Oxford’s varsity girls golf team took a step towards their first-ever Oakland Activities Association championship after winning all three league matches last week.
Their big test came on Wednesday, Sept. 21 when they battled the combined team of North Farmington/ Farmington Hills Harrison and Farmington High School at Oxford Hills Golf Course.
Oxford defeated both teams, posting a score of 184. North Farmington/Farmington Hills Harrison posted a 186, while Farmington shot a 204.
‘Last night was a big one and we played pretty steady,? girls varsity head coach Terry Kelley said. ‘Our girls were ready.?
‘Again, it’s our steadiness that carried us,? he added.
Trailing late in the match, sophomore Kyla Kurczewski, the team’s top scorer, came through with a 38 in the last pairing of the day to seal the match.
‘We were a couple strokes behind heading into that last finishing match, and she (Kurczewski) was up to the challenge,? Kelley said.
Also posting low numbers for the girls was Hannah Beebe (46), Lyndsey Hurford (49) and Riley Hayes (51).
‘It’s always a relief and a pretty good high when you know you beat somebody pretty good and that you had to beat them in order to stay in the running for a league championship,? Kelley said.
Oxford traveled down to Orchard Lake Country club to on Tuesday, Sept. 20 to battle the West Bloomfield Lakers in a make-up match from Monday, Sept. 19, which was postponed due to rain.
Kurczewski’s 46 over nine holes propelled the Wildcats to a 197-245 victory.
Beebe fired a 48, while Emily Cleland shot a 50 and Heather Lafnear fired a 53 to round out Oxford’s scoring.
With the victories, Oxford improves to 9-0 on the season and 4-0 in the OAA White.
According to Kelley, his girls can’t celebrate the win over North Farmington/Farmington Hills Harrison for too long because the OAA white is still up for grabs.
‘We don’t get to have that feeling for very long because we have work to do,? Kelley said.
In order for the Wildcats to win the league title, they would have to win their remaining league games and finish first in the second league tournament.
North Farmington/Farmington Hills Harrison won the first league tournament while Oxford finished second.
‘We have two more league matches left, and they are both against pretty good teams,? Kelley said. Oxford plays Bloomfield Hills Lahser on Tuesday, Sept. 27 and Bloomfield Hills Andover on Tuesday, Oct. 4.
The second OAA white tournament is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 28 at Bald Mountain.
‘This may not be settled until the week of regionals,? Kelley said.