112th Michigan Am Sweet 16 Set

112TH MICHIGAN AMATEUR:  Sweet 16 Includes Two Oakland Hills Members 

  BLOOMFIELD HILLS – The celebrated Sweet 16 players remaining in the 112th Michigan Amateur Championship presented by Carl’s Golfland includes two members from host Oakland Hills Country Club, Kyle Petrovich of Royal Oak and Scott Strickland of Bloomfield Hills. 

  The pair of members join the usual collection of top Michigan golfers, this time including Michigan Golf Hall of Fame member and past Amateur champion in 55-year-old senior golfer Greg Davies of West Bloomfield, No. 1 seed and stroke play medalist Patrick Deardorff of Clarkston and Eastern Michigan University, a former runner-up in the Amateur, Anthony Sorentino of Rochester, and three Michigan State University golfers in August Meekhof of Eastmanville, Bradley Smithson of Grand Rapids and Spartan-to-be this fall, Lorenzo Pinili of Rochester Hills.   

  Petrovich, a 26-year-old property manager and former Oakland University golfer, was the last man to make the group and is one of two golfers making their first appearance in a Sweet 16. The other, Jared Lyons of Portage, a former Saginaw Valley State University golfer and project manager for an aluminum and plastics company, who is playing in just his second amateur.. 

  Petrovich survived a 22-hole battle with Grand Valley State University golfer Drew Coble of Lake Orion well into the evening, and earlier in the day topped the defending champion, another Grand Valley Laker, Nick Krueger of Spring Lake. 

    “It’s really special to do it and do it here,” he said of Oakland Hills. “I’ve been a member here for a year, but I’ve been playing her for 10-plus years because my parents are members. You know, it’s a privilege to be part of this club and to be in the Sweet 16. It’s awesome.” 

   Strickland, 40 and two-time GAM Mid-Am Champion including last year, rolled into the Sweet 16 a few hours before Petrovich. He rolled past Charlie Green of Ann Arbor 9 and 7, and then beat Colin O’Rourke of Troy and the University of Dayton, 5 and 4. 

  “What’s really cool about Oakland Hills is the history of the tournaments and that the membership loves competitive golf,” he said. “Walking around everybody is into it. They come out and support golf. There are a lot of volunteers giving their time to make sure it goes smoothly. Obviously, we’re blessed with two very good golf courses. I’ve heard nothing but positive things about the North Course and the experience of the players. It’s certainly a source of pride.” 

  Petrovich said Strickland and the other top golfers at Oakland Hills have welcomed him with open arms, competed with him and helped him improve since he was 13 or so. 

  “Me making the Sweet 16 is a tribute to them, guys like Jimmy Chestnut, Ken Hudson, playing with them prepares you for this competition man,” he said. “It really does.” 

   Davies, who won the 2006 Amateur by beating current PGA Tour player Ryan Brehm in the finals, is in the Sweet 16 for the 11th time. 

  “It’s all about one hole at a time, try to hit the fairway, try to hit the green and survive,” he said. “I feel good about being in the Sweet 16. It doesn’t get old. It’s great competition. It’s awesome.” 

  Competition, much of it dramatic, was the order of the day. 

    Sorentino, runner-up in 2018, won his afternoon match in 19 holes with multiple dramatic moments. He was two-down through 16 holes, then won the 17th hole and forced extra holes by holing an 86-yard approach shot on No. 18. Then he won the first extra hole, too. 

  “I’m still alive and I get to play another day at Oakland Hills,” he said. 

  In a battle of close friends and Big Ten rivals, Will Anderson of Portage and the University of Michigan, holed out a 68-yard shot on No. 16 to get past Coalter Smith of Grosse Pointe Farms and the University of Wisconsin. 

   “Tough to have to play a close friend, but happy to be in the Sweet 16,” he said.  

  Deardorff, the top seed, beat Tyler Hausserman of Ionia 5 and 4 in the round of 64, and then in the afternoon fought off Joe Montpas of Flushing, 1-up. 

  Smithson, the 2021 Michigan Open champion, had to go 20 holes to beat Interlochen’s Bryan Haase. 

  The drama continues with the round of 16 and quarterfinals scheduled for Friday and the semifinals and final match slated for Saturday.  

INFORMATION, TEE TIMES, RESULTS: Visit GAM.org 

THE SWEET 16 

CHUCK KOCSIS BRACKET (UPPER) 

Patrick Deardorff, Clarkston, 22, Eastern Michigan University golfer 

Jack Zubkus, Ada, 19, Penn State University golfer 

Jimmy Dales, Northville, 22, University of Wyoming golfer 

Greg Davies, West Bloomfield, 55, Financial advisor 

Bradley Smithson, Grand Rapids, 22, Michigan State University golfer 

Brad Bastion, Shelby Twp., 38, Financial Investment 

Mike Anderson, Northville, 52, Managing director of investments Stifel Co. 

August Meekhof, Eastmanville, 21, Michigan State University golfer 

GLENN JOHNSON BRACKET (LOWER) 

Colin Sikkenga, Kalamazoo, 23, recent Oakland University graduate and golfer 

Lorenzo Pinili, Rochester Hills, 18, incoming Michigan State University golfer 

Will Anderson, Portage, 21, University of Michigan golfer 

Scott Strickland, Bloomfield Hills, 40, Private Wealth Director with Morgan Stanley 

Kyle Petrovich, Royal Oak, 26, Property Manager 

Matthew Zerbel, St. Joseph, 27, Dispatcher at logistics company 

Jared Lyons, Portage, 25, Project Manager for Aluminum and Plastics Company 

Anthony Sorentino, Rochester Hills, 45, Works for Macomb County Prosecutor