HFC Golfer Wins Championship

Jake Kieronski, a first-year member of the HFC golf team, won the Michigan Community College Athletic Association (MCCAA) Individual Championship title at the MCCAA State Tournament in early May.

“I almost started tearing up. I just put so much time and effort into golf,” said Kieronski, of Wyandotte.

Kieronski shot 69 and 70 on the first day to take a 2-stroke lead on the field of 54 golfers. Despite the rainy conditions on the second day, he shot 75, which was enough to win the title and advance to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region XII Golf District Championship, alongside teammates Andrew Piwonski, Ryan Jennings and Hayden Sackey. The Region XII Golf District Championship is May 11-12 at the Bedford Valley Golf Club in Battle Creek, Mich.

“As a golf team, we went from next to last to third place in the conference this season, and now have added a state champion. We have a golf team that is made up of hard workers who really care about the game and education with Jake as the center of that. Jake is a good golfer with great character and wants to win as bad as his coach does,” said HFC Golf Coach Jim Uelmen.

An alumnus of Roosevelt High School in Wyandotte, Kieronski attends HFC on a golf scholarship and plans to graduate in 2016 with an associate degree in Business Administration. He plans to transfer to a four-year college or university to continue playing golf. In addition, Kieronski holds an associate degree in Sports Management from the College of Golf at Keiser University in Port St. Lucie, Fla. His ultimate goal is to coach golf at the college level.

“I want to learn what it takes to be a great coach. I did some research and came across Jim Uelmen. I contacted Coach Uelmen and he presented me with an opportunity of a lifetime. He said the best way to coach college golf is to play college golf. I now crave knowledge on and off the course. I couldn't have a better mentor or friend,” said Kieronski.

To learn more about HFC Athletics, please visit https://athletics.hfcc.edu/.