ESCANABA — Powers North Central’s Nathan Pipkorn hadn’t shot in the 70s all season, and he was golfing with the No. 3s at Wednesday’s Upper Peninsula Division 3 Boys Golf Final.

He was the No. 1 by the end of the day.

Pipkorn beat his previous season best by six strokes and became the champion by carding a 76 at Escanaba Country Club. He finished ahead of freshman runner-up Christian VanDamme of Rock Mid Peninsula by five strokes. 

“I really, really picked it up today and got it done,” Pipkorn said. “My chipping and putting was absolutely phenomenal today. I two or one-putt just about everything, and I went up and down all the time.”

Pipkorn also led the Jets to a second consecutive team championship, their third in the last four seasons. Lake Linden-Hubbell finished runner-up.

“That’s the one that matters the most,” Pipkorn said. “I’m glad we got it done.”

The sophomore was the first Jet to win a U.P. Finals title since Bryson Mercier won his third straight in 2022.

“I definitely didn’t expect it,” Pipkorn said. “I’m usually not in this type of situation. But I’m very excited.”

The day didn’t start well. He bogeyed the first three holes. 

“But after that I really picked it up,” he said.

The sophomore thought he was probably in the hunt after finishing even on the front nine. 

“It was when I saw the second-place guy bogey about four holes in a row,” he said. “Then I knew.”

They weren’t golfing together because Pipkorn was back with the 3s. Golfers keep score on their phones these days, and a side benefit is seeing where you stack up against the rest of the competition.

“He can score,” North Central coach Zeke Strand said. “When he’s playing well, he keeps the golf course in front of him. Chipping and putting, getting up and down, he’s a gamer, that kind of thing, too.”

It was a great day all the way around for the Jets, who added to their extensive MHSAA trophy collection. Besides their recent golf success, North Central has won five Finals titles since 8-player football started in 2011, and three straight Class D boys basketball titles from 2015-17, a stretch during which they never lost a game.

Strand was just worried about keeping their success on the golf course going.

“It’s my first year coaching golf, so our previous golf coach said I got to get it again,” Strand said. “We did. We played well, and we earned it. It feels great.”

The Jets’ Alex Pipkorn also finished among the top five. He and Lake Linden-Hubbell’s Tyler Axford both carded 82s to tie for third. Big Bay de Noc’s Parker Pederson finished with an 84 to round out the top five.

PHOTOS (Top) Power North Central's Nathan Pipkorn tees off Wednesday at Escanaba Country Club. (Middle) Mid Peninsula's Christian VanDamme chips toward the green during his Finals round. (Photos by Jason Juno.)