Toth Has Sights Set On Nationals
Sometimes the best laid plans in life can often take a different turn.
When Tyler Toth arrived at Schoolcraft College after graduating from New Boston Huron High School in 2023, he thought bowling was his best sport.
"I bowled all four years in high school varsity," Toth said. "My brother (Ryan) won a state championship the year before (2019) I got in. And then I got there and COVID messed everything up. I got to the state finals two of my last three years and lost them both as a team. I averaged 206 to 210 . . . somewhere in there. I always loved bowling and my dad always bowled. It was kind of the thing we did."
Fast forward two years later and Toth is the first golfer in recent memory from Schoolcraft to qualify for the NJCAA Division II National tourney, which is set for May 19-22, at Swan Lake Resort in Plymouth, Ind.
Toth also had golf background playing four years at Huron, but had only modest success. His best result was a 16th place finish at the 2023 MHSAA Division II regional as a senior.
"When college came around, I wanted to bowl and I didn't even know Schoolcraft had a golf team at the time," Toth said. "I found out and then . . . yeah, I'm playing golf. Kind of wishing I had done both, but looking back . . . it's alright."
Toth gradually upped his game during his two seasons under coach Rick Larson with the Ocelots and it culminated with earning one of the three additional individual qualifying spots during the Region XII tourney held May 5-6 at Bedford Valley Golf Course.
Over 36 holes on the opening day of play, Toth demonstrated his prowess shooting a 1-over 73 followed by a 3-over 75. All told, he posted nine birdies and 13 bogeys (with no doubles) for total of 148.
Toth had played Bedford Valley a few times in high school and had played there a couple of times during his freshman year with the Ocelots, including the regionals. He also had a prepared this spring with a few practice rounds as well at the Battle Creek course, which has been a home to the high school finals and Michigan Amateur events.
"Very familiar with the course," Toth said. "Everything there kind of felt like second nature. I just knew what I was doing out there, which helped out a lot. I had a round in the fall where I shot 73, but with nine birdies . . . I wouldn't be going to nationals for sure. It could have been 15 or 16 birdies. I lipped a bunch of them out and just had good looks all day."
His wedge play was stellar throughout the 36 holes.
"I was pretty good off the tee and anything inside 100 yards was hitting them within 10-to-15 feet and then just getting lucky and making some one putts," Toth said.
But even after two stellar rounds, Toth had unfinished business during the second day and final 18 holes of the regional.
"We were tied for third after the first day, so I was really hoping to go as a team, but about nine holes in we dropped all the way down the leaderboard, so coach (Larson) came with me the last round and helped me through it," Toth said. "He said, ''It's got to be you going.'"
Conditions, meanwhile, were far from ideal to say the least and it showed as Toth's score ballooned to an 11-over 83 in a constant rain for a three-round total of 231.
Grand Rapids CC's Collin Beckett, the individual medalist with a 2-under 214, shot 71-67 the first 36 before dropping to a 76 on the final round.
"It was brutal," Toth said. "Thankfully it wasn't very windy, but I think we almost got a half-inch during the round. It was coming down the whole time. It was cold and it was just nasty out. All the scores were higher, so thankfully, because I shot 83."
Montcalm and Grand Rapids placed one-two in the regional standings to gain the automatic team berths for the nationals, while the Ocelots slipped to ninth among the 13 schools.
And once the individual scores from automatic team qualifiers from Montcalm and Grand Rapids were tabulated, Toth wound up placing seventh overall and was among the three additional individuals headed to Swan Lake.
"Tyler is a wonderful kid," said Larson, who is also the Ocelots' men's soccer coach. "I'm so happy for him because he deserves this. And not only because he's a great kid, but he puts so much into it. He takes his game so seriously. He's an excellent student. He caddies and he teaches caddies. Even before this he golfed every day of his life."
During his second season with the Ocelots, Toth averaged 80.35 over 20 total rounds during the fall and spring seasons, second only to teammate Nolan Parker, who averaged 79.7 per 18 holes.
In the MCCAA tourney held at Swan Lake, ironically host of the upcoming nationals, Toth tied for 14th overall with a two-day total of 78-81-159 (+15).
This year's NJCAA DII tourney will consist of four rounds and Toth is looking forward to the challenge.
"You've got to be really good off the tee there," he said. "The rough is super thick, so if you're not good off the tee, then you're in trouble. Some pretty tight holes out there. The times we've played there it's been constantly windy, so I'm kind of expecting that again this time. But very familiar with it, so it should be good."
Toth also played soccer in high school, but when he arrived at Schoolcraft his athletic resumè tilted more towards bowling. He was on three New Boston Huron regional championship teams and during his senior year in the MHSAA D2 tourney he rolled a 220 game in a loss to Flint Kearsley in the team match play finals.
"I didn't plan on playing golf, but it was close to home and I wanted to play golf, so I was really there just for school and just get it over with," Toth said. "But I heard from coach (Larson). He got me on the team and I got out there and it's the best experience I've had."
Once Larson was able to connect with Toth, he immediately saw his potential.
"In the middle of his first year, we went and set up a time for him to hit at Oasis (Golf Center) in the middle of the winter and I was like, 'Oh, wait a second. This kid is got something,'" Larson recalled. "He had an excellent spring for us last year. He almost qualified for this event last year as an individual. He was just kind of on the outside looking in and just put a ton into his game."
As a freshman, Toth led the Ocelots with an 82.22 average with pair of top 10s.
During his four fall rounds in the MCCAA, Toth shot 75 (tied for seventh), 78 (tied for 12th), 79 (tied for 26th) and 76 (tied for eighth).
To prepare for the spring season, Larson took his team for a week in March to Orlando, Fla.
"We played at awesome courses and he (Toth) played really well from the get-go," Larson said.
Toth, ironically, didn't play competitive golf until his freshman year in high school.
"I'm mostly self-taught," he said. "I know a lot of good golfers that have helped me along the way. I've had four or five lessons, but just to touch some things up. Never had a swing coach. I've got kind of a unique swing, so I really don't want to mess with it if it works."
And once he began to play for the Ocelots as a freshman, Toth experienced a big learning curve.
"The courses are just so much longer," he said. "In high school you hit a driver and have a wedge in every hole, but this is like a lot of par-5s aren't very reachable, so it's actually a different game and a lot better players and I've just had a great time doing it."
Toth remains pretty active. He enjoys being outside and enjoying life. Among his other hobbies include playing basketball with friends and fishing.
Toth, who is studying business and finance, hopes to continue playing golf at four-year school close to home.
"The season hasn't been my best year yet, but hopefully nationals can open up a few doors so I can keep playing in the future," he said.
Meanwhile, the opportunity that Schoolcraft has provided him is something he feels eternally grateful for.
"You've got a lot of great people, great teachers that will always be there to help you," Toth said. "It's a great athletic staff. You've got trainers, everything you need. All the coaches I've met have been very supportive and will do anything for you to succeed. It's just been a great time and wouldn't want it any other way."
Toth has already gone through Schoolcraft's graduation exercises, but he has some unfinished business on the golf course as he has nearly two weeks to prepare for the nationals.
"It's the dedication, the commitment and the time that it takes to be really good at golf," Larson said. "And we get up here and now we really get to put in some serious, quality time to hone his game."
By Brad Emons