M’CHIGEENG—Two Manitoulin Secondary School (MSS) Mustangs concluded their high-school golf careers in grand style by taking part in the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA) championships.
Noah Thorpe and Amy Smith had both qualified for OFSAA with their results at the Northern Ontario high school championships, held in September. At the North Bay Golf and Country Club, Mr. Thorpe finished first overall in the boys’ high school division, and second overall (which included an open division). Amy Smith finished first in the girls’ division in the North Shore competition and tied for third place at the Northern Ontario championship to qualify for the provincials.
At the boys’ OFSAA championship, held at Kawartha Lakes in Lindsay October 14-16, Mr. Thorpe brought home the silver medal after enduring a two-hole playoff with another golfer to finish in second place overall in the high school division.
Mr. Thorpe was tied for second place overall after the first round, where he shot 75. “I played a really bad front nine (45) in my last round, and thought I had no chance,” said Mr. Thorpe. “Then I decided to actually play some golf,” he said, posting a score of 35 on the back nine.
“I was told in the clubhouse after my round that I would be in a playoff for second place,” said Mr. Thorpe. That playoff lasted two holes, with Noah getting a par on the second hole, with his opponent’s tee shot on the second hole finding the trees. He pointed out the pin placements on the course for the second day of the tournament were the most difficult he has ever played, and golfers endured very windy conditions as well.
“It was a pretty cool way for Noah to end his high school golf career with a silver medal,” said his mother, Sarah Seabrook.
Amy Smith took part in the OFSAA girls’ championship October 14-16 at Lionhead Golf Club in Mississauga. “I did pretty good although I didn’t play as well as I had hoped,” she said. She said the course itself, although very hard, is beautiful.
Competing in the open division, Ms. Smith said she placed in “about the middle of the pack,” in the field of about 120 golfers.
“It was an awesome experience to represent MSS and Northern Ontario at OFSAA,” added Ms. Smith, who has now also completed her high school golf playing career.
MSS cross country team brings home several first-place finishes
The MSS Mustangs cross-country team took part in the North Shore Secondary School championships hosted by Central Algoma Secondary School at St. Joseph’s Island.
In the senior boys’ division Wyatt Williamson-Wright took first place with Issac Quackenbush ninth and Xavier Coleman 18th.
MSS runner Brooke Simon finished second in the novice girls’ division.
In the novice boys’ division, MSS runners David Joyce and Nathan Quackenbush placed first and third, respectively.
The MSS team, which will take part in the Northern Ontario championships this week, again on St. Joseph’s Island is coached by Cathy Joyce.
