HEBERT WINS 4TH CONSECUTIVE MICHIGAN PGA CHAMPIONSHIP?
Sets Course Record at Eagle Eye in Final Round
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EAST LANSING ? Scott Hebert of Traverse City, shot a final-round 8-under-par 64 Wednesday to win his fourth consecutive Michigan PGA Championship. The 40-year old professional at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa coasted to a 13-shot victory at the 54-hole, $55,000 event. Hebert is the only golfer to win this event four consecutive times since it?s inception in 1922. His four championships tie him with Lynn Janson on the all time victory list. Legendary golfers Chick Harbert (six times) and Al Watrous (nine times) are the only players with more.
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Hebert entered the final round with a 5-shot lead which afforded him the luxury of not having to start out aggressively or with a knot in his stomach. ?I didn?t get nervous. It was a different kind of day.? I only missed two fairways and hit first off the tee most of the day. I always seem to hit it well when I?m hitting first.? Hebert shot 2-under on the front nine. His mind-set changed on the back nine where he put together a string of ?4-birdies on the way to a 6-under 30. His 64 set a new competitive course record at Eagle Eye. ?Towards the end I started shooting for pins. After 13 I really decided to pour it on.?
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Play was delayed for two hours Wednesday morning after a driving rain. Hebert admitted the course played longer due to the moist fairways but not enough to effect his game. ?I hit it pretty long so the conditions didn?t effect me as much as the other players?
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Jeff Gniewek of Knollwood Country Club shot a final round 71 to finish second at 212. Dave Kendall of Kendal Academy of Golf and Joe Pollack from Boulder Creek Golf Club tied for third at 215.
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This championship also designates who will represent Michigan at the PGA Professional National Championship next year at French Lick Resort in Indiana. Hebert, Gniewek, Kendall, Pollack, Brad Dean, John Pershern, John Traub, Sean Winters, Mark Gurnow, Tom Harding, Frank McAuliffe, Kevin Muir, Matt Zavadil and Ian Ziska all qualified. The top 20-finishers of that event qualify for the PGA Championship.
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Hebert has won this championship every year since it moved to Eagle Eye and Hawk Hollow in 2005. ?I?ll look back in a few years and say that was pretty tough to do. But I won?t do that now and I won?t go back to Q-school.? ?Hebert won $7,000 for the victory.
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