Gryphons Punch Ticket to State Finals After Gritty Regional Performance

The Greenhills boys golf team’s season of steady improvement and quiet confidence has paid off in a big way. The Gryphons finished third at Tuesday’s regional championship, clinching a coveted spot at the MHSAA Division 3 state finals, set for June 6–7.

“We knew it was going to be a tough regional, but the guys stepped up,” said head coach Michael Karr. “They played with grit and focus when it mattered most, and now we get to keep the season going.”

This result caps off a spring where the Gryphons weathered high winds and strong competition, carving out five top-five tournament finishes and a second-place regular-season standing in the Catholic League. Their steady play throughout the season earned them a top-10 state ranking heading into the regional, and they delivered when it counted.

“It’s been a season where we’ve worked on consistency,” said Karr. “We’re not a team that’s blowing everyone away, but we’ve shown we can hang with the best in the state. Finishing third at regionals, in one of the toughest regions in Division 3, is a testament to that.”

Sophomore Keating Holland continued to lead the team with steady, composed play, building on a season that has him in the running for All-State honors. He’ll look to continue his strong form at the state championships.

“Holland is having another good year.” Karr said, “He shot an 81 at regionals, which was our team best at the tournament and 11th overall. We’ve also relied a lot on our three seniors this year, Michael Nakashima, Oliver Beekmen, and Aidan Drain, and our team’s performance tends to follow theirs. Nakashima and Drain both shot in the 80s at regionals and came through when we needed them.”

Junior Tai Mackey has been another key figure for Greenhills, highlighted by his personal-best 76 earlier this season at the Greenhills Invitational and his 84 at regionals. Meanwhile, freshman Jonathan Hu, who earned All-League honors, solidified his spot as the team’s No. 5 player and his 86 at regionals was key.

Karr noted that the team has a lot of talent ready to step up next season, too.

“Junior Owen Greg had a nice season and keeps getting better,” said Karr. “And we’re really excited about this freshman core of four or five guys that are already shooting in the mid to upper 80s. I think they can be really good in the next couple of years.”

Now, with the state finals ahead, Greenhills has its sights set even higher. The Gryphons will face the top teams from across Michigan, bringing with them not only talent but also resilience earned over a long and challenging season.

“We’re in a good place,” Karr said. “The guys are confident, and we’ve shown we can handle tough conditions and tough competition. It’s all about putting it together on the day.”