HEBERT ON VERGE OF 4TH CONSECUTIVE MICHIGAN PGA CHAMPIONSHIP?
3 Time Defending Champion Has Second Round Lead
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EAST LANSING ? Scott Hebert of Traverse City, shot a second-round 3-under-par 69 Tuesday to expand his lead to five strokes in the 54-hole, $55,000 Michigan PGA Championship.? Hebert, 40, is attempting to win this championship for the fourth consecutive year, and was just one of two players to break par on a windy day at Hawk Hollow Golf Course. Hebert?s 66-69?135 total leaves him at 9-under par for the championship.
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?Today was kind of funny. I was just kind of hitting it around. I missed a lot of short putts and made a lot of long ones.? said Hebert, the Head Golf Professional at Grand Traverse Resort & Spa. ?I do have a lot of ball control right now. Maybe it?s a carry over from my preparation for the national PGA Championship.? ?After playing the Hawk Hollow Golf Course today, Hebert is looking forward to playing Eagle Eye in Wednesday?s final round where he opened with a 66. ???
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That?s not the best news for the rest of the field. Hebert has not lost this championship since it moved here in 2005. He has the five-shot lead over Lee Houteman who teaches at the Jim McLean Golf School located at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa. Houteman shot even par 72 Tuesday to go with is opening round 68.
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Three players are tied for third at 3-under par 141 including Dave Kendall of Kendall Golf Academy, Jeff Gniewek of Knollwood Country Club and Mark Gurnow of Forest Dunes Golf Club.
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This championship also designates who will represent Michigan at the PGA Professional National Championship. Twelve players will qualify based on their finish in this tournament. Hebert and John Traub are exempt because they are past champions of that event.
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Rain is in the forecast for tomorrow, but despite the weather Hebert is looking to get off to a good start tomorrow.? ?Seven of the holes on the front nine present birdie opportunities,? he said. ?But I won?t know how aggressive I?ll have to be until the back nine?
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79 of the 170-golfers in the field made the cut at 10-over par 154. The winner?s share of the $55,000 is $7,000. The event is open to the public. Hole-by-hole scores and results may be viewed on www.michigan.pga.com and www.michigan.org.
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