The Otsego Bulldogs successfully defended their Wolverine Conference golf championship by winning the league tournament at Four Lakes Country Club in Edwardsburg Thursday.

Battling winds of nearly 30 mph and gusts even higher, the Bulldogs shot 331 to defeat runner-up Edwardsburg, which shot 339 as a team.

Plainwell was third with a 340 and Dowagiac eighth with a 383.

Otsego easily won the overall league championship as it entered the tournament leading Plainwell by 10 points.

The Bulldogs, who won seven of the 10 jamborees this season, now have seven conference championships to its credit.

Edwardsburg finished third overall in the final standings and Dowagiac ninth.

The only true battle on the golf course was for Wolverine Conference medalist honors.

Otsego’s Tyler Rayman led Edwardsburg’s Carter Goodson for the lead heading into the 18-hole tournament.

The two battled back and forth in what really came down to a match play format between the two seniors.

Goodson, who relinquished his lead last Friday at Hampshire Country Club at the Dowagiac jamboree to Rayman, led by four strokes overall and two shots heading to the final four holes on the day.

Goodson and Rayman grinded it out over those final four homes with Rayman cutting the overall lead to just one stroke heading to the 18th tee.

All Goodson needed to do was tie Rayman on the final hole to win the title.

Both players birdied No. 18 to give the Edwardsburg senior a moment he will not forget.

Goodson finished with a two-over par 74, while Rayman shot 77.

“That was huge,” Goodson said. “That is the highlight of my high school career. That was really intense match that went back and forth. Those last couple of holes were really intense. I am really worn out right now.

“Tyler is a really good player. That was a huge win for me. I do not think I have played many people better than him.”

Edwardsburg coach Jeff Kozinski was pleased with the effort his team and Goodson gave on their home course.

“I am proud of Carter and his accomplishments this year,” he said. “To see how hard he was worked on the putting green and on the range and going to different courses and getting a feel for those course and his work ethic is amazing.

“He has been the lead man for us this year and we have had our ups and downs, but the highlight of our team season was winning our home jamboree by quite a few strokes.”

Nick Saltzman, who shot 90, led Dowagiac.

The Chieftains and Eddies will now begin preparation for the upcoming state tournament.

Dowagiac will host Buchanan at Hampshire Country Club Tuesday before competing in the Division 3 regional hosted by Comstock at Stonehedge North Golf Course May 31.

Edwardsburg will compete in the Division 2 regional at hosted by Gull Lake at Bedford Valley Golf Club May 31.

WOLVERINE GOLF TOURNAMENT

At Four Lakes Country Club

Medalist

Carter Goodson, Edwardsburg – 74

 

Team scores

Otsego 331, Edwardsburg 339, Plainwell 340, Vicksburg 365, Three River 373, Allegan 377, Dowagiac 383, Sturgis 388, South Haven 410.

 

Individual Top 10

Carter Goodson (E) 74, Tyler Rayman (O) 77, Jacob Gernaat (PL) 77, Jared Blanchard 78, Ryan Brenneman (V) 79, Calvin Trammell (TR) 80, Casey Syrek (O) 82, Remi Franklin (A) 84, Jacob Farris (PL) 84, Jaret Abraham (A) 85.

 

Individual results

Edwardsburg

Carter Goodson 74, Terek Curtis 88, Adam Kozinski 87, David Kanczuzewski 90, Jake Shay 96.

 

Dowagiac

Drew Davis 101, Matt Mosier 94, Nick Saltzman 90, Drew Phillips 98, Lewis Hartsig 109.