HILLSDALE — The Hillsdale Academy boys golf team is headed back to Michigan State University, qualifying for the Division 4 state finals after capturing a regional title in Coldwater on Thursday, May 28.
The MHSAA Division 4 finals return to Forest Akers West this weekend, and coach Rolla Frisinger’s Colts enter as one of the area’s hottest teams after securing both the SCAA championship and regional title in the same week.
Hillsdale Academy posted a team score of 330 to win the regional, defeating Whitmore Lake (339) and Addison (352). The victory clinched an automatic berth in the state finals and marked another step forward for a young but improving lineup.
“Edward Keaster stepped up… which was just awesome,” Frisinger said. “He’s just been kind of steady Eddie throughout the whole season, and today he really played well.”
Junior Edward Keaster led the Colts with a career-best performance, earning individual medalist honors with a 4-over-par 76. He birdied three par-fours on his way to the top finish.
“It’s great,” Edward Keaster said. “I’ve always imagined a scenario like this, and it’s great that it was able to play out.”
Junior Lincoln Knirk followed closely behind, tying for second overall with a 77. He added three birdies, including one on the par-5 18th hole, helping give the Colts a strong one-two finish at the top of the leaderboard.
“Those two really stepped up big time and helped pull us through,” Frisinger said.
Rounding out the team scoring, Grayson Young placed 11th with an 86, while senior Luke Alvarez shot a 91 to finish 27th. Junior Ben Lutz carded a 94, finishing 36th.
Frisinger credited the team’s steady growth throughout the season, noting that competing against larger schools helped prepare the Colts for postseason play.
“The whole team throughout the year, it’s been everybody helping everybody,” he said. “We played in a lot of invitationals that had Division 1 and Division 2 teams, so they were used to really tough competition.”
The regional title marks Hillsdale Academy’s second under Frisinger and extends the program’s streak to six consecutive state finals appearances.
“It’s a super young team, so it’s great that we get to go back to the states again,” Frisinger said.
The Colts now turn their focus to Forest Akers West, a familiar course where they have competed twice this season. Players say recent form and preparation have them confident heading into the two-day tournament.
“We’ve been playing our best golf at the end of the season,” Lincoln Knirk said. “We’re going to need four guys to go out and play their best, make some putts and hit fairways.”
Keaster echoed that confidence as the team prepares for its biggest test of the year.
“I’m personally really excited,” he said. “It’s going to take all we’ve got.”
The Division 4 state finals begin Friday, June 5, with 18 holes each day at Forest Akers West starting at 9 a.m.
Fans can follow all the action on the MHSAA Golf app. A full list of Division 4 state qualifiers can be found at mhsaa.com.
This article originally appeared on Hillsdale Daily News: Hillsdale Academy boys golf to play at Michigan State in state finals
Reporting by Joseph Flaherty, Hillsdale Daily News / Hillsdale Daily News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
