92nd Michigan Open Begins June 11
Orchard Lake, MI: The 92nd playing of the Michigan Open Championship, presented by Lincoln Mercury will be played June 8th thru 11th at the Orchard Lake Country Club. The purse is $70,000.
The 2009 event represents many changes as the game of golf continues to expand in Michigan. Defending Champion, Tom Gillis of Indianwood Golf Club will not defend his championship because he is playing on the Nationwide Tour. Gillis was the last player to win the Michigan Open at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa where the tournament was played for the past 28 years.
6-time Michigan Open champion, Scott Hebert, Head Professional at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa will be attempting to win an unprecedented 7th victory. Hebert dropped out of last year?s tournament to be with his wife as she delivered their second child. He went on to win the PGA Professional National and Michigan PGA Championships.
Andy Matthews of Grand Rapids and a current Canadian Tour player is also in the field. Matthews is having a good start to 2009. He was runner up in the Mexico PGA Championship and won a Moonlight Tour event in Florida this winter.
2 High School players have qualified to play this year. Blake English, an 18 year old senior at Charlotte High School and Patrick Colburn, a 16 year old sophomore at Traverse City St. Francis. English will play his college golf at Miami of Ohio. English has had a decorated amateur career winning the 2008 Michigan Junior Amateur Championship. He is also the three-time defending Michigan PGA Section Junior Champion. English is playing in the MHSAA State Finals the week before the Michigan Open. Colburn?s St. Francis team won the MHSAA Division 4 championship last year. They will be defending their title this week.
On the other end of the age spectrum is Larry Mancour, a 74-year old Master Professional and former Michigan PGA Champion from Conway, Michigan who will be among the field of 156 golfers.
The field is currently set at 153 golfers. 40 or so players will be playing for the last 3 spots on Saturday, June 6th at The Orchards Golf Club in Rochester Hills, Michigan. That qualifier is open to players who have already attempted to qualify this year.
The public is invited to watch. There is no charge for entry or parking. Live scoring is available at www.michigan.pga.com and the golf page at www.michigan.org.
Contacts: Tim Hygh at [email protected] and 517.582.3214 or Tim Czelada at [email protected] or 517.641.7421.
