Six Earn All-State Golf Honors

Justin Bunch.  Photo by Jeff Steers, JTV Sports.

By Jeff Steers
JTV Sports

(June 25, 2021 12:11 PM) Jackson County continues to produce some of the best golfers in the state of Michigan.

Six area golfers were named as all-state golfers as voted on by the Michigan Interscholastic Golf Coaches Association. All-state golfer nominations were based on 18-hole scores, scores at large events, and state and regional results.

Justin Bunch was awarded first team in Division 1 for Jackson High School. Bunch was the regional champion shoot a 3-under-par 69 at Dearborn Country Club. He finished seventh in the state in Division 1 with rounds of 73 and 74 at Forest Akers West Golf Course.

Fellow Viking Colin Norton was named as an honorable-mention golfer in Division 1. The freshman was the second-best golfer in the Southeastern Conference White Division and shot a 79 at the regional tournament. 

Brogan Brockie of Hanover-Horton and Evan Brzyski of Napoleon earned first-team honors in Division 3.

Brockie led the Comets to a regional team championship and a second-place finish at the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 3 state team final. 

Brockie finished fourth overall at the state meet with a two-day total of 147 – finishing fourth in the state in Division 3. 

Brzyski finished second at the MHSAA Division 3 regional at Timber Ridge Golf Course. He was seventh overall at the D-3 state meet with a two-day total of 149 – shooting a 1-under-par 71 on Saturday. 

Kyler Rod of Hanover-Horton was an honorable-mention selection in Division 3. He finished third overall at the regional tournament for the Comets. 

Ben Maino of East Jackson was named to the Division 4 first team. He is the second East Jackson male golfer named as all-state since 1999, according to EJHS Coach Ray Hill. 

Maino finished as the top individual qualifier at the Division 4 regional at Calderone Golf Club with an 80. The junior was 18th overall at the MHSAA D-4 state meet with a two-day total of 164. 

P.J. Maybank of Cheboygan was named as Mr. Golf in the state of Michigan. He shot 9-under-par at the Division 3 state meet in June.

Leslie golfer Cannon Risner was named to the eight-man super team. 

R.W. Mercer Jackson Junior Golf Tour results: All-state golfers Cannon Risner and Justin Bunch won the two-person alternate-shot tournament at Hills’ Heart of the Lake Golf Course on Thursday. The duo shot a 1-under-par 68 at Brooklyn to win the 15-up age bracket 18-hole event. Cody Rowe/Jake Brafford won the boys 13-14 age bracket with an 85. Manning Mulnix/Maddox Mulnix took first in the boys nine-hole event with a 42. Avery Rhodes/Oliva Rhodes and Emme Evans/Jailyn Bruneel tied for first in the girls nine-hole event with 51. Natalie Kulka/Ashley Hilderley won the girls 18-hole event with a 78. Nearly 60 golfers competed in the Mercer event and complete scores are available at JJGolfTour.com, click on tournaments, and then results. The tour continues Monday at Cascades Golf Course with the Jackson Junior County Open.