NorthPointe Pulls Away for Repeat Win, Heineman Caps Career Climb at No. 1
October 17, 2026
BIG RAPIDS – New division? No problem.
Every level of precipitation seemingly short of snow? Just a momentary challenge.
Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian was uncatchable this weekend at Katke at Ferris State University, clinching a second-straight MHSAA Finals championship but this time in Lower Peninsula Division 3 after winning Division 4 a year ago.
But after winning last season’s title by one stroke, the Mustangs cleared the field this time by 37, navigating rough weather Friday to build a 14-stroke lead and going seven lower than the next closest team during Saturday’s second round to finish at 356-365-721 for the weekend.
“I honestly at first didn’t think we could do it,” NorthPointe senior Clara Velting said of the move to Division 3 this fall. “But our team pulled it together, and I’m just glad that we could.
“I’m just so glad we could have a great season all together. I just love my team. They were so special, we had a great season, we had so many laughs, so many good times together.”
Sophomore Izzy Duflo finished third to set the pace for the Mustangs, carding scores of 82 both days for a 164 total. Freshman Avery Klein missed the individual top 10 by a stroke, tying for 13th, with junior Aila Ellis and Velting also counting scores for the team champ. Senior Lauryn Graetz rounded out the lineup.
Moving into Division 3 didn’t affect NorthPointe, and the same could be said of its top challengers. Montague finished second and Lansing Catholic third at Katke after placing fourth and second, respectively, in Division 4 last fall.
“I had girls almost in tears. My seniors are in tears, sad because it’s their last day and their love their team and don’t want to leave it,” NorthPointe coach Myrna Duflo said. “At the end of the day, we did everything we were supposed to do. We worked together, we worked as a team. I have a great group of girls, and they came through.”
Detroit Country Day placed fourth this weekend, returning to contention after finishing third a year ago and led again by senior Halle Heineman – who improved from a tie for seventh last fall to finish first this time with a 76-82-158, four strokes ahead of Ionia senior and runner-up Lila Redder.
“I made that last putt, and I started crying. The adrenaline is just so high, and I can’t believe I’m done,” Heineman said. “I’ve dreamt about winning as a team, but individually not really … just a month ago, I was ‘Oh, maybe I can.’ But these past couple of years I’ve put in a lot of work, so it feels good.
“It’s all I could ask for, honestly. It’s perfect.”
(Photos by High School Sports Scene.)
Escanaba Girls Meet Sweetgrass Challenge with Sweep of Team, Individual Titles
By
Keith Dunlap
Special for MHSAA.com
May 28, 2025
HARRIS — Looking at scoring averages heading into Wednesday’s Upper Peninsula Division 1 Girls Golf Final, Escanaba assistant coach Jake Berlinski figured his team was the favorite.
With that in mind, he offered a simple message to deal with any pressure that comes with such a target.
“Just play our game,” said Berlinski, who handled things at the girls event while program coach Brian Robinette was up the road at the boys tournament. “Play Eskymo golf, I guess you call it, and do what we do best. The girls handled their business.”
For the third time in four years, that business resulted in receiving a Finals championship trophy.
Escanaba finished first with a score of 382 at Sweetgrass Golf Club, 17 shots clear of runner-up Marquette. The top-five was rounded out by Calumet (429), Negaunee (434) and Menominee (444).
Leading the way was junior Kamrie Scott, who successfully repeated as medalist. She finished with an 8-over-par round of 80, which was 10 shots better than runner-up Lexi Marineau of Menominee. Scott recorded birdies on the par-3, third hole and the par-4, 17th hole.
“I was hitting it good, so that was working,” Scott said. “It’s really hard around the greens here. They are really fast.”
Sweetgrass annually hosts an event on the Epson Tour, which is the developmental circuit for the LPGA Tour.
Scott has attended the tournament multiple times and might again when it’s played this June 20-22. Conquering the same course she has seen professionals play was a nice feeling.
“It feels cool do it on the same course they play on,” Scott said.
In addition to Scott, senior Danni Hughes shot a 93 for Escanaba, finishing in a tie for third individually with Sault Ste. Marie senior Kyla Garland.
“Sweetgrass doesn’t give up easy pars,” Berlinski said. “It’s tough. But the girls just plodded through and played hard. That’s all we asked them to do.“
Also pleased was Marquette, which posted its best Finals finish since coming in second three straight seasons from 2013-15. Senior Roegen Hruska shot a 94 to finish fifth, junior Kylie Smith carded a 96 to take sixth and junior Delanie Rhodes tied for seventh with a 97 to lead the way.
Marquette assistant Michelle Smith, who presided over the girls team while husband and program coach Ben Smith was at the boys Final, said it was the first time all year the Sentinels broke 400 at a tournament.
“The girls (played) really good yesterday (at a practice round), they felt comfortable coming into today and they did really well,” Smith said. “We had three girls in the top 10, so we are pretty excited about that.”
PHOTOS (Top) Escanaba shows its latest Upper Peninsula Division 1 championship trophy at Sweetgrass Golf Club on Wednesday. (Middle) Delanie Rhodes of Marquette looks toward the fairway after hitting her tee shot on No. 10. (Photos by Keith Dunlap.)