Although Brandon’s varsity boys golf team will not advance to the state Division 2 meet, junior Ryan Bilkos will make his first trip to the championship round.
Bilkos was one of three players tied for first place after 18 holes at the Region 9, Division 2 meet Monday, Oct. 16 at Oxford Hills Golf Club. He was tied with Doug Orzel of Pontiac Notre Dame Prep and John Maddox of Birmingham Seaholm at 74 apiece.
Orzel would eventually beat out Bilkos on the fifth hole of the playoff round, but Bilkos still qualified for the state meet, scheduled for Oct. 20-21 at Forest Akers East Golf Course at Michigan State University in East Lansing.
Brandon coach Wayne Thompson said the three playoff finalists started on the 10th hole at Oxford Hills, with Maddox being eliminated at the 12th hole. Bilkos and Orzel then advanced to the 14th hole, the fifth of the playoff round.
‘Both of them got on the green,? Thompson said. ‘Ryan’s putt was longer for a birdie, but he just missed it by an inch or less. The other guy (Orzel) hit his putt for a birdie.?
As a team, the Blackhawks shot a round of 409, well behind Notre Dame Prep, which won the tournament with a team score of 307. Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood (311) and Bloomfield Hills Lahser (315) qualified for the state meet along with ND Prep.
Thompson said he knew going into the tournament that the odds would be against the Blackhawks qualifying for the state meet, considering he brought along a bunch of freshmen to the regional meet, along with veteran golfer Robert Thompson (who shot in the 80s at regionals).
However, he said he knew Bilkos would do well at regionals, and he is confident the Brandon junior will succeed at the state meet.
‘The course is very straightforward; there aren’t a lot of hidden tricks,? Thompson said. ‘I think it will come down to the short game and putting.?