In 30 years of coaching varsity boys’ golf at Grand Rapids (Mich.) Christian High School, Ken Bokhoven had gotten close to winning a state title, but hadn’t won one—until this summer.
Ken Bokhoven (bottom) coached the Grand Rapids Christian boys’ golf team to its first ever state title in 30 years of coaching. (Second row l-r): Gavin Uekert, Mitchell Knoor, Tommy Rietema, Ben VanScoyk, Sam Kuiper. (Third row, l-r): Assistant Coach Al Vanderhart, Jared Doezema, Tom Voskuil, Jackson Haveman, Drew Hendriksen, Gabe Van Dyke. Not Pictured: Andrew Balk
The Neland Avenue Christian Reformed Church member coached his team to the school’s first-ever Division 2 boys’ golf state championship in June.
“This particular team is very deep,” said Bokhoven. “I had eight or nine players who could play and we just had to rotate people in and out.”
Ben VanScoyk, a member of Church of the Servant CRC in Grand Rapids, Mich., led the team and placed fourth overall with a score of 153 over two days on the difficult course.
“I was keeping the ball in play. I only hit it in the [tall grass] a couple times,” he said. “That stuff is so deep that if you hit it in there, you’re going to struggle to get it out.”
Bokhoven said that the competition this year left the door open for Grand Rapids Christian to claim the title.
“I think maybe the competition wasn’t as tough this year,” he said. “We shot a 636 and won it, but in 2010, we shot a 621 in the state finals and finished third. It just depends on the competition in a particular year.”
VanScoyk says he only expects the team to get stronger next year, when he will return as a senior.
“It’s been really great playing with these guys this year,” he said. “We’re only losing one senior from our team next year, so we’re definitely going to try to repeat.”
Bokhoven, going into his 31st season, agreed. “It’s going to be an inter-squad battle all year to get into the positions, so we’re going to be pushing each other, and that’s going to make us better,” he said.