Written By: Greg Johnson
BATTLE CREEK – Tommy Preston of Grand Rapids was struggling to find fairways with his tee shots early in the title match of the Michigan Junior Amateur Championship at Bedford Valley Golf Club Thursday, and faced a 2-down deficit to Harris Hoekwater, also of Grand Rapids, through eight holes.
Then things changed – suddenly. He chipped in from 35 feet on No. 9 for a birdie, rolled in a 30-foot putt on No. 10 for a birdie and made a 15-foot putt for another birdie on 11 and had a 1-up lead.
“I was able to recover from some bad tee shots and then just started to make some putts, and when I start to make some, I start to feel confident that they are all going in,” said the 16-year-old Grand Rapids Catholic Central golfer after he closed out the 3 and 2 championship victory. “That was really nice.”
Hoekwater, 17 and a Grand Rapids South Christian golfer, made a birdie on the par 5 No. 13 hole to square the match one more time but then lost 14 to a par when he had tree troubles. Preston then made a six-footer for birdie on 15 and added another birdie on the par 5 16th for the win.
“I feel great,” said Preston. “My game felt pretty good all week, and I just needed to get the putter going, which I was able to do in a lot of the matches, like this one.”
The Grand Rapids twosome beat two other West Michigan area players in the morning semifinals to reach the final. Preston beat Jack Klimek of Ada 3 and 1 and Hoekwater topped Sumner Meekhof of Coopersville 2 and 1.
Preston, who had finished second to earn one of three spots in the U.S. Junior Amateur at a qualifier on June 16 at Pheasant Run Golf Club, is still going to the national championship but as the exempt Michigan Junior Amateur Champion.
Thursday’s championship match was played in a little over two hours as both players were quick to play following a short weather delay.
“I always play fast, and Harris plays pretty fast, too, and I get in my rhythm, and I just start playing faster and hitting good shots,” Preston said. “I just don’t like to think too much about it. I don’t need things to get in my head.”
Preston also matched the accomplishment of his older brother, Will, a Penn State University golfer who won the Michigan Junior Amateur title in 2023.
Hoekwater said he had a good week and felt good about reaching the finals but regretted a few bad holes in the title match.
“I would like a couple of shots back, especially coming down the stretch,” he said. “Tommy chipped one in, made some putts. He played great.”
The 15-and-under Division champion was also crowned. Benjamin Vento of Rochester Hills topped Zane Rueger of Saline 3 and 1 in the title match.
Vento reached the title match with a dramatic 1-up win over Easton Short of Pinckney in the semifinals. The match was tied at 18 when he holed out a gap wedge shot from 79 yards for an eagle and the 1-up win.
Rueger, meanwhile, made the finals with a 3 and 1 win over Watson Mercier of Novi.
In the final match, Vento won three of the last four holes on the front nine to take control. The stretch was highlighted by 40-yard bunker shot to five feet and a resulting birdie on No. 7.
“I mean, it feels pretty cool, honestly,” Vento said after the title match. “I didn’t really know that it was going to happen, and I was trying to get through each match and have a good tournament. I feel good that I hit some great shots and it happened.”
