EAGLE CREST GOLF COURSE - June 6, 2009 - Tawas Area's golf team shot its way to a fifth place finish at the Division 3 state finals on Friday and Saturday, scoring 674 over 36 holes in the two-day event.

Jackson Lumen Christi won the state title with a score of 634, followed by Big Rapids and Kalamazoo Christian at 642. Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central finished fourth at 668, six strokes ahead of the Braves. Tawas did beat Saginaw Nouvel (679), which last week topped the Braves for the regional title.

It was the Braves' first appearance in the state finals since 2004, when they didn't crack the top 12.

Tawas didn't have any individuals crack the top 10, but had the best balance of any of the state finals teams, with just 12 strokes separating their first and fifth golfers.

Casey Wheatley led the Braves with a 163, including 79 on the first day. Wheatley was followed by Matt Flory (168), Alex Phillips (172), Bruce Myles (174) and Anthony Knafla (175).

Jacob Ryske of Kalamazoo Christian won the individual state title with a 153, edging Taylor Desenfants of Grayling on a tie-breaking playoff hole.