By Teddy Rydquist
Leader Staff Writer
Featuring a strong field of 18 schools, the Oxford Wildcats girls’ golf program tied for eighth-place, with the Lake Orion Dragons, in the Troy Colts Invite at Twin Lakes Golf Club on August 27.
Citing concerns over the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), the event was limited to 72 golfers, four per school. As an additional safety precaution, each school’s participants golfed together in foursomes, helping create a fun day and form a lasting memory for the Ladycats.
Senior co-captain Janelle Grech led Oxford with an 89, followed closely by freshman standout Keira Billis’ 93. Senior Eryn Petriko, the other co-captain, and junior Lilly Yankee rounded out the scoring, carding a 97 and 108, respectively.
“I was very excited to have such a good round,” Grech shared. “It was one of my personal best and playing with my teammates made it even more exciting!”
Although it is temporary, Yankee was a fan of the format utilized by Twin Lakes.
“This year is a lot different from last year because there are so many new faces and new girls joining the sport,” she pointed out.
“The last few years, there have only two-to-three new girls each year. We are staying safe, and happy to still be able to enjoy our sport.”
The Rochester Falcons, who shot a collective 317, took home first-place, 30 strokes ahead of the second-place Stoney Creek Cougars. The Bloomfield Hills Black Hawks (357), Troy (358), and Birmingham Seaholm Maples (377) completed the top-five.
Building off this solid performance, the Wildcats finished in sixth-place out of 15 schools in the Oakland County Division II Tournament at The Links at Crystal Lake on September 2.
Breaking 90 for the first time, Billis paved the way for Oxford with an 88, good for a 12th-place individual showing. Grech tallied a 93, Petriko a 98, and senior Kate Dietiker a 105.
“I really enjoyed playing in this tournament,” Billis said of her career-best effort. “I was surprised I got a medal because I felt I played well, but I knew I was up against some tough competition.
“I started off slow the first two holes, but after that, I really picked it up.”
On Tuesday, September 8, the girls traveled to the Goodrich Country Club to battle the Flint Metro League’s (FML) Brandon Blackhawks. To cap their week, the Wildcats will make the trip to Great Oaks Country Club to clash with Rochester on Thursday, September 10, at 3 p.m.

  girls golf, Keira Billis