LELAND — Leland senior Howie Kropp (72) grabbed his second win of the season with a one-stroke victory over Frankfort senior Cash Rosum (73) Tuesday at the Leland Country Club during a Northwest Conference 18-hole boys golf tournament.
“The day started off pretty rainy and cold, and I was one over on the front line, had a couple of birdies back to back,” Kropp said. “I always play better on the back nine and the sun started shining, started peeking through … I was focused on getting up and down a lot and avoiding big numbers. I was really happy that the team won. It does a lot for us going into the conference championships.”
Leland and Glen Lake have been battling all season long, and the Comets earned a win during the five-player 18-hole match, 319-325.
All boys golf teams of the NWC will meet for the final time this regular season May 20 at the Interlochen Golf Course with the conference title on the line.
Kropp’s favorite shot of the day was recovering after a bad shot on No. 7 that forced him behind a tree. He pulled out the trusty 7-iron and cut the ball around a tree and landed next to the hole that was tapped in for a birdie to get things going.
Kropp sank two birdies on holes six and seven to cap off a solid front nine. The senior remained steady on the back nine with five pars, two bogeys, and one birdie on hole 16 to hold onto the win from a charging Rosum.
Rosum started out with five straight pars before a double bogey, birdie and bogey to finish his front session. The senior settled down and had five pars on the back to go along with a birdie.
“My putting was great. Chipping was great. I just need to hit the fairway a little more off the tee,” Rosum said. “My favorite shot of the day was sticking it on the green on hole 16 … It was definitely wet out there from gripping the club, and the course itself was spongy in spots, and then, for 30 minutes or so, it was raining pretty good, and let a few out loose to the right.”
Joel Martin finished third with a 75, followed by Leland junior Hayden VanSteenhouse in fourth (75).
Martin started out with a birdie on hole two and earned another on hole nine to put him in the top three to end the front session despite three bogeys.
Glen Lake sophomores Austin Switzer and Karter Smith tied for fifth (79) followed by Buckley junior Alex Francisco (80).
Leland freshman Ryan Connor earned an eighth place, followed by Benzie Central senior Adam Coyne (82), who finished ninth, while a three-way tie happened for 10th place as Mason Childs (Benzie Central), Anthony Collier (Brethren) and Jayden Carver (Frankfort) all shot 84s.
Benzie Central (343) finished third, followed by Onekama (354), Frankfort (373), Brethren, Suttons Bay and Buckley.
BOYS GOLF
Mustangs finish second at Pentwater
Grand Traverse Academy finished second behind host Pentwater.
Bear Lake finished third, followed by Mesick.
GTA senior Marcus Long (73) finished second, while Mesick sophomore Charlie Maidens finished eighth (86). Cole Anderson and Leo Korte finished ninth and 10th for the Mustangs.
GIRLS SOCCER
TC St. Francis 2
Petoskey 2
The Petoskey Northmen and Traverse City St. Francis girls soccer teams ended in a 2-2 tie Tuesday.
Madylin Smith scored for Petoskey in the seventh minute off a Hailey Wegmann assist, going into a strong wind.
The Gladiators (12-2-2) answered with under two minutes before halftime on a Sidney Peters goal, assisted by Riley Collins.
Collins scored for St. Francis in the second half off a Grace Rowe assist.
Sofia Stable scored the equalizer for the Northmen, forcing a tie.
“Coming off tough competition this weekend, we have a few injuries and are looking to get everyone healthy for the post season,” Petoskey coach John Lennon said. “Nonetheless, we had some great opportunities tonight.”
Pasleigh Upshaw had 12 saves for the Gladiators.
Traverse City St. Francis hosts Ludington Thursday, then Holland Friday, before starting district soccer action next week.
TC Central 2
Cadillac 1
Traverse City Central (5-8): Josie Deering goal; Kylie Ball goal; Ella Fetters assist.
TC West 8
Alpena 0
Traverse City West (10-6): Avery Plummer 2 goals, 3 assists; Lillian Bardenhagen goal; Nora Buttleman goal; Liza Schramski goal; Adler Schwingendorf goal; Maddie Harrington goal; Jalen Linck goal; Mya Linck assist; Harper Fortuna assist; Addy Riemersma assist; Ruby Buttleman assist.
More area scores: McBain NMC 1, Houghton Lake 1.
BASEBALL
Frankfort 11 4
Benzie Central 4 0
Game 1: Frankfort (14-5-7) — Rylan Lewis 1-4, 2 RBI, R, set school record for triples; Carella 1-2, 2 R, 2 SB, 2 BB; Hernandez 2-2, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R, BB; Lewis (W) 4 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 9 K; Benzie Central (8-14) — Lane Sanchez 1-1, 2B, R, 2 SB; Logan Osborne 1-2, 2 RBI, R; Sanchez 4.2 IP, 1 H, 7 R, 0 ER, 5 BB, 11 K.
Game 2: Frankfort — Lewis 1-2, 2B, R; game called due to rain.
Manistee 18 8
Orchard View 1 0
Game 1: Manistee — Keegan Shannon 2-3, 2B, 4 RBI, 2 R; Luke Olson 1-2, R, RBI; Adam Olson 1-1, R, RBI; Josh Weiss 1-1, 2 R, 4 SB; Braylen Zimmerman (W) 3 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 K.
Game 2: Manistee (11-13) — Miles Joseph 2-5, RBI, R; Landin Sowa 2-3, 2 2B, RBI, R; Hoyt Edmondson 1-2, R, RBI; Shannon 1-2, R, RBI; Zimmerman (W) 4 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K.
Beal City 13 16
Manton 2 3
Game 1: Manton (19-9) — George Coffel — 2-2, 2B, RBI; Jaiden Carstens 1-2, 2B, R.
SOFTBALL
TC St. Francis 18 18
Manistee 0 2
Game 1: Traverse City St. Francis (14-11) — Emily Amon 2-3, 3B, 2B, 3 R, RBI, 3 SB; Halle Kadlec 2-2, 3B, 2B, 2 RBI, R; Claudia Harris 2-3, 2B, 3 R, 2 RBI; Maddy Doornbos 1-2, 2B, 3 R, 2 RBI; Kadlec (W) 2 IP, 0 H 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K.
Game 2: TCSF — Doornbos 2-3, HR, 3 RBI, 3 R; Addey Schmuckal 2-2, 2B, 2 RBI; Harris 1-3, 2B, R, RBI; Schmuckal (W) 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 K.
Benzie Central 3 2
Frankfort 2 7
Game 1: Benzie Central — Madison Swander 1-3, RBI; Moraya Mosher 2-3, R; Swander (W) 6 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 10 K; Frankfort — Sage Myers 2-3, 2B, R; Darby O’Grady 1-2, RBI; Myers 5 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6K.
Game 2: Frankfort (16-2-1) — Sage Myers (W) 5 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 5 K; Brylee Wilson 4-4, 2B, 3 RBI, 2 R; Benzie Central (14-13-2) — Swander 2-3, 2B, 2 RBI; Swander 5 IP, 2 ER, 9 K.
More area scores: Beal City 26 15, Manton 0 1.