By Jason Wesseldyk
Sports Editor
ALLEGAN
As the spring season gets underway, the Allegan boys golf team is focused on building consistency, strengthening team chemistry and competing with any opponent it faces.
The Tigers return a mix of experienced players and developing talent as they look to make a push in conference play and into the postseason.
Leading the way is a senior-heavy group that includes Logan Glave, Nolan Richmond, Noah Greig, Owen Kruitoff and Dylan Holtsclaw. Junior Noah Kuebler also returns, along with sophomores Kaden Thomas and Austin Schallhorn.
That core will be counted on to set the tone while helping bring along a pair of newcomers in sophomore Brady Pinnell and freshman Ayden Church.
“With a mix of experienced returning players, we hope they can bring strong play and motivate our promising newcomers to find their rhythm and succeed throughout the season,” Allegan coach Ken Bronkema said.
Allegan enters the season with an emphasis on lowering scores and maintaining a steady mindset throughout each round.
“With a steady mindset and true commitment, this team hopes to conquer school records, medal at tournaments and achieve personal goals, one swing at a time,” Bronkema said.
Bronkema, who also serves as the girls varsity golf coach, leads the program alongside assistant Zoe Bronkema and Allegan alum Justin Nahikian.
The coaching staff is focused not only on results, but also on the growth of the players both on and off the course.
“This group is focused not only on winning matches, but also building discipline, teamwork and confidence with every round they play,” Bronkema said.
HAMILTON
After graduating a large portion of last year’s lineup, Hamilton’s boys golf team will rely on a mix of returning experience and developing talent as it looks to grow throughout the season.
“This season resembles a rebuilding year,” coach Brooke Pulling said. “We lost five top players to graduation last year, but we have two key returners.”
Leading the way are senior Dominic Schipper and junior Weston Meiste, who will anchor a lineup that also features several newcomers expected to make an impact, including junior Colin Vork and sophomores Brendan Hansen and Colin Johr.
“Our newcomers will be a great asset to our varsity team,” Pulling said. “They bring a lot of natural talent and drive to improve their game.”
With a relatively inexperienced roster, Hamilton’s focus will be on steady improvement and developing consistency, both physically and mentally.
“My goal for this season is to focus on growth as a team and making smart moves on the course,” Pulling said. “Can we stay composed after a mishit or high-scoring hole?”
That mental approach is something the Hawkeyes have emphasized early on.
“Consistency is key,” Pulling said. “We’re currently working on our mental game and staying strong in the toughest situations.”
While experience may be a challenge, Pulling said the team’s work ethic has stood out.
“Our strength as a team is our willingness to put in the work at practices,” she said. “This group of players is ready to compete.”
Hamilton finished sixth in the conference and eighth at regionals a year ago, and Pulling is hopeful the team can improve those marks this spring.
“I’d love to see Hamilton land in the middle or top half of the conference,” she said. “With the right amount of skill, focus and confidence, we can get there.”
HOPKINS
With a veteran group returning, the Hopkins boys golf team is looking to take a step forward in the OK Silver this season.
“Our team goal is to finish in the top three of our league,” coach William Spoelhof said.
Leading the way for the Vikings is a senior-heavy lineup that includes returning letter winners Trevor Anderson, Abe Krussell, Henry Teunissen, Hendrick Reurink, Seth Marshall and Blake Hyma.
That experience should help provide both leadership and stability throughout the season.
“Our strengths will be our consistency around the green,” Spoelhof said.
Hopkins will also look for contributions from junior Gavin Baugh, who is expected to make an immediate impact as the team’s top newcomer.
The Vikings are coming off a fourth-place finish in the conference a year ago and will look to climb the standings in what Spoelhof expects to be a competitive league race.
“NorthPointe Christian and Calvin Christian are usually the top contenders for the league title,” he said.
Now in his 18th season leading the program, Spoelhof is optimistic about what this group can accomplish.
“We are excited to see how this team performs,” he said. “We should see some exciting golf from this team.”
With a strong returning core and a focus on steady, consistent play, Hopkins will look to position itself among the top teams in the conference this spring.
OTSEGO
After a season of success a year ago, the Otsego boys golf program enters 2026 facing both change and opportunity.
The Bulldogs graduated Wolverine Conference Player of the Year Spencer Shearer along with three other All-Conference golfers, and longtime coach Matt Rayman has retired after more than two decades leading the program.
Despite those losses, Otsego is not approaching the season as a rebuild.
Leading the way are returning All-Conference golfers Karson Holladay, a senior, and junior Owen Santman, both of whom are expected to be among the top players in the Wolverine Conference.
With that foundation in place, first-year head coach Michael Miller believes the team can remain competitive.
“Our goals this year look very similar to what they’ve been in years past,” Miller said. “We want to compete for the conference title, be competitive in every tournament and qualify for the state finals.”
Otsego will also rely on a group of players stepping into larger roles. Seniors Kole Engleright and juniors Kal-El Leonard and Roman Busscher have waited their turn and are expected to contribute, while freshman Cooper Mejeur has already made an impression with his tournament experience.
That mix has created strong competition for lineup spots.
“Beyond our top group, we have several athletes pushing for positions, which gives us depth and internal competition,” Miller said.
Experience at the top of the lineup is a clear strength, though the middle of the lineup will continue to develop.
“Our one- and two-seeds are proven scorers who bring consistency and leadership,” Miller said. “The 3–6 spots are less experienced, but we’re confident they will grow as the season progresses.”
In the conference race, Otsego expects plenty of competition.
“Vicksburg returns a strong group, Edwardsburg has experience, and Plainwell should be very competitive,” Miller said. “There are several teams capable of being in the mix.”
Otsego is coming off a Wolverine Conference championship season and will look to defend that title while also pursuing a return trip to the state finals.
Miller, who takes over after serving as an assistant under Rayman, brings a strong track record after leading the girls program to back-to-back conference and regional titles along with consecutive state finals appearances.
With proven leadership at the top of the lineup and a group eager to step into bigger roles, the Bulldogs will look to remain among the conference’s top teams this spring.
PLAINWELL
Plainwell enters the season with its sights set on contending in the Wolverine Conference behind a strong returning group led by senior Drew Rayman.
“We will compete for the Wolverine Conference championship,” said coach Scott Cool, who returns to lead the program after taking last season off.
Rayman is coming off a top-10 finish at the Division 2 State Finals and averaged 36.5 in league play last year.
“We have the top player in the conference in Drew Rayman,” Cool said. “I expect him to have an even lower average this year.”
He is joined by a solid group of returning contributors, including seniors Gibby Youngs and Reece Trahan, junior Sawyer McCall and sophomore Cam Larsen — a group Cool believes could make a strong impact.
“Drew, Sawyer, Gibby, Reece and Cam all have a shot to be all-conference,” he said. “If they all make the Wolverine top 12, that should bode well for us.”
Plainwell also welcomes a group of newcomers, including freshmen Easton Morrow and Preston Gunderson along with sophomores Gibson Pettit and Logan Gabala.
While the Trojans have plenty of talent, experience could be a factor early in the season.
“We have a talented team, although we are a bit lacking in experience,” Cool said. “Some of our guys need more matches, and they will gain confidence as the season goes on.”
The Wolverine Conference figures to be competitive once again.
“Vicksburg, Otsego and Edwardsburg are also very good teams,” Cool said. “Any one of these four schools could win the conference.”
Early results have been encouraging, particularly from Rayman, who has already posted strong scores in the opening jamborees.
SAUGATUCK
After a historic season a year ago, the expectations remain high for the Saugatuck boys golf team.
“Our goals this year look very similar to what they’ve been in years past,” coach Brian Ward said. “Our expectation for this year is the exact same.”
That’s a lofty standard considering what the Trailblazers accomplished in 2025, going undefeated in conference play, winning all seven Lakeshore jamborees, capturing a regional title and finishing eighth at the Division 4 state finals.
And while Saugatuck moves up to Division 3 this season, Ward believes his team has the pieces in place to once again compete at a high level.
“I still think we have a great chance to place top three at our regional and make it to the state finals for a fourth year in a row,” he said.
Leading the way will be a veteran group that returns nearly intact from last season’s squad. That includes seniors Nick Mohr and Noah Conklin along with junior Walt Bos and sophomores Grant Schrotenboer and Macky Larue.
“We’ve got almost our entire team returning,” Ward said. “That gives us a lot of experience that should serve us well throughout the season.”
Newcomers Lance Oczepek, a junior, and sophomore Charlie Lanning will look to add depth to an already experienced lineup.
In the conference race, Ward expects South Haven to provide the biggest challenge.
“I think South Haven will be our biggest competition,” he said. “But I like our chances given our depth and experience.”
Ward is entering his 11th season as the varsity coach and 14th overall with the program.
WAYLAND
With a new head coach bringing decades of collegiate experience, the Wayland boys golf team enters the season focused on growth and development.
Allen Curtiss, in his first year leading the Wildcats, spent 36 years coaching golf and football at the college level, including helping guide teams to conference championships and earning 2015 GMAC Men’s Coach of the Year honors.
“This will be a season of growing for our team,” Curtiss said. “We have a new coaching staff and a large portion of our players who don’t have a great deal of varsity experience. With that being said, we have blended great.”
Wayland returns a group that includes seniors Jaden Osterhout and Shane Koon, junior Brayden Calkins and sophomore Hustler Sok, while juniors Carson Sipkema and Nick Winchel are among those expected to contribute.
Curtiss said the focus will be on steady improvement both on and off the course.
“Our goals and expectations are and always will be to win on the course and in the classroom,” he said. “Our focus, though, is to improve and learn every time we are on the course.”
The Wildcats have shown some early strengths, particularly off the tee.
“Our strength is our ability to hit the ball long,” Curtiss said. “Our weakness is knowing when to use it and when to back off and manage the course.”
Curtiss believes Wayland has the potential to be competitive in the OK Gold Conference.
“From what I have seen so far, I believe we can be in the top tier,” he said. “The top dog I think is South Christian.”
As the program adjusts to a new coaching staff and approach, Curtiss said the emphasis will be on long-term development.
“We are different,” he said. “We are developing our players in the same way I have at the collegiate level to grow and be successful.”
