An incredible season came to an ending no one could have seen coming. On day one, the conditions were tough and the Eagles did not play their best, shooting a season high score of 307 which put them in 4th place after day one, 4 shots back of the leader, Gull Lake. Orchard lake St. Mary was 3 shots ahead and well as Brother Rice at 3 shots ahead. 

Undeterred, the Eagle were ready to play on Saturday. They played beautifully. The day before was stressful and challenging just to make that season worst 307, chipping out on seemingly every hole and grinding for every par and every bogey. This second day was the opposite. Determined to play well, the guys hit it great all day, giving themselves chances at birdie on almost every hole. But to score well, you need the ball to roll in a few times, and it would not roll in for birdie very often. The boys were just missing short or lipping out, or curling it around the back of the hole seemingly all day. Even so, pars are good, and the Eagles would play the final 14 holes in a combined +4. By staying level the rest of the day we slowly moved up the leaderboard as others moved down, to be within 3 shots with 3 to play Just where we wanted to be. 

It came down to the last 3 holes for the second year in a row, just where we wanted to be. Much credit goes to Orchard Lake St. Mary who would hit the shot of the tournament on their second to last hole. There number one player, who was struggling that day, was out of position on the par 5 17th hole behind the green in three shots (the worst place to be because of where the pin was), having to make a near impossible up and down for par on a severely down hill, short sided chip shot. Missing the hole would mean he would likely have a 25 foot comeback putt for par and probably make bogey ensuring the Eagle victory. Short story short, 999 out of 1000 times would have resulted in a bogey or worse, but it smacked the pin at full speed and, unbelievably, went in for them (a birdie) a birdie instead of the expected bogey or worse. An incredible shot by that young man, especially for the moment for that young man. 

Even so, the Eagles still had all four players that were scoring for us on the green in regulation on their last hole with a birdie putt to win the tournament. If we made one of those putts, we would have tied OLSM and won with a 5th score tie breaker. But, like almost all the others, none of the putts rolled in. 

When the dust settled, and the scores were finalized, the Eagles shot a 297 for the day and came up one shot short of their second straight state championship. They shot a two day total of 307 & 297 for a 604. Orchard Lake would shoot two great rounds with a 304 & 299 for a total of 603. 

Runner-up is a fantastic result for any team. We never want to take it for granted, but even so this one was hard to swallow as it is easy to guarantee that this team worked harder than any other team. They did things the right way. They were tough all year, carrying heavy expectations from everyone to be the best, in eery tournament all year. They responded to all of that by competing in the top events against the best all yaer and won 15 of the 18 tournaments they were in (finishing 2nd in the other 3). So to come up one shot short after all that was very tough on these boys, their coaches, and their families. 

Thanks to everyone who came out in person to support us. It was awesome to see so many people there getting loud and crazy for these boys as we stormed back. Thanks for a great season, a great run this year, and to a senior class that was part of a remarkable 54 9 or 18 hole victories in their career. Proud of these boys. This team will probably never be replicated, and all Eagle fans and alumni can be proud of how these players represented Christ in the toughest moments, and how they represented Grand Rapids Christian with honor and class!