Greenhills Experiencing Unprecedented Success on the Golf Course
“Greenhills’ golf team does it again!”
That was the subject line of an email from Greenhills boys golf coach Michael Karr, when he shared news of the team’s first place finish in the inaugural Blue Devil Invitational on May 2. These emails have become commonplace this season, with the Gryphons having a banner year full of team and individual successes. As of this post, Greenhills remains undefeated and has finished in the top two in all seven of its 18-hole tournaments — including five first place finishes.
“We have a bunch of guys who want to continue improving,” said Coach Karr. “They kept practicing and playing in the off-season, with a drive to improve over last year, and the hard work they put in is paying off.”
The team’s first big win was at its own 2022 Greenhills Invitational, where it scored 313 — besting the team’s best round of play from the previous season by six strokes. Senior Beau Brewer shot second overall with a 74, followed by junior Arjun Prabhakar’s third place, career-best score of 79. Cale Piedmonte-Lang ’22 and Max Shulman ’24 tied for fifth place with their 80-stroke round, and Cameron Miller ’22 also scored a career best 82.
Greenhills followed up its dominant home tournament with a tournament win at Perry High School’s Glenbrier Golf Club on April 15, where they bested last year’s winner, Williamston High School, by six strokes. This tournament was a scramble format. So, six players paired up for three scores.
“Winning this tournament takes depth to have three good scores,” said Karr.
Four players were named to the all-tournament team, including: Prabhakar and Shulman, who combined to shoot one under par (71), and Miller and Piedmonte-Lang, whose pairing scored 73. Rounding out the scorers were Brewer and Jacob Miner ’22, who carded a three-over-par 75.
“This is unprecedented success for boys golf this year,” said Greenhills Athletic Director Meg Seng. “I can’t remember a year when we’ve won this many tournaments. We have great depth this year with a lot of talented golfers who have committed to their sport.”
The team has continued to keep the momentum going. It bested 20 teams in the Wayne Wire Cloth Tournament at The Fortress, first place finish on April 23, then finished second at the April 26 Ann Arbor City Tournament.
The Greenhills team after its victory at The Fortress in Frankenmuth. (Left to right) Prabhakar, Miller, Piedmonte-Lang, Karr, Shulman, Brewer.
Greenhills had one of its most dominant performances of the season on the road at the Bedford Valley Tournament on April 30. With 19 talented teams in attendance, the Gryphons shot a season-best 304 — 9 strokes better than the next competitor. Brewer’s six birdies put him four under par for a career-best 68, and the day’s first place medal.
The Blue Devil Invitational on May 2 was another excellent round of golf for the Gryphons. In addition to the team win, with a score of 312, Brewer again finished under par and in first place. Prabhakar earned a career-best 78 and tied for 9th place.
“Another tournament, another learning experience to carry us forward,” added Coach Karr.
The Catholic High School League Championships, which the Gryphons won in 2021, are on Monday, May 16.
“It’s the same golf course that we played last year for the CHSL Championship but, we’re not as familiar with it,” said Karr. “We’ve won tournaments this year at other courses where we didn’t have experience. I think that might help us so we’re not overthinking things and just hit the ball in the fairway.”
Two seniors from the Greenhills boys golf team will continue to play at the collegiate level next year: Brewer for Methodist University and Piedmonte-Lang for Hamilton College. Both were recognized at an NCAA celebratory signing ceremony in April.
Gryphons Brewer (L) and Piedmonte-Lang (R), who will continue to compete as part of college teams next year, pictured with Coach Karr (C).
