Escanaba Conquers Cold to Repeat
June 1, 2017
By Ryan Stieg
Special for Second Half
MARQUETTE — There was a brisk wind blowing Wednesday afternoon on the Northern Michigan University Golf Course, but the tough conditions didn’t have an effect on the Escanaba girls team.
The Eskymos fought their way through the cold and won their second straight Upper Peninsula Division 1 title – and their efforts delighted Escanaba coach Brian Robinette.
“The girls just really went out and performed today,” he said. “We needed to show up as a team today, and we definitely did that. This was a highly successful season. The girls kept improving and had great attitudes, and they’re an easy team to coach because they like golf.
"It’s easy to coach someone who likes the sport they’re in. They were really dedicated and serious about the game, and it showed out there today.”
At the 10-team meet, the Eskymos finished with a comfortable 18-stroke lead over Houghton (351 to 369) to repeat as champs. That wasn’t all for Escanaba though as Paxton Johnson was medalist for the second year in a row, shooting a 75.
When asked if she was used to constantly winning tournaments, Johnson put that thought to rest quickly.
“You never get used to this,” she said with a laugh. “It feels great every time. My wedges worked out great for me today, and I just liked how I did.”
For the second-place Gremlins, it was a disappointing outcome, but coach Ruth Ryynanen felt her team left it all on the course.
“The day went pretty well,” she said. “We’ve played here before, and I think that helped us a bit. One of our girls (Kaaren Liston) had a personal best with a 77, and that was wonderful to see. She is always trying harder and does her absolute best.
“We have a good group coming back next year and I have five girls who didn’t even get to play today that have been practicing hard and could step up for us.”
Marquette took third place with a score of 390, and Redettes head coach Ben Smith thought they had a great day overall.
“Since we played at two different sites (the boys were at Marquette Golf Club), I didn’t get to see a lot of them, but from what I know, (the girls) played really well,” he said. “Ellie (Hicks) shot an 85, and I’m happy for her because that’s a great way to end her junior year. Today was just a great day for them to come together, and I hope that they can build on that.”
Menominee also finished with a score of 390, but had to settle for fourth due to a disqualification.
Individually, Liston took second place, Hicks finished third, and the Escanaba trio of Sam Henderson (91), Megan Dagenais (92) and Darby Beckon (93) took fourth through sixth, respectively.
PHOTOS: (Top) Escanaba’s Sam Henderson, left, finished fourth individually while Houghton’s Kaitlyn McKay just missed placing among the top 10 individuals. (Middle) Aspen Micheln watches one of her shots for third-place Marquette. (Photos by Rachel Oakley.)
Negaunee Finishes Championship Climb, Clinches 1st Girls Golf Title
By
Adam Hinch
Special for MHSAA.com
May 28, 2026
HARRIS — The Negaunee girls golf team enjoyed a historic Wednesday at Sage Run.
The Miners carded a 383 to win the Upper Peninsula Division 1 Final by 24 strokes – with the championship the program’s first after previous runner-up finishes in 2000 and 2022, and a distant fourth place only a year ago.
Returning four golfers from last year’s Finals lineup, Negaunee placed three golfers among the top nine in the individual standings this time. Junior Adyson Crookham finished third with an 89, with senior Kennidy Glasheen tied for fourth at 90 and senior Sonya Erva tied for eighth at 98.
Escanaba finished second as a team with 407 strokes, followed by Kingsford with 426, Calumet at 430 and Marquette at 440.
Escanaba senior Kamrie Scott finished on top of the individual leaderboard for the third-straight season with a score of 83. She became the 16th golfer to win at least three Finals girls individual championships, and second from her school joining four-time winner Paxton Johnson (2016-19).
Scott got in some trouble on the front nine, but turned it around on the back as she parred five straight holes and had a birdie at 16 before ending the day with a pair of bogeys.
“I started off rough,” Scott said. “My putting came together on the back nine and really improved the day.”
Sault Ste Marie freshman Renee Guam finished in second place with a score of 87, with a birdie on the 16th hole. Menominee senior Lexi Marineau tied for fourth with Glasheen. Marineau had a birdie on the 16th hole and parred the last two. Glasheen scored a birdie on the 18th hole.
Kingsford sophomore Charlotte Todd and Calumet freshman Cali Hodges tied for sixth with 95 strokes. Todd struggled on the back nine but was able to birdie the 16th and parred the last two holes of the day. Hodges did not have any birdies but parred on the last two holes on the front nine and also the first hole of the back.
Erva and Ishpeming Westwood junior Alison Erdman tied for eighth, and Escanaba’s Lily VanDamme came in 10th place with a score of 99 that included a birdie on the 16th hole.
“We played well today as a team,” Escanaba coach Brian Robinette said. “Kamrie makes being a coach look pretty easy, but she puts in all the hard work to keep her game strong.”
Manistique senior Kyra Carlson carded a 104 and parred two of the last three holes of the day.
“I was working on being efficient with my hits,” Carlson said. “Just tried to keep them in sight and on the fairways.”
(Photo by Adam Hinch.)