AWESOME ANNIE: Plymouth’s Flavin reflects on winning MHSAA golf title

Annie Flavin’s ever-present 1,000-watt smile disappeared for a moment Saturday afternoon, replaced briefly by a few tears.

Gloriously happy tears — the spontaneous kind that come only after a momentous achievement that was years in the making.

The Plymouth High School senior captured the MHSAA individual golf title — the third Wildcat to earn the impressive distinction in the past 13 years (Kelsey Murphy won in 2012, Bridget Boczar in 2021).

After carding a remarkable 71 to earn a tie for first after Friday’s opening round at the brutally-tough The Meadows at Grand Valley State University, Flavin won by four shots after firing a final-round 77 Saturday in windy conditions better suited for kite flying.

Tear ducts opened

Once she sank her final putt Saturday afternoon, Flavin got emotional.

“I started crying as I walked off the 18th green,” Flavin reflected. “It was mixed emotions, really, knowing it was the last time I’d play high school golf, and seeing my parents (Barry and Kristy) and coaches (Kevin Niemiec and John Tatti) who have supported me every step of the way.

“Actually, I didn’t know I had won until I was off the green and my dad (Barry) came over and said, ‘You did it!’ I said to him, ‘I won?’ I honestly thought I had lost because I didn’t play my best. I’m so excited because I’ve been working so hard for this the past four years.”

The 24 hours after her triumph were a whirlwind of joy, Flavin revealed.

“My phone can’t catch a break,” she said, smiling, noting the number of congratulatory calls and texts she received once the news spread. “I’ve heard from teammates, former Plymouth players I’ve never met, family, all my coaches since I first started playing. It’s been really cool.”

Positive mindset

Following an ultra-successful regular season that was capped by a KLAA individual championship, Flavin entered this weekend’s state meet with a positive mindset.

“Honestly, I thought I had a shot to win it,” she said. “My mindset was, ‘Hey, I have absolutely nothing to lose here’. I’m uncertain about my college plans, whether I’m even going to play golf in college, so I had nothing to lose.

“Whatever place I got, I just wanted to go out on a good note.”

Flavin praised her parents and her golf coaches — Plymouth’s Kevin Niemiec and John Tatti, and her swing coach Kelly Sivier.

Tatti served as her primary consultant during the state meet as high school golfers are allowed just one person to converse with during play.

“John Tatti was incredibly helpful,” Flavin noted. “He kept me calm and poised. And I had a lesson with Kelly last week when we went over the overall game plan and strategy for the state meet.”

What pressure?

Surprisingly, Flavin caught a lot of Z’s Friday night, even though she was tied for first going into Saturday.

“John Tatti asked me how I slept (Friday night) and I told him I slept fine,” Flavin said. “He told me whenever he was tied like that after the first round, he would sleep like one hour that night.”

Flavin said there wasn’t necessarily one shot or one hole that catapulted her to the championship, rather a few key putts.

“I made a couple birdie putts that were crucial because I wasn’t having my most amazing round,” she said. “Making the birdies I did was huge because they came after a stretch when I was struggling a little bit.”

A two-sport standout at Plymouth, Flavin will now hang up her golf clubs — except for a few fun rounds with friends if Michigan’s unpredictable fall weather cooperates — and lace up her basketball shoes.

“Basketball starts Tuesday, so it’s time to focus on that for a while,” she said, flashing her ever-present 1,000-watt smile.

Ed Wright can be reached at 734-664-4657 or edwright@socialhousenews.com.