ALLENDALE – Andrew Legg set his golf bag down after his final round and headed over to the merchandise tent.
The Holland High School senior wanted something to remember this day. He and his teammates are the first Holland golf team to make it to the state finals since 2003.
“It’s something I will remember for the rest of my life,” Legg said. “So just having a t-shirt is just nice to have as a memory of this day.”
The five-some of Legg, senior Preston Logan, junior Graham Thompson, junior Hank Webb and freshman Sam Howell didn’t score how they wanted. But they were just thrilled to be there.
“Being here as a team is huge, because it’s been 20 years since Holland had been here,” Logan said. “To do it with these guys is pretty special. I’m just soaking it all in.”
Legg had a team-best, two-day score of 158 (80-78) to lead the Dutch. He finished in 38th place. He was followed by Howell (83-81-164), Logan (80-86-166), Thompson (85-83-168) and Webb (85-94-179).
Holland finished in 14th place as a team (328-328=656).
“I’m very grateful that I got to do this with my friends,” Legg said. “Preston and I have been on the team since freshman year. We’ve wanted to go to state for the past four years and we finally got to do it.”
Logan got a little melancholy on his last hole.
“It hit me when I was on the last tee box,” he said. “I thought, ‘It would be nice to par the last hole of my high school career.’ But I did not. But it’s all good because I enjoyed it. It’s been a great last year.”
Holland Christian had a representative at the state finals, too.
Junior Linus VandenBerg finished 11th overall with a two-day score of 149 (74-75). He was at the state finals as an individual.
“It was a good experience to be out here,” VandenBerg said. “It really teaches you to be patient with these fast greens.”
He said he wasn’t very patient when he made it to the state finals as a freshman.
“My maturity is a lot better,” he said. “I don’t get as angry as I did my freshman year when something didn’t go right. I was a bit of a hothead.”
Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood rallied to win the tournament, edging out reigning champ Grand Rapids Christian by four strokes.
The medalist honors needed a playoff to decide. DeWitt’s Justin Steinman beat East Grand Rapids JP Levan in two playoff holes to win it with a score of 141 (69-72).
Division 1
West Ottawa’s Will Nagelvoort finished tied for seventh at the Division 1 tournament. He shot a 72-73-145 to earn all-state honors.
Nagelvoort qualified as an individual and was just three shots off the winner. Ben Vento of Rochester Adams shot a 70-72-142 to earn the individual state title.
Detroit Catholic Central won the team title with a 590.
Division 3
Saugatuck’s Grant Schrotenboer earned all-state honors in Division 3 with a sixth-place finish.
Schrotenboer bounced back from an 84 on Friday to shoot a 69 on Saturday, the low round of the day. His 153 total was tied for sixth and seven shots behind the winner, Blake Springstead of Elk Rapids (73-73-146).
Grand Rapids West Catholic won the team title with a 625.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Holland golf basks in first state since 2003, several local golfers earn all-state
Reporting by Lenny Padilla, Sentinel Contributor / The Holland Sentinel
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By Lenny Padilla, Sentinel Contributor | USA TODAY Network
