Nikhita Chanchali shot a personal-best 87 to lead Stoney Creek's girls varsity golf team to a fifth-place finish at the MHSAA Region 5 tournament Wednesday, Oct. 7, according to the school’s regional report.

The Cougars posted a team score of 364, compiled from the best four of five individual rounds, at Twin Lakes Golf and Swim Club in Oakland Township, where Stoney Creek served as host.

Chanchali's 87 tied her for 11th in the regional field, a four-stroke improvement over the 91 she carded at the Adams Invitational in August. Megan Sypniewski followed at 89, tying for 16th individually. Magaly Morales shot 92 to tie for 18th, Sophie Ruddy posted 96 and Elise Lommen rounded out the lineup at 108.

The finish left Stoney Creek 10 strokes outside the top-three qualifying cut for the Division 1 state finals. Utica Eisenhower held the third and final qualifying spot at 354.

Macomb Dakota won the regional crown at 314, the first regional title in Dakota girls golf history, according to the Macomb Daily. Romeo finished second at 353. Oxford (361) and Lake Orion (365) joined Stoney Creek just outside the cut.

Eisenhower qualified for the state finals for the first time since 2020. Coach Douglass Hartley told the Macomb Daily his team set qualifying as a goal after keeping freshmen on varsity three years ago and working up from a 10th-place regional finish.

Three individual golfers from non-qualifying teams also earned state-finals berths: Utica freshman Victoria McCulloch, who led the entire field with a 73, Oxford junior Avery Yankee (85) and Lake Orion senior Ava Pawlosky (85), according to the Oakland Press. No Stoney Creek golfer qualified individually.

At the Jim Sanders Invitational at Prestwick Village earlier this season, the team placed second with a 362 behind South Lyon. Sypniewski earned a fourth-place individual medal at that event with an 83, and Morales took 10th.

The Division 1 state finals are set for Oct. 16-17 at Bedford Valley Golf Course north of Battle Creek.