Todd Rose | Daily Press Bryson Mercier of North Central putts during Thursday’s MHSAA Division 3 U.P. Finals at the Oaks Caddyshack Club in Gladstone.

GLADSTONE — MHSAA Division 2 U.P. Golf Finals were a success on both the individual and team end for the North Central Jets Thursday afternoon at the Oaks Caddyshack Club in Gladstone.

Individually, North Central’s Bryson Mercier took home the U.P. Finals title, carding a 73.

“It feels great,” said Mercier. “It’s always nice to get a win. I left a couple shots out there, but overall, I played pretty well.

“(Tomas Immonen 75, Ontanagon) who took second, he played a really good round today. I thought he did very well.”

Mercier added the win came with its challenges along the course.

“The course played pretty tough with the wind,” he said. “I thought I bounced back from a couple bad shots and am pretty happy with how I played.”

As a team, the Jets finished second with a score of 379 — two back of winner Chassell at 377.

“I’m really proud of my team. Really proud of my team,” said Mercier. “Second place, that’s the first time our school has ever gotten a runner-up or finalist, so I’m very proud of my team.”

North Central coach Gerald Whitens was proud of the efforts of the Mercier-led Jets.

“I am so proud of boys and girls team for their efforts preparing for this tournament. Obviously, we are led by the top golfer in the U.P., and his score supports that,” Whitens said. “Bryson is an extremely dedicated young man whether it’s academics or sports. Bryson has always put forth the effort to be the best he can be.

“I have had the pleasure of watching him grow up with a golf club in his hand and driving around with his dad on a golf course for hours every day since he was able to walk. I am so proud of him and the way he carries himself on and of the course.”

Jets assistant coach Scott Farnsworth said he always has a belief in his golfers that they could accomplish something.

“I told the boys at practice, ‘You boys could do something special this year,” Farnsworth said. “I said, ‘If you work hard and keep improving each and every meet and each and every day, good things can happen.’ And today it did.

“I’m very proud of them kids.”

Brett LaBonte also made the top 10 — tied for tenth — for the Jets shooting 99. Riley Wright (12th, 101), Bradley Anderson (19th, 106) and Mason Krumen (28th, 116) rounded out the second-place Jets team.

Cedarville’s Jay Freel finished in third at 84, while the Chassell Panthers 377 and the Engadine Eagles 426 took first and second in the team standings, respectively.

Big Bay de Noc’s Brayden Wilhour 98 also finished top ten in ninth, and Mid Peninsula’s Bradley VanDamme 104 finished 16th.

Other Black Bears participating were Braedon Thill 113, Nick Desjardens 126, Angus McPhee 127 and Tegan Lawrence 129.

Jack Soderman 125 and Alex Norden 176 rounded out the trio of Wolverines.

Ashton Wandahsega was the sole golfer for the Carney-Nadeau Wolves and carded a 120.

Also cracking the top ten was Forest Park’s Ethan Kopt at 97.

For the girls, Carney’s Heidi Kirschner finished in third place in the individual rankings with a score of 99.

“This is the best round of golf I’ve had in my entire life,” Kirschner said,” So, it feels pretty good.”

Kirschner added she didn’t think — at the start of the day — third place was possible.

“I haven’t been driving well the whole season, and today my drives were just on point, and so were my irons, so it just kind of worked out,” she said

Shea Linder 115, also from Carney, finished just outside the top 10 tied for 11th

In the team results, the Big Bay de Noc Black Bears finished in third place, led by eighth-place individual ranking Grace VanWarmer at 110. Alix Bleau (17th, 117), Carrigan Thill (19th, 118), Piper Jones (28th, 139) and Ellie Nedeau (31st, 142) rounded out the third-place team.

Sarah Snyder from North Central 100 finished in fourth place while her Jets teammate Katly Snyder 119 was 20th.

A pair of Wolverines from Mid Pen played as well, with Landry Koski at 115 tied for 11th and Kora Prater 125 in 25th.

Rayven Jacobsen of Forest rounded out the girls’ top ten at 113.