Bark River-Harris’ Ava McDonough tees off on No. 17 at the MHSAA Upper Peninsula Finals in Division 2 girls golf on Wednesday at Young’s Golf Course in Crystal Falls. (Photo courtesy Jason Juno)

CRYSTAL FALLS — Bark River-Harris went home from last year’s MHSAA Upper Peninsula Finals in Division 2 girls golf with some hardware. Just not the kind the Broncos wanted.

After finishing third in 2022, they improved a spot for the runner-up trophy at the 2023 championship tournament, while Ava McDonough also took home an individual second-place finish.

This year at Young’s Golf Course, the Broncos won the team title and McDonough the medalist honor.

“It’s pretty great. We’ve been working for it for three years now, and it feels really good to finally accomplish it,” she said. “Last year we got second. I got second individually.

“I mean second’s good, but first is better.”

It was the Broncos’ first U.P. title since claiming back-to-back Division 3 championships in 2014 and 2015. Shooting 439 for its top four players, BR-H finished a dozen strokes fewer than runner-up West Iron County’s 451. Norway was third with 468, Stephenson fourth with 470 and Munising fifth, totaling 471. Newberry was also at the finals, but didn’t have enough players to post a team score.

“It’s amazing,” Broncos coach Matt Sly said about his team’s title. “I’ve been with these girls now, this is our third year. We took third three years ago, second last year. They worked really hard this year, and they were able to do it.”

McDonough carded a 101 to earn the medalist honor.

“My drives were pretty good, and my chipping I did good,” she said. “My putting was not very good.”

Sly said she’s been playing well this entire season.

“She’s just an all-around good player,” he said. “She’s good off the tee, she has a good short game and she was able to put it all together today.”

McDonough finished just one stroke ahead of teammate Ella Boney, who was runner-up with a 102.

Munising’s Jailen Hancock and WIC’s Addison Franzene both carded 105 to tie for third. The Wykons’ Kya Dallavalle finished fifth with 108.

Also breaking into the top 10 — in 10th — was the Mustangs’ Jolie Ake with 114. Newberry was led by Addison Schroeder with 122.

Jason Juno is the sports editor of the Ironwood Globe. This report was submitted for the Michigan High School Athletic Association website at mhsaa.com.