Onsted, MI- The Clinton Redwolves Boys Golf team turned in one of their finest performances of the season Thursday afternoon at the LCAA Jamboree #4 hosted by Onsted at Devils Lake GC, firing a team score of 163 to earn an impressive 2nd place finish out of 8 teams.

Though the Redwolves’ efforts would typically be enough to secure a team victory, they were up against an Onsted squad that was simply untouchable, shooting a school record 149 on the day. Two Onsted golfers, Cole England and Jayden Valesek, led the charge with sensational rounds of 33 and 34, respectively.

Individually, the Redwolves were led by junior Mason Diaz, who shot a career-best 39, earning a 3rd place finish out of 47 golfers. “Mason has been working hard on his swing at the range after some early season struggles. We have been working on some mental aspects of the game as well. I started to see some improvements over the last week or so, but it all came together today. I am very happy for him that all that hard work paid off. What a round by him,” said Coach Ruhl.

Sophomore Brandon Ruhl also fired a 39, highlighted by a birdie on hole 3. The round marked Ruhl’s fourth straight top-five finish in league events. Ruhl is the only golfer in the LCAA this season to earn a top-5 finish in all 4 Jamboree events. A big accomplishment that highlights Ruhl’s consistent play this year. Freshman Vinny Skidmore bounced back in a big way, carding a 42 to tie for 11th, while Chase Gillman and Rob McDonald each added solid rounds of 43 (T14). Mattis Riddle also found a bright moment, notching the first birdie of his career on hole 3 and posting a 47 (T31).

Despite Onsted’s historic day, Clinton improved by 12 strokes from their previous jamboree and posted their best Jamboree score for the last 3 years. They remain in 2nd place in the conference just behind Onsted going into the LCAA Championship tournament next week where the available points are doubled. Clinton’s entire starting 5-man roster for the Championship will all be inside the top 15 of the individual standings as well, highlighted by Ruhl sitting at 2nd overall, and Diaz at 9th. Clinton will be trying to do the unthinkable, and have all 5 golfers earn all-league 1st and 2nd team honors. The team will look to fine-tune their games when they host the Redwolves Invite Saturday morning at Rustic Glen.

IDA, MI — The Clinton Redwolves Boys Golf team battled through adversity to secure a third-place finish at Wednesday’s LCAA Jamboree #3, hosted by Ida at Green Meadows GC. Clinton posted a team score of 175, trailing only Onsted (168) and Madison (169) in a tightly packed leaderboard.

Sophomore Brandon Ruhl continued his outstanding season, notching his third consecutive LCAA top-5 finish with a steady round of 41, which tied him for 5th overall out of 45 golfers. He was closely followed by junior Robert McDonald, who carded a season personal-best 42, tying for 7th.

“That was Rob’s best round and finish this league season, and it was vital for the team today. I'm expecting him to do big things down the final stretch of the season,” Coach Ruhl said after the round. “Brandon has been remarkably consistent this season, and we will continue to lean on him. It was great to see Mason and Mattis step up today as well.”

Also contributing to the team total score were junior Mason Diaz with a personal best round (44, T-16th), and senior Mattis Riddle (48, 28th). Gillman (49, T-30th), and Skidmore (52, 38th) wrapped up the scoring for the team.

Despite the solid finish, the Redwolves were left feeling there was room for improvement. According to Coach Ruhl, the team made a lot of mental mistakes and lost their cool when facing adversity on the course. Even with all the issues the team faced today, they still managed to finish third, and control their own destiny in the LCAA. The team sits at 2nd overall in the league, just one point behind first-place Onsted. Clinton also has 5 players inside of the top 14 of the LCAA in the individual standings. Ruhl moved up to 2nd in the league overall, and Rob cracked the top 10 with his solid finish. Skidmore, Gillman, and Diaz are all fighting for all-league honors as well.

The team now sets its sights on the final Jamboree of the season, to be held at Devil’s Lake on Thursday. With just one event left before the LCAA Championship tournament next week at Raisin Valley, Clinton remains in strong position in the league standings.

May 9, 2025 – Marshall, MI

The Clinton Redwolves boys golf team turned in a solid performance at the Matthew Krutsch Memorial Invitational hosted by Hillsdale Academy at The Medalist Golf Club in Marshall. They finished 11th out of 18 teams with a team score of 361 — a six-shot improvement over last year’s outing. This tournament is known to be one of the best-run events in the state of Michigan, and draws the best teams from all over the state. Multiple state champion programs were in attendance on Friday and Clinton held their own against the state’s best.

Pacing the Redwolves were sophomore Brandon Ruhl and freshman Vinny Skidmore, both carding matching scores of 86. The duo tied for 25th place in a competitive field of 90 golfers, with Ruhl birdieing the par-4 18th and Skidmore showcasing consistent ball-striking throughout the round.

Junior Robert McDonald continued his positive trajectory with a 92, good for 53rd overall, including a birdie on the par-4 1st hole. Senior Chase Gillman added a 97 (62nd), and fellow senior Mattis Riddle rounded out the Clinton squad with a 105 (76th).

"The Medalist is one of my all-time favorite courses in Michigan. It is tough but beautiful, and the tournament is so well-run. It is a very memorable event for my team. The way the event honors Matthew Krutsch and his legacy is really impressive. The Krutsch family does an amazing job of hosting the best tournament around. We look forward to coming back to this event every year,” Coach Ruhl said. “The taco bar afterward was incredible too," the team shared in a lighthearted recap.

With momentum building, Clinton looks ahead to two upcoming league matches this week with confidence and determination. The Redwolves will also be hosting their own Invitational at Rustic Glen Golf Club on Saturday May 17th.

Adrian, MI — The Clinton Redwolves boys golf team delivered a gritty performance at the Lenawee County Championship held at Wolf Creek Golf Club, finishing fourth overall with a team score of 343. The squad was just seven strokes away from a team trophy, as Blissfield claimed second place with a 336, behind eventual champions Tecumseh at 323.

Freshman Vinny Skidmore led the Redwolves with a breakout round, firing a personal-best score of 81 to tie for 5th place out of 55 competitors. The performance also earned him his first career medalist honor, highlighted by his first-ever birdie on hole 5. Skidmore earns all-county honors as a freshman, which is a very rare feat at this Championship historically.

“Vinny’s growth has been incredible to watch this season, he is doing some amazing things as a freshman,” said Redwolves head coach Matt Ruhl. “I expected him to have some ups and downs this year, but he has been very consistent this season. He’s put in the time, works hard at his craft, stayed focused, and today was a great reward for that effort. This was a big step forward for him.”

Just one shot behind Skidmore was sophomore Brandon Ruhl, who carded an 82 and notched a birdie on hole 2, earning him a share of 8th place and his second straight medalist finish. This was Ruhl’s second consecutive medalist finish after his breakout round at the Tecumseh Invite last week.  Ruhl earned all-county team honors now as a sophomore after just missing out as a freshman last year, when he placed 13th in the event, and just one shot out of the honor. 

Senior Chase Gillman maintained his recent strong showings with an 89, good for 16th overall. Rounding out the scoring for Clinton were junior Robert McDonald (91, 20th) and Mason Diaz (95, 25th). Both of them showed signs of improvement as well.

“Conditions weren’t easy, but our guys battled,” Coach Ruhl added. “To have two of our young guys earn all-county honors, and to have all five of my kids inside the top-25 of the county is a major accomplishment for the team. To be right there in the mix with strong programs like Adrian and Tecumseh is a great sign of where we're headed as a program.”

The Redwolves now shift their focus to the upcoming LCAA Jamboree #3 and #4 next week at Devil’s Lake and Green Meadows, looking to carry momentum from their solid county showing. Before the big Jamborees next week, the team will travel to Marshall, MI and attempt to take on the beautiful but extremely difficult Medalist Golf Club, home of the Matthew Krutsch Memorial Invitational on Friday May 9th.

In the face of blistering winds, rock-hard greens, and a 30-minute rain delay, the Clinton Redwolves Boys Golf team showed both grit and poise at LCAA Jamboree #2 Tuesday, securing a strong 2nd place finish at Whiteford Valley Golf Course.

The Redwolves posted a team score of 174, just six strokes behind first-place Onsted (168) and tied with Ida, but Clinton won the tiebreaker to take sole possession of second. Despite the challenges, Clinton’s consistent performance kept them atop the overall season standings after two events.

With gusts reaching up to 40 mph and unyielding putting surfaces, players had to adjust not only their swings but their expectations. It was yet another example of the Redwolves' ability to weather the storm — both figuratively and literally — and emerge with valuable points toward the league title.

Sophomore Brandon Ruhl led the charge, carding a steady 41 that included a birdie on hole 14. That effort earned him 4th place out of 48 golfers. Senior Chase Gillman continued his upward momentum with a career-best 42, landing him in 6th place overall and delivering a much-needed veteran presence amid the chaos of the day. Junior Mason Diaz also stepped up with a personal-best 45, good for 16th place, adding depth and composure to Clinton’s middle of the lineup. Freshman Vinny Skidmore and junior Robert McDonald rounded out the team’s scoring with matching 46s, tying for 20th. Also competing was Mattis Riddle, who posted a personal-best 48, finishing tied for 27th and continuing his steady improvement.

Clinton’s runner-up finish keeps them in first place overall in the LCAA standings, a key accomplishment as the season reaches its midpoint. With two league events in the books and momentum on their side, the Redwolves are positioning themselves as legitimate contenders for the league title.

Tecumseh, MI- The Clinton Redwolves Boys Golf team turned in a gritty and encouraging performance Monday, finishing 7th out of 13 teams at the Tecumseh Invitational — a competitive event filled with strong programs and challenging conditions. Clinton was the only division three school at the invite, as most teams were from Tecumseh’s SEC conference.

While the final team score of 364 was shy of a top-4 trophy by just five strokes, it marked a 12-shot improvement from last year’s outing at the same event, showing clear signs of growth and potential. Tecumseh won the event with a 336 team score, followed by Temperance Bedford with 341.

The star of the day was sophomore Brandon Ruhl, who posted a career-best invitational round of 80, landing him 4th overall out of 63 players. The score earned him his first-ever medalist honor in an invitational setting, and placed him just three strokes behind individual champion Grant Simpson of Tecumseh (77).

Senior Chase Gillman delivered a solid 92, earning 23rd place overall. Junior Mason Diaz also had a strong day, carding a personal-best 95 and tying for 28th. Both players provided much-needed depth as the Redwolves navigated tricky conditions. Junior Robert McDonald and freshman Vinny Skidmore each shot 97, rounding out Clinton’s team total of 364 and tying for 33rd place individually.

With a total that placed them just behind large-school powerhouses like Saline and Adrian, Clinton’s performance stood out as a promising sign — especially considering the team didn’t have its “A-game,” as coaches described. “The team definitely didn’t have their best game with them today. We had a very rough start as hole 16 was the worst place to start a round on the course. And we had an even worse finish as hole 14 was playing as the hardest hole on the course. But all five guys had stretches of great golf in between at times. We did have two kids have personal best rounds today that helped lessen the blow. Seeing Brandon and Mason shoot their PBs today was great”, Coach Ruhl said.

The Redwolves will take all of the lessons learned from the last two events into Tuesday’s LCAA Jamboree at Whiteford Valley GC, where they are coming off a team victory in the first league event.

Battle Creek, MI - It was a day full of grit, resilience, and lessons learned for the Clinton Redwolves Boys Golf team, as they fought through challenging conditions at the difficult Binder Park GC to claim a respectable fifth-place finish at their latest tournament. Competing against strong programs from the westside of the state, the Redwolves finished with a team score of 360, only six strokes behind fourth place powerhouse St. Joseph 2. Clinton had the 3rd best school finish out of 11, as Harper Creek and St. Joseph both had two teams finish in the top four. The Redwolves were the top finishing Division three school in the tournament.

The Redwolves’ performance was highlighted by a mixture of frustration and promise. The team notched an unfortunate amount of 25 "birdogies" — a term humorously coined by senior Chase Gillman to describe a heartbreaking transformation when a birdie opportunity turns into a 3-putt bogey. Despite the mishaps on the greens, the Redwolves proved their resilience.

Leading the way individually for Clinton was freshman Vinny Skidmore, who carded an 87, earning him a 15th-place finish out of 64 competitors. Right behind him was sophomore Brandon Ruhl, who posted an 88 to finish 21st. Junior Robert McDonald also made his presence known, shooting a 92 (highlighted by a birdie on hole 6) and finishing 27th overall. Chase Gillman finished with a 93, securing 28th place. Rounding out Clinton's scoring was Mason Diaz, who posted a 102 and placed 47th.

The course conditions added to the day's difficulty, with swirling winds and fast greens making putting a true test of nerves and precision. Yet Clinton's boys showed they were up for the challenge, staying focused and keeping their competitive edge even when the breaks didn't always go their way.

“This was a tough test for our boys, but it’s exactly the kind of experience that makes us better,” said Clinton’s head coach Matt Ruhl after the event. “I’m proud of the way they stayed positive and fought through adversity. We’ll use this as momentum heading into Monday’s tournament at Tecumseh GC where the greens will be even more difficult than they were today.”

With their steady improvement and strong team chemistry, the Redwolves are poised for an exciting run as they continue their spring season. All eyes now turn to their next competition, where they hope to build on their successes — and maybe turn a few more "birdogies" into actual birdies. Clinton will play in the Tecumseh Invite on Monday and the second LCAA Jamboree of the season on Tuesday at Whiteford Valley.

Hillsdale, MI — Battling fierce 40 mph winds and one of the toughest course layouts in recent memory, the Clinton Redwolves boys golf team stormed to a commanding win in their league season-opening tournament, taking first place at the LCAA Jamboree #1 with a team score of 185.

Freshman Vinny Skidmore led the charge for the Redwolves, posting an impressive round of 42 — the second-best individual score out of a field of 48. Sophomore Brandon Ruhl also came up big, carding a 45 to tie for third place overall.

Adding crucial scores to the team’s total were junior Rob McDonald and senior Chase Gillman, who both shot 49 to finish tied for 12th. Junior Mason Diaz and Senior Mattis Riddle rounded out the Redwolves’ lineup with a 24th and 37th place finish, respectively. Blissfield Sophomore Connor Zimmerman took the top medalist honors with a 41 in his league debut.

Clinton’s dominant team effort gave them an 8-stroke victory over second-place Ida (193), with Onsted (196), Blissfield (199), Hillsdale (204), and Madison (205) trailing behind.

“Our guys showed a lot of mental toughness today,” said head coach Matt Ruhl. “They battled the elements, the wind, and a very uniquely difficult course and setup. They stayed mentally tough, and executed when it mattered. I’m incredibly proud of this team and the way they opened the season.”

The Redwolves' strong showing marks an exciting beginning to their 2025 campaign as they look to build momentum through the rest of the LCAA season.

The Clinton Redwolves Boys Golf team competed in the Ryder Cup Invitational this week, finishing 7th out of 15 teams in a strong field. While the final standing wasn’t quite the result the team had hoped for, the experience offered valuable lessons and highlighted the team’s growth and potential as they move into the heart of the season.

The event featured a unique and mentally demanding format, where the 6-man varsity roster gets split up into three teams of paired up teammates. The 2-man teams then compete in 6 holes of best ball, 6 holes of scramble, and 6 holes of alternate shot. The alternate shot segment proved to be a challenge for many teams, Clinton included. Despite the difficulty, the Redwolves stayed focused and battled through the round with determination.

“This was one of those tournaments that really tests your patience and mental toughness,” said Head Coach Matt Ruhl. “Almost all of the tournaments we compete in are your traditional individual stroke play events. It is you against the course for the most part. Playing as a 2-man team creates its own unique challenges, along with changing formats every six holes. The alternate shot portion was especially tough—not just for us, but for everyone out there. It forces players to think differently and trust their partners in every situation. It is probably the most difficult format in the game of golf.”

Even with the format’s difficulty, the Redwolves had a standout performance in terms of consistency and team depth. Clinton was one of only three teams in the entire field to have all three pairings shoot under 90—a testament to the balance and competitiveness of the lineup. The team was led by the pairing of Senior Chase Gillman and Freshman Vinny Skidmore with an 84 (16th out of 45). Junior Rob McDonald and Senior Mattis Riddle carded a 88 (21st). Sophomore Brandon Ruhl and Junior Mason Diaz rounded out the scoring with a 89 (23rd).

Tecumseh won the Ryder Cup with a team total of 231, followed by Adrian with a 239. Clinton's 261 was good enough for 7th place overall, and 2nd amongst the LCAA teams competing that day.

“That’s something that my kids should be incredibly proud of,” Coach Ruhl added. “To have every group come in with scores in the 80s, on a course and in a format like this, shows how much we’re progressing as a unit. They put in a lot of thought and preparation into the format during the week and really worked hard on getting themselves ready for this format. It’s a sign that our preparation is paying off.”

The Ryder Cup Invitational was held at Wolf Creek, the same course that will host the upcoming Lenawee County Championship in a few weeks. Coach Ruhl emphasized the importance of getting a tournament round under the team’s belt at that venue ahead of the championship.

“Getting familiar with Wolf Creek under tournament conditions is huge. The course is great and the kids really like playing here. We learned a lot today—about the course, our game, and ourselves. We’ll use that knowledge moving forward,” said Coach Ruhl.

The Redwolves will now shift their focus to preparing for the start of the LCAA league season with the first of four league jamborees taking place on Monday in Hillsdale at the Hills of Baw Beese Lake. They will also travel to Battle Creek on Saturday for a non-league invitational at the beautiful Binder Park GC for the annual St. Phillip Invitational.

IDA, MI — The Clinton Redwolves Boys Golf team showed resilience in challenging weather conditions on Friday, securing an 8th-place team finish at the Larry Murdock Ida Invitational. Competing against a strong field of 18 teams, the Redwolves posted a team score of 106 in the Stableford-format tournament.

Junior Rob McDonald led the Redwolves with a solid performance, tallying 34 points (81), which placed him 16th individually out of 107 golfers. Freshman Vinny Skidmore followed closely behind with 32 points (81), earning a tie for 17th. Senior Chase Gillman added 21 points (88), finishing 48th. Brandon Ruhl (SO), Mason Diaz (JR), and Mattis Riddle (SR) each chipped in with 19 points, tying for 55th place overall.

“The team really battled hard considering how cold it was all day. I’m not sure how they were even able to hit the ball in the air at the start. There was ice forming on their golf balls while hitting putts in warmups,” Coach Ruhl said. “Birdies were clearly going to be hard to come by today, so pars became very important. Our seniors, along with Rob, came through in the clutch with a bunch of pars late in the day. Chase and Mattis parred 2 of their last 3 holes, and Rob, 5 of his last 6. It was great to see the whole team contribute and for the older guys to make the difference down the stretch.”

The Redwolves were the only team in the LCAA that had all 6 kids score in double figures on the day. They appear to have depth across their whole lineup.

Clinton edged out league rival Onsted (9th, 95 points) and Blissfield (10th, 93 points). Carlson claimed the team title with 158 points, followed by Tecumseh (151). Grant Simpson (Tecumseh) won the individual title with 52 points, just one point shy of the tournament record of 53 points.

The Redwolves will be back in action this week at the Madison Ryder Cup at Wolf Creek On Friday. 

Ann Arbor, MI — On a brisk 45-degree afternoon at Washtenaw Golf Club, home of the Ann Arbor Greenhills Invitational, the Clinton Redwolves golf team delivered a strong showing, finishing 5th overall with a team score of 360 in a deep and talented field. The team improved by 26 strokes from their team score of 386 in this same event last year. The course always plays tough, but this year the cold, wind, and mud made it a very difficult challenge. But the team responded by grinding out some solid scores during our five and a half hour round today.

The tournament, hosted by Ann Arbor Greenhills, featured multiple powerhouse programs from across Division 3 and beyond. Greenhills claimed the top spot with an impressive team total of 320, followed by Grosse Ile (338) and Ann Arbor Huron (342).

Leading the charge for the Redwolves was sophomore Brandon Ruhl, who posted a steady round of 85 to finish 13th individually. In just his first High School event, Freshman Vinny Skidmore impressed with an 86, placing 15th and showing promise for Clinton’s future. Junior Robert McDonald added a 91, while senior Chase Gillman carded a 98. Junior Mason Diaz rounded out the scoring with a 101. Ruhl, McDonald, and Diaz each carded their first birdies of the year.

Despite finishing just two strokes behind fourth-place Grosse Ile 2 (358), Clinton held their own against some of the top teams in the region, narrowly edging out Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard (361) and Plymouth Christian Academy (363).

The Redwolves, competing out of the LCAA, are showing signs of depth and talented youth across their lineup. With underclassmen making a big impact, Clinton’s outlook for the rest of the season, and beyond, is bright.