FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
Hebert Builds Big Lead in Michigan PGA Professional Championship
at Oakland U.
ROCHESTER – Scott Hebert remembers losing a four-shot lead in two holes and
ending up in a playoff once, so he is taking nothing for granted.
“I’m
going to keep trying to do the same thing I’ve been doing,” said the Grand
Traverse Resort and Spa head golf professional who is making the Michigan PGA
Professional Championship at Oakland University look a lot like something
everybody can take for granted.
Hebert
shot a 7-under 65 on the Katke course Tuesday to go with his record-setting 61
from Monday and his two-day 18-under 126 total gave him an eight-shot lead on
Matt Pesta of Lincoln Hills Golf Club in Birmingham, who also shot 65 for his
134 total.
“I’m
going to play the shot that is in front of me and try to stay clean like I have
been,” Hebert said of Wednesday’s final round on the Sharf course in the
54-hole $53,800 state championship for Michigan PGA Section members. “Bogey
free, it’s the easy way to shoot under par.”
While
everybody watches to see how low Hebert can go, the real drama for Wednesday
shifts to who fills out the nine spots that qualify for the PGA Professional
National Championship later this summer.
Hebert
and Pesta are exempt for the national championship because Hebert won the 2008
national title and Pesta was a top 20-finisher in the national championship
last year. In addition to earning his spot in the national event again, Pesta
also played with the world’s best golfers in the recent PGA Championship at
Valhalla based on that finish.
“You
can only control what you can do and keep trying to put birdies on the card,”
Pesta said. “Obviously Scott has a huge lead and with the reputation he has as
a player, I’m not going to expect him to back up. Unless I can shoot 58 or
something I don’t think he is going to be caught, but I’m still going to play
hard and you never know what can happen. Second place isn’t terrible either.”
Kyle
Martin, the head pro at Lochmoor Club in Grosse Pointe Woods, shot a second
consecutive 69 for 138, and leads the race for the nine who will advance to the
national tournament.
George
Bowman of Oakhurst Golf & Country Club in Clarkston shot 73 for 139 and
fourth place, and three golfers were at 141 – Ian Ziska of Katke Golf Course at
Ferris State University in Big Rapids, who shot 69, Heath Scott of Tullymore
Golf Club in Stanwood, who shot 72, and Rob Lussenhop of Bay Mills Resort and
Wild Bluff Golf Course in Brimley, who fired a 66.
Al Kuhn
of Fountains Golf & Banquet in suburban Detroit was alone in eighth place
after a 70 for 142, and rounding out the top 10 was defending champion Brian
Cairns of Fox Hills Learning Center in Plymouth, who shot 73 for 143, and Denis
Husse of Tyrone Hills Golf Course near Fenton, who shot 75 for 143.
There
were 10 more golfers bunched at 145.
Meanwhile,
it was a day for marveling at the performance of Hebert, who has won six
Michigan PGA Professional titles and six Michigan Open titles.
“Scott
on his game is at another level, and I think of him as a touring pro, he’s that
good,” Pesta said. “I mean he shot 18-under for two days. I don’t think anybody
in our section has ever done that before.”
Hebert, who has birdied half the holes he has played through two rounds, is
using the AimPoint Express Read method for reading greens that he learned from
Hawk Hollow Golf Club instructor Ben Bockin of Lansing earlier this year.
“I’m
putting well, seeing them well and at the same time controlling my ball,” Hebert
said. “It’s a fun time. I like AimPoint. If you haven’t looked into it, it
stops you from getting fooled.”
Live scoring and tee times are available at www.michiganpgagolf.com. Gallery is welcome.
Parking and admission are free. More information on the golf courses is
available at www.oakland.edu.
***
The
Michigan PGA Professional Championship is presented by Club Car, Mercedes-Benz
and OMEGA with supporting sponsors Titleist/Footjoy, Nike Golf,
TaylorMade-adidas, Ashworth Golf and the PGA Tour. Justin Phillips of the
Michigan PGA is the tournament director. He can be reached at 517-641-7421 or [email protected]. The
media contact for the event is Greg Johnson. He can be reached at 616-560-8995
or [email protected].
ATTACHED:
Scoring results, and a photo of leader Scott Hebert in action Tuesday during
the second round.
