Junior’s historic round leads Northville to Dan Young Invite title
Northville won the 2nd Annual Dan Young Invitational Wednesday with a score of 295 — 31 shots lower than runner-up Dexter. Pictured (from left) are Dan Young, Head Coach Kate Schultz, Cam Baker, Grace Bae, Naaz Gill, Serena Ku McKenzie Stevens and Assistant Coach Kelly Baker.
Northville junior golfer Naaz Gill out-foxed the Fox Hills Golf Course Wednesday during the 2nd Annual Dan Young Invitational.
The sweet-swinging Gill carded a 1-under-par score of 69 to earn medalist honors at the talent-loaded tournament, which included Dexter, Rochester Adams, Novi and the three Plymouth-Canton Educational Park teams.
“It’s the first round I’ve ever shot below par,” revealed Gill, who was a key member of the Mustangs’ 2024 MHSAA Division 1 state championship team.
“I needed to par my last hole (to shoot 69) and I had about a 40-footer for birdie. I hit it pretty close and tapped in for my par.”
Asked what fueled her best-ever score, Gill responded with a quick answer.
“No three-putting,” she said, smiling.
Gill’s 69 paced the Mustangs’ first-place effort as their five-player score of 295 was far superior to runner-up Dexter’s 326.
Salem (375) finished third followed by Rochester Adams (385) and Novi (389).
Plymouth was sixth (397) and Pinckney placed seventh with a score of 434.
The Mustangs crowded the leaderboard with four of their five players finishing in the top nine.
Dexter’s Avery Manning, last year’s medalist, carded a 73 along with McKenzie Stevens, Gill’s teammate.
Northville sophomore Cam Baker was fourth (74) while Plymouth senior Annie Flavin closed out the top-five finishers with a round of 77.
(Click here to watch a short video of Cam Baker draining a tricky putt Wednesday at Fox Hills.)
Salem sophomore Brooke Resovsky placed sixth with a 78, one shot better than Northville senior Grace Bae.
Maddy Manning (82) and Ellie Anderson (83), both of Dexter, rounded out the top nine placers.
Dan Young, the early-season tournament’s namesake, was a prolific coach during his 10-year stint as Plymouth head golf coach, leading the Wildcats to multiple state titles.
Just as important as the success Young helped generate was the classy way in which he led his teams, said current Plymouth Head Coach Kevin Niemiec.
“DY is a legend,” said Niemiec. “He’s an incredible human being and he connects with everybody.
“Dan is one of those people who makes you feel special, no matter what. And he was an amazing coach.”
Northville Head Coach Kate Schultz said Wednesday’s invitational was a great early-season test for her defending state championship squad.
“I’ve had a great relationship with Kevin Niemiec, who runs the tournament, and I accepted the invitation for the team to play today because it’s such a strong field and I wanted the team to get in some tournament experience before next week’s pre-conference event,” Schultz said.
“It’s always nice, too, to get in some tournament play before school starts (the Tuesday after Labor Day).”
Ed Wright can be reached at 734-664-4657 or edwright@socialhousenews.com.
