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West Iron County thrives in West PAC tournament

Bociek, Thomson earn medalist honors for team champions

Burt Angeli/The Daily News Photo West Iron County’s Nathan Thomson tees off Tuesday to start the West PAC tournament at TimberStone Golf Course in Iron Mountain. Thomson finished with a five-over par 77 for medalist.

IRON MOUNTAIN — Nathan Thomson and the entire West Iron County golf program seem to enjoy playing at challenging TimberStone Golf Course.

The Wykons dominated the West PAC tournament Tuesday, sweeping team and medalist honors for both the girls and boys.

Tori Bociek and Iron Mountain’s Anna Pirkola each shot 93 to lead the girls. In a one-hole playoff, Bociek claimed medalist status. Houghton’s Elle Colombe, 94, and Hancock’s Payton Dube, 96, also shot sub-100 rounds.

Thomson led the boys with a five-over par 77, followed by teammates Trey Bociek and Noah Thomson at 80. Houghton’s Jiseung Choi also carded an 80.

“I like it here and it’s fun,” said Nathan Thomson, a sophomore who earned 2018 West PAC Player of the Year. “I like the fairways. They’re real nice,

“I was hoping for a little better (than 77) but that’s all right.”

Thomson, who admits to not playing well in previous West PAC tournaments this spring, posted a 38 on the front nine.

“I started off very well,” said Thomson, noting a two-under score after the first four holes. “Then I made a bogey on five and a bogey on six, and had a little setback there.”

Thomson added two more bogeys on the front nine.

“I would have been happier with a 36,” said Thomson, who recovered by starting the second nine with a “big save on 10 with a 20-footer for par.”

Thomson, figuring five lifetime appearances at the Pine Mountain Resort course, finished with a 39 on the back nine.

“It’s tighter,” Thomson said of the course that is ranked with the best in the state. “You have to hit the ball straight off the tee if you want to score well here. It’s shorter but the tightness is a huge factor.”

WIC boys tallied a 325 to 353 for runner-up Houghton.

For the girls, Coach Mark Martini’s Wykons registered a 425 to 474 for second-place Houghton.

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