes.

“Carson was right there today,” Berlinski said. “He is one of four guys coming back next year, so our outlook is strong as we move forward to next year.”

Gladstone freshman Karson Delaney tied for sixth on the day, with four birdies and despite a pair of double bogeys on the back nine.

“The driver was perfect on every hole today,” Delaney said. “The putter was good too, but the wedges were shaky today.”

Kingsford senior Owen Edwards also posted a score of 76 with a pair of birdies on holes 6 and 17. Escanaba senior Owen LaBonte ended his high school career in a three-way tied for eighth place with senior Dane Saari from Negaunee and Robert Loukus from Calumet.

Sarri had four birdies on the day, and Loukus had birdies at 9 and 13.

(Photo by Adam Hinch.)

Be the Referee: Golf Ball Bounces Out

By Paige Winne
MHSAA Marketing & Social Media Coordinator

August 26, 2025

Be The Referee is a series of short messages designed to help educate people on the rules of different sports, to help them better understand the art of officiating, and to recruit officials.

Below is this week's segment – Golf Ball Bounces Out - Listen

Let’s talk about a very unlikely – but also very fun – possibility on the golf course today.

Golfer 1 is playing their approach shot first, from about 100 yards out. Their shot takes two bounces on the green and rolls straight into the hole for an eagle. What a shot!

Golfer 2 is next and has a shot from about 80 yards out. Again, after a couple of bounces, it’s rolling straight for the hole. It rolls into the cup, but because the first ball is still in there, it hops out and comes to a stop about three feet away.

What’s the ruling?

It’s still an eagle for the first golfer. But the second now has to putt from three feet out. There’s no penalty, but the ball is to be played as it lies. Hopefully the birdie putt is good.