Lakeland Golf Captures Divisional Title

One of the more consistent sports programs at Lakeland the past few years has been the boys golf team, and despite losing four seniors to graduation the Eagles continue to excel on the links this year. 

Lakeland sits at 9-0 in divisional meets, and has clinched the KLAA North title following a 160-177 victory over Walled Lake Northern on a soggy Thursday afternoon at Mystic Creek in Milford. Jake Kneen and Ty Bowens shot 39s to lead the way for the Eagles. Justin Pahl shot a 40 and Joe Lepkowski finished with a 42. 

The Eagles will finish its divisional season Friday against Walled Lake Central at Edgewood Country Club. 

Lakeland been led by Bouwens, a senior, and junior Lepkowski all season. But a trio of talented freshmen has allowed Lakeland to perhaps field its most talented team under head coach Herb Felt. 

“We have five players who would start on just about any team in the area,” Felt said. “I knew we would have those three freshmen coming in and when I followed their scores last summer from top summer schools and tournaments, I was hoping that these kids from Commerce Township or White Lake would be Lakeland students."

The freshmen, Alex Kleckner, Kneen and Pahl have each broken 80 in every tournament they have played in this year. Along with strong performances from Bouwens and Lepkowski, Lakeland finished third at the Huron Valley Invitational hosted by Milford High School at Prestwick Country Club last week. 

One of the differences between this year’s squad and last year’s Lakeland team that went 10-0 in the KLAA North is that the difference between Lakeland and other divisional teams has been a bit larger, Felt said. Lakeland has not yet needed to win a divisional match by requiring the score of the fifth-place finisher, the first tiebreaker in a dual meet. 

“We have a number of players who will finish their round and then go hit a bucket of balls or two and practice their putting,” Felt said. “They want to be very good players and really work on their game. They don’t need me motivating them to do that.” 

Bouwens in particular has taken on a strong leadership role for the Eagles. The senior is hoping to attend either Coastal Carolina or Florida Golf Coast next year and enroll in one of those schools’ PGA programs where he will learn to become a teaching professional in golf. 

Bouwens feels his team has the talent and drive to finish among the top eight teams in its district next week which is being held at Dunham Hills in Hartland. The top three teams at regionals the following week would quality for the state finals at Forest Akers West Golf Course in East Lansing. Bouwens also hopes to qualify for regionals and possibly states individually. 

“Going 20-0 my last two years in divisional play would be quite an accomplishment and that would give us even more confidence heading into (districts),” Bouwens said. “I’m not surprised that we have had a good season but I am impressed that our freshmen have maintained their low scores.” 

Felt credits Bouwens in his role as a captain for a young Lakeland team, and is confident that his senior will have a successful career in the golf industry. 

“We have talented young players, but at times they have needed his steady leadership and experience,” Felt said.   

This spring’s wet, cold weather has certainly had an impact not just on the Eagles but on all teams in the area. But Bouwens feels those conditions, which have often allowed players to “pick and clean” their balls after a shot, has helped the more talented team to thrive where pinpoint shot making and putting on slow greens takes precedence given the weather conditions. 

“It’s been really bad weather for our tournaments this season,” Bouwens said. “It has made you make shots.”