Sure golfers are athletes.

But it’s not one of those growling, muscle-bound endeavors.  The biggest attribute for a golfer is mental toughness.

The sport can be as frustrating as tackling a Rubik’s Cube blindfolded.

Hit 10 exquisite shots in a row and then one that makes a skunk hold its nose.

Dakota junior Bryn Duncan did not have many bad shots during Wednesday’s Macomb County Golf Tournament at Cherry Creek Golf Club in Shelby Township.

She shot a career-best 80 for the 18-hole round. That was good enough for second place behind three-time county medalist Ariel Chang of Eisenhower. Chang shot an even par 72 to lead the Eagles to a first-place team finish.

“I had the best round I’ve ever had in my high school career,” said Duncan. “I had two 7’s on the back nine so I got a 42 on that nine. On the front nine I had a 38.”

Duncan’s group teed off on the 10^th hole Wednesday.  She played with Chang, Anne Komoroski of Regina and Lutheran North’s Sarah Hohensee.

They played the back nine first.

“When I have a bad hole, I just put it on the back burner. I know that it’s time to play a new hole and do better. I always try to figure out how I can fix whatever I did wrong and just move forward. That is always my mindset,” said Duncan.

When Eisenhower and Dakota met in a dual meet earlier this year, Duncan shot a 39 for the nine-hole round. That was also a career-best.

“Ariel is fantastic. I feel like it motivates me whenever I play with people better than me,” said Duncan.  

Chang was one of four Eisenhower golfers who finished in the top 10. The others were Allison Gottshall, who shot an 83 and was fourth; Alexis Sharplin had an 84 and was fifth; while teammate Kayla Lease’s 87 was good for a tie for sixth.

Coach Jerry Griesbeck’s Ike squad won the team competition with a 326 stroke total. Dakota, which came in second, carded a 360. Joining Duncan in the top 10 was teammate Cathryn Kotenko, whose 88 was good for a tie for ninth.

Third-place Regina had a 382, Romeo’s Sarah Himmelsbaugh shot an 81 which put her in third place. She led the Bulldogs to a 384 and they came in fourth. Lutheran North shot a 386 for fifth place. Hohensee’s 88 put her in a tie for ninth.

Lakeview’s Megan Paczas shot an 87 which put her in a tie for sixth. The Huskies came in sixth at 388. Chippewa Valley was seventh at 419. Ford came in eighth with a 421 and Stevenson was ninth at 455. L’Anse Creuse North shot a 458 and came in 10th. The Crusaders were led by Jenna Goss, whose 87 which put her in a tie for sixth. Utica finished 11^th with a 472. Fraser only had three golfers.

“This tournament win means so much to me. My teammates have worked so hard on their games. They come to voluntary practices on their own. It is really showing in the tournaments how much they have improved,” said Chang.

“We feel that this 18-hole tournament is ours. This is our home course. Every year, we say this is our time,” continued Chang. “We are all very excited.”

It has been time for the Eagles a couple of seasons. They have won back-to-back county championships.

Chang finished third at the 2018 Division 1 state meet. One of her goals is to become a state champion.

“I think golf is a competition with yourself. I don’t look at it as a competition with the others I am golfing with,” said Chang. “If they hit a bad shot, I tell them it is okay. I don’t try to put them down. No one is above the others in this game. It is just you and the game itself. I know Bryn is a good golfer. She really played well today.”

EISENHOWER (326): Ariel Chang 72, Allison Gottshall 83, Alexis Sharplin 84, Kayla Lease 87, Hannah Dunn 89.

DAKOTA (360): Bryn Duncan 80, Cathryn Kotenko 88, Heather Jennings 89, Helen Buk 103, Kelly Hintze 108.

REGINA (382): Charlotte Thibault 89, Lauren Graham 99, Elizabeth Malo 106, Ella Dankanics 101, Anne Komorski 93.

ROMEO (384): Sarah Himmelsbaugh 81, Danielle Denomme 110, Ella Schultz 93, Haley Prokoda 100.

LUTHERAN NORTH (386): Sarah Hohensee 88, Julia Zauel 100, Sarah Doletzky 93, Aileen Cosentino 108, Taylor Elias 105.

LAKEVIEW (388): Megan Paczas 87, Carmen Modestino 94, Amanda Balon 104, Ashley Lutomski 112, Layne Kilroy 103.

CHIPPEWA VALLEY (419): Yuna Chang 97, Grace Russo 104, Lexi Seley 108, Isabella DePirro 130, Kylie Grant 110.

FORD (421): Ashley Barney 93, Grace Alaska 105, Ally Mast 125, Julie Gasowski 108, Mya Mezzone 115.

STEVENSON (455): Tessa McKnee, Natalie Ishioka 123, Lindsay Lewis 105, Grace Petras 116, Ally Rea 133.

L’ANSE CREUSE NORTH (458): Jenna Goss 87, Kayla Mazure 113, Mila Mitovski 123, Eva Paratore 135.

UTICA (472): Chloe Zeolla 108, Amanda Beauvais 123, Sophie Rutherford 137, Rylee McChesney 130, Guinevere Griffith 111.

FRASER (No Team Score): Ella Borozzini 110, Haley Shepard 126, Gabby Brown 141.