Airport's Sophie Bucki repeats as champion of La-Z-Boy Junior Open

MONROE – Sophie Bucki was the Monroe County Region Girls Golfer of the Year last fall.

“Last year definitely put a target on my back,” she said.

If her play Tuesday and Wednesday is any indication, Bucki is ready to face those challenges and defend her title when she begins her senior season at Airport in a few weeks.

Bucki was by far the best girl in the event, shooting 77 Tuesday and 82 Wednesday for a two-day total of 159.

She was 9 strokes better than the second-best score posted by Brooklyn Burke of New Boston Huron.

“I was pretty pleased with how I played,” she said. “I know I could have done better on some holes, but I was able to come back after those.”

Bucki is 3-for-3 in the La-Z-Boy Tournament.

Last Year: Huron's Tyler Toth protects early lead to capture title at La-Z-Boy Junior Open

She won the 13-14 division two years ago and had the second-best overall score for girls. This is the second straight year that she has ruled the 15-16 division with the top score for girls.

“This is definitely one of the biggest tournaments for me, especially this year,” she said. “As soon as I went into the clubhouse before I played yesterday, people were asking me if I was ready to reclaim my title. I was so nervous.”

Part of the nervousness came from knowing the players she would face.

“The competition this year was a lot more difficult than past years,” she said.

She was pleased with the way things started when she shot 77, but she was five strokes higher than that on Wednesday.

“I felt like the conditions today were a lot tougher,” she said. “Yesterday we had nearly perfect conditions. Today we had a little rain and a lot of wind, plus the pin placements were a lot tougher.

“It felt like a whole new course. Everything was different.”

Bucki handled the tougher conditions better than anyone. Her lead after Day 1 was just four strokes.

“I had a nice cushion, but I knew I had to work my butt off today,” she said.

Ana Cuccia, a former St. Mary Catholic Central player, shot 190 to win the girls 17-19 division.

“Me and Ana are really good friends,” Bucki said. “If I am going to play golf with someone, I want it to be Ana.

“I am happy for her. She works so hard and is so dedicated.”

Cuccia will join the golf team at Adrian College this fall.

The other girls winner was the talk of the clubhouse Wednesday.

Harlow Swank, a 10-year-old student at Newport St. Charles, shot a nine-hole round of 34 on the second day of the tournament. Her two-day total of 79 gave her the championship 12-under division by a whopping 50 strokes.

“Oh my gosh, Harlow is so good,” Bucki said. “And her family is super nice.”

Swank’s St. Charles classmate Evan Mullins won the boys 13-14 division. He shot 79 Tuesday and 87 Wednesday for a total of 166 to finish three strokes ahead of Isaac Scott of Dundee.

The other boys winners came from outside of the Monroe County Region.

Brennen Hight of Haas Hall Academy shot 74 to win 12-under, Cooper Johnson of Toledo St. John took boys 15-16 with 147 and Grant Simpson of Tecumseh ruled boys 17-19 with 142.

Airport’s Brayden Siders was the 15-16 runner-up with 151.

Simpson almost didn’t make it into the field. He missed the entry deadline, but was able to get an extension when his coach called tournament director Jeremy Potter.

That was bad news for the rest of the field.

Simpson shot 69 Tuesday and followed with a 73 Wednesday for a two-day total of 142.

That was a stroke better than recent Lenawee Christian graduate Connor Parisien in the boys 17-18 division.

Simpson, who will soon begin his senior year at Tecumseh High School, took second place in the tournament the last two years.

“I figured this was the year,” he said. “I’ve improved a lot.”

Despite shooting the only under-par round of the tournament on Wednesday, Simpson wasn’t thrilled with his game.

“I really didn’t play that well either day, but at the end I was able to maintain my lead,” he said.

Like Simpson, Parisien made the journey to Monroe for the third straight year.

“My dad used to play in it,” he said.

Was his father ever a runner-up like Connor?

“No,” he said with a chuckle. “He wasn’t that good.”

Parisien will be joining the golf team at Siena Heights University this fall.

LA-Z-BOY JUNIOR OPEN

BOYS 12-UNDER

Brennen Hight, Haas Hall 40 34—74

Liam Doll, Tecumseh 36-40—76

Remy Beyer, Ida 47-35—82

Landry Wilkens, Bedford 48-38—86

Easton Shelton, Huron 52-44—96

Myles Dushane, Triumph 49-48—97

Gavin Goins, Dundee 53-51—104

Garrett Carter, Jefferson 60-48—108

Landon Rempe, St. Charles 53-56—109

Vincent Zajac, St John’s 61-51—112

Jase Barta, Huron 63-54—117

Tyler Robinson, Grosse Ile 66-64—130

BOYS 13-14

Evan Mullins, St. Charles 79-87—166

Isaac Scott, Dundee 80-89—169

Cade Horner, Keystone 89-92—181

Zennon Urbanski, Bedford 92-89—181

Landon Griffin, Monroe 99-99—198

Landon Gauer, Ida 108-95—203

Grayson Cunningham, Ida 110-99—209

Alex Reeves, St. Joseph 100-111—211

Brady Beyer, Ida 113-105—218

BOYS 15-16

Cooper Johnson, Toledo St. John 76-71—147

Brayden Siders, Airport 77-74—151

Luke Richter, Allen Park 74-79—153

Cam Kalbfleisch, Carlson 82-76—158

Trent Ison, Carlson 78-80—158

Parker Johnson, Toledo St. John 78-81—159

Michael Olenchak, Grosse Ile 80-79—169

Alexander Faryniarz, Ida 84-88—172

Levi Evans, Dundee 88-85—173

Andrew Ranka, Grosse Ile 84-90—174

Connor Zimmerman, Ida 90-87—177

Chase Knabusch, Ida 104-88—192

Flynn Cooper, Monroe 88-112—200

BOYS 17-19

Grant Simpson, Tecumseh 69-73—142

Connor Parisien, Len.Christian 74-69—143

Carter Bahn, Dundee 73-74—147

Thomas Rivard, EMU 73-76—149

Cole Paquette, Allen Park 73-77—150

Tyler Toth, Schoolcraft 72-78—150

Jase Marcott, Carlson 74-78—152

Drew Vuich, SMCC 75-79—154

Tyler Robertson, Concordia 79-76—155

Brenden McCullough, MCCC 78-78—156

Lukas Johnson, Monroe 77-80 —57

Ryan Hughey, Carlson 77-80—157

Gabe Chinavare, SMCC 78-81—159

Johnathan Lerette, Huron 74-85—159

LJ Robertson, Monroe MC 80-80—160

Michael Laboe, Notre Dame 80-80—160

Davin Slater, Ida 85-80—165

Steven Stewart, Allen Park 79-87—166

Mitchell Smith, Flat Rock 87-81—168

Josh Kansier, SMCC 85-85—170

Jayce Hernandez, Monroe 85-87—172

Jonah Goins, Dundee 82-91—173

Jack Miller, Huron 84-82—176

Lance Choike, Airport 86-99—185

Ashton Viers, Dundee 93-101—194

Logan Loveland, Monroe 97-99—196

Jaxon Tsouris, Southgate 88-115—203

GIRLS 12-UNDER

Harlow Swank, St Charles  45-34—79

Hadley Bogden, Ida 67-62—129

GIRLS 15-16

Sophie Bucki, Airport 77-82—159

Brooklyn Burke, Huron 81-87—168

Addison Bozynski, Huron 89-88—177

Hayley Swain, Woodhaven 88-89—177

Nora Kinsey, SMCC  89-92—181

Madilyn Peterson, Carlson 94-97—191

Lauren Tolliver, SMCC 96-96—192

Madison Cooper, Carlson 100-94—194

Nora Wharton, Grosse Ile 96-102—198

Allison Casey, Monroe 108-92—200

Elizabeth Zwack, SMCC 104-97—201

Ella Atkinson, Carlson 101-109—210

Elyse Rogier, Flat Rock 110-103—213

Claire Holton, SMCC 112-112—224

Kaitlyn Robinson, Grosse Ile 123-112—235

GIRLS 17-19

Ana Cuccia, Adrian College 94-96—190

Gabrielle Stanley, Woodhaven 99-97—196

Hanna Roof, Airport 105-96—201

Alaina Wille, SMCC 106-102—208

Natalie Kuti, Airport 116-111—227

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Airport's Sophie Bucki repeats as champion of La-Z-Boy Junior Open