Peterson fired a 2-under-par 34 on the front nine, then overcame bogeys on Nos. 15 and 16 to shoot 37 on the back nine at the Escanaba Country Club.

“I played very well on the front nine, then I struggled a little in back,” said Peterson, who’s headed to Michigan State University this fall. “Playing aggressive in the front helped a lot, then I played a little too conservative in back.

“I felt a little more pressure coming in as defending U.P. champion, but just played my game. I figured if I won, fine. If I didn’t win, it wasn’t the end of the world. I won’t be playing golf in college. I just plan to keep playing it for fun.”

Houghton was crowned team champion for the first time in three years with 321, followed by Marquette just two strokes back at 323 and two-time defending champ Esky two more behind with 325.

The Marquette boys were runners-up at the MHSAA Upper Peninsula Division 1 golf finals held at the Escanaba Country Club on Wednesday. From left are Joseph Luke, Tyler Bergwall, Jordan Jurmu, Karsten Kamps, Ethan Sellers and head coach Ben Smith. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)

The marked the fifth title in eight years for the Gremlins, who won the three previous years and in 2012.

“We had a real solid day,” Houghton coach Corey Markham said. “Our No. 1 golfer had a real solid round and other guys lowered their scores. This was our best score of the season and we couldn’t ask for a better day for it. The day started calm, then the wind picked up about halfway through the tournament. The back nine was real wet, but the kids battled through it and had a great round.”

Houghton junior Jiseung Choi earned runner-up medalist honors with 74, followed by Marquette sophomore Joe Luke and Esky senior Nathan Rousseau, each with 78s, and Iron Mountain’s Ricky Brown with 79.

The Redmen’s Tyler Bergwall and Ethan Sellers just missed the top five after each shot 80.

“My approach shots were a challenge with the wind,” Choi said. “The wind carried the ball a little, but I just tried to keep myself focused. It feels great to win as a team. It’s really fun.”

These are the top four individual finishers at the MHSAA Upper Peninsula Division 1 boys golf finals held at the Escanaba Country Club on Wednesday. From left are Joseph Luke of Marquette, Nathan Rousseau of Escanaba, Jiseung Choi of Houghton, and Rudy Peterson of Glaadstone. Peterson was medalist while Houghton won the team title. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)

Marquette and Esky also recorded season-best scores on this sunny and windy afternoon.

“We knew the number would have to be around 320, but we couldn’t quite get there,” Marquette coach Ben Smith said. “Houghton shot a real good score and Escanaba was right there.

“It took a few tournaments to get into a groove, then we won five in a row coming in here. The three seniors we’re losing have been real solid the last four years and our sophomore shot a real solid round today.”

Esky assistant coach Jake Berlinski was pleased with the leadership provided by Rousseau.

“Nathan had an outstanding year and career,” he said. “Kids like him just don’t come around all the time. He’s a golf fanatic. We’re going to miss him.

“We return the other four. Hopefully, third place will motivate them. The way Brian (Robinette) coaches is second to none. We’ll be back next year.”

Gladstone placed fifth at 363, Negaunee was eighth with 390, Westwood 10th with 402 and Manistique and Ironwood shared 11th with 409. L’Anse didn’t field a full team.

Individually, Keegan Erva paced the Miners with 88, Tyler Annala led the Patriots with 89, Alex Oas had 96 for Manistique and Carter Koskinen paced the Purple Hornets with 91.

“Rudy was actually 2-under-par, then he bogied those two holes,” Gladstone coach Dane Quigley said. “The wind was swirling out there, which made things a little challenging. Our team score was a little high. We struggled a little.”