Lapeer East Girls Golf Coach is Regional Coach of the Year

Lapeer East Girls Golf Coach Steve Stearns has earned Regional Coach of the Year honors after his team finished second Oct. 7 in Regional play hosted by Lapeer West at Lapeer Country Club.


Coach Stearns has led both the girls and boys golf teams at Lapeer East for the last six years, and prior to that was the golf coach at Lapeer West for two years. The honors came from a vote of the 11 coaches whose teams participated in the Regional tournament.

This year’s second-place finish in Regional play is the best showing for the East girls golfers.
“All of the credit goes to the girls. They were the ones who won that. They made me look good by playing well,” said the coach.

“I really was surprised,” said Stearns of the honor. “I had a lot of fun watching the girls play and perform well.”

Stearns, a business and co-op teacher at East, is in his 27th year as a teacher in the Lapeer Community Schools. During that time he also has coached junior high and junior varsity football for 25 years. He is an avid golfer and spends his summers working at Devil’s Ridge golf course in Oxford.

The Lapeer East girls team shot 378 to earn a second-place finish and its first trip the State Finals. The MHSAA Girls Finals Tournament takes place on October 15-16 at Forest Akers West (MSU) in East Lansing.

Host Lapeer West girls golfers shot a 373 to earn first place in the Regional and advance to the state finals for the third year in a row.

Cutline for photo:
Coach Steve Stearns with East golfers Sierra Woodcum, Keely Turczyn, Kelsy Robinson, Meghan Gordon and Audrey Fleming.

Lapeer West and East golfers headed to State Finals

Lapeer West girls led the field at the MHSAA Regional Girls Golf Tournament Oct. 7 for the second straight year, followed by Lapeer East who finished second. Both West and East golfers qualified for a State Finals appearance.

The Regional matches were hosted by Lapeer West High School at Lapeer Country Club. West turned in a team total of 373 to finish first in the tournament.

The Panther golfers were led by Senior Kim Brown with an 86 (good for 4th place and a Personal Best), followed by Junior Haley Byard with a 93 (10th place and Personal Best). Lindsay Yateman chipped in with a 96 and Freshman Tori Carlson had a 98. Sophomore Kate Carlson shot a 107.

The Lapeer East team score of 378 earned a second-place finish and earned the team a trip to its first State Finals. The MHSAA Girls Finals Tournament takes place on October 15-16 at Forest Akers West (MSU) in East Lansing.

The Eagles were led by Seniors Keely Turczyn (84 good for 2nd place) and Kelsy Robinson (85 good for 3rd place). Sophomore’s Meghan Gordon (99) and Audrey Fleming (110) each had Personal Best scores. Freshman Sierra Woodcum shot a 115.

Standings in the Oct. 7 Regionals (top to bottom) were: Lapeer West, 373, Lapeer East 378, Swartz Creek 380; Flushing, 387; Flint Kearsley, 400; Midland Dow, 406; Alpena, 412; Clio, 415; Mt. Pleasant, 426; Bay City Western, 433; Bay City Central, 482. The top three teams, all from the Metro League, qualified for the State meet.

Lapeer West's Mike Ogg named "Girls' Golf Coach of the Year" by The Flint Journal

Lapeer West teacher and coach Mike Ogg was named Girls’ Golf Coach of the Year by the Flint Journal on December 6th.

Ogg led the Lapeer West girls’ golf team to an undefeated, first place finish in the Metro League and to the State Finals and a 7th place finish there in 2009.

In 1978, Ogg began teaching in New Lothrop and coached football, volleyball, basketball and baseball at New Lothrop until 1985. From 1985 to 1998 Ogg worked at General Motors, but still coached 8th grade softball for three years during that period.

In 1998, Ogg resumed his teaching career at Lapeer Community Schools. He also coached freshman volleyball at Powers Catholic for one year.

In his coaching career at Lapeer Community Schools, Ogg has coached 8th grade girls’ basketball (5 years); girls’ softball (4 years); and varsity girls’ golf (7 years).

In total, Ogg has coached 55 teams in seven sports, including 40 teams from 8th grade to seniors in high school.

“Lapeer West is very proud to have Mike as part of our coaching staff,” said assistant principal and athletic director Mary Haslinger. “He is a dedicated coach who is able to bring out the best in his athletes.”

Lapeer West's Catherine Benscoter named to First Team, All-State girls' golf squad

For the second straight season, Lapeer West High School’s standout golfer, Catherine Benscoter achieved 1st Team All-State honors in Girls Golf.

Catherine led the West team to an undefeated, first-place finish in the Flint Metro League, a first place at the State Regional Golf Tournament and a 7th place finish at the State Finals.

“I’m proud of Catherine and how hard she works at her game,” said head coach Mike Ogg. “She is a great competitor, a great student and a great person.”

Lapeer West Girls' Golf team finishes 7th at State Finals, finishes "magical" season

The Lapeer West High School girls’ golf team finished an incredible season with a 7th place finish at the State Finals this past weekend at Forest Akers Golf Course in East Lansing.

On Saturday, the team shot a combined 364, a school record score.

“It was a magical season with the team going undefeated in the Flint Metro League, winning the Regional Tournament and then placing 7th at the State Finals,” said Coach Mike Ogg.

Lapeer East's Keely Turczyn qualifies for State golf finals with an 87 at Regionals

Lapeer East High School junior Keely Turczyn qualified for a trip to the State golf finals at Michigan State University’s Forest Akers Golf Course this weekend with a score of 87 and a 4th place overall finish at the Regional Tournament last weekend.

Among girls who didn’t qualify for the State finals on a team, she was second. It is the second year Keely has qualified for the State tournament. In 2008, Keely qualified with an 87 score and a 6th place overall at the Regional tournament.

The top three teams from each region and the top three individuals, not on a qualifying team, advance to the State tournament. She shot an 87 at Regionals which was 4th over all and 2nd among girls who didn't qualify on a team.

“I am proud of Keely and our entire team for the work they put in this year,” said coach Steve Stearns. “We wish Keely well at the State tournament.”

In addition to Turczyn, team members are Teresa Freeman, Emily Hilgendorf, Kelsy Robinson, Kelsey Sinclair and Brittany Ventline. The team finished 7th at the Regional Tournament.

Lapeer West Girls' Golf team completes undefeated season, heads to State Finals

A school record team score to win the State Regional Golf Tournament and a second consecutive trip to the Girls’ Golf State Finals topped off a great week for the Lapeer West golf team.

On Thursday, October 8th, the team won a second consecutive trip to the State Finals next week with a school record 365 to win the State Regional Golf Tournament.

Earlier this week the team won the Flint Metro League tournament to complete an undefeated Flint Metro League season.

It was the third consecutive season that Catherine Benscoter was a league medalist. Benscoter shot a 79 to win the individual championship in the FML tournament.

“I am proud of the efforts of Catherine and all the team members in working as hard as they did to make this a successful season,” said Mike Ogg, the Panthers’ coach. “What a great week to go undefeated and win the regional all in the same week.”

In addition to Benscoter, the Panthers’ team is made up of Kim Brown, Haley Byard, Kate Carlson, Elizabeth Rodela, Lauren Weeks and Lindsay Yateman.

Lapeer East, West sports scores

Lapeer East boys soccer

Lapeer East boys cross country

Lapeer East girls cross country

Lapeer West boys tennis

Lapeer East boys tennis

Lapeer East girls golf

Lapeer West girls' golf team finishes 3rd in 21-team field at Lapeer Summer Tune-up tourney

A 21-team field at the Lapeer Summer Tune Up golf tournament saw a great team performance by the Lapeer West girls' golf team and great individual performances by golfers on both teams.

Lapeer East finished 14th at the tournament which was held at the Lapeer Country Club.

Complete tournament details and individual performances are available here.

Lapeer West's Catherine Benscoter tied for third with an 84, Lapeer East's Keely Turczyn was in sixth place with an 86, and Lapeer West's Kim Brown shot a 87 to tie for seventh place in the individual competition.

Lapeer East soccer coach featured in Flint Journal column about sportsmanship

The Flint Journal's Bill Khan did a nice piece on the show of sportsmanship between the Fenton and Lapeer East Girls' soccer teams recently.