EAST LANSING, MI-Eric Dovre of Royal Oak is not easily intimidated. The 27-year-old 1st Assistant at Detroit Golf Club followed his first round 66 with a solid 68 to retain the lead at the Michigan PGA Professional Championship. Lurking 2 shots behind is 4-time Michigan PGA champion Scott Hebert who matched Dovre’s 68.
“I’m having the time of my life,” Dovre said. What may have helped is that he didn’t know what Hebert was shooting five groups in front of him. “I wasn’t aware (of Hebert’s scores), I don’t know if that helped or hurt but it kept me in my own game and let me stay focused on the task at hand.”
That task is to continue to separate himself from the rest of the field. The next closest competitor is Brian Cairns from Fox Hills Golf & Learning Center, whose 5-under 67 Tuesday vaulted him into third place, three strokes ahead of a group in fourth position.
Hebert described his 4-under 68 as “one of my best rounds ever on Hawk Hollow.” “But I’m chipping so poorly they should take my PGA card away.” His round was a mix of 1- eagle, 5- birdies and 1- bogey. “I’ll be ok if I can clean up my bogeys” which he attributes to lack of practice and a busy schedule as Head Professional at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa.
Dovre continues to succeed despite a “loose” driver. He has hit four provisional drives in the first two rounds and has found all four of his original shots. “I’ve never been a front-runner before. “I’ve been in the group in front of (Hebert) or the group behind him but I’ve never been paired with him. It will be kind of fun.”
Hebert likes his chances in Wednesdays final round as long as he is in position to pounce by the 13th hole. As for Dovre he says “I want to go out and win but there’s still so much you can learn from watching a guy with Hebert’s experience.”
The Michigan PGA Professional Champion is a tournament within a tournament. The top 11 finishers qualify for the PGA Professional National Championship held June 24-27, 2012 at Bayonet and Black Horse, Seaside, CA. In addition to the 11 qualifiers, Brian Cairns, Dan Olsen, Scott Hebert and John Traub are exempt.
162 PGA Professionals started the tournament. The cut was made at 152 with 73 players staying for Wednesday’s final round at Eagle Eye. There is a $48,000 purse. Live scoring is at www.michigan.pga.com. The public is welcome to attend. There is free parking and no admission charge.
