The 98th Michigan Open, starting Monday at Preswick Village Golf Club, will feature 156 of Michigan’s top golfers. In the field are ten former Michigan Open Champions, including three newly inducted Michigan Golf Hall of Fame Members: Six time winner Scott Hebert of Traverse City Golf and Country Club, Dave Kendall of the Kendall Academy and amateur Greg Davies.
The Michigan Open was first played in 1916 and won by Leo Diegel at age 17. Diegel, who was born in Wayne County, was a two-time winner of the PGA Championship. He also played in the inaugural Ryder Cup and Masters Tournaments. Walter Hagen won the title in 1921.
Other notable winners of the Michigan Open’s James Standish Trophy include Chuck Kocsis, Al Watrous, Dave Hill, Horton Smith and Mike Souchak. Noted amateur George Von Elm was the champion in 1928. Von Elm won the US Amateur in 1926 when it was considered a Major, famously battling Bobby Jones in a year when Jones had won both the US and British Opens.
The 98th Michigan Open is presented by LaFontaine Cadillac. It will run Monday, June 8 through Thursday June 11.
Other top players include:
- 2013 champion and amateur Tom Werkmeister of Kentwood,
- Five-time champion Randy Erskine of Lake Orion
- Three-time champion Steve Brady of Oakland Hills Country Club
- Two-time champion Bob Ackerman of Bob Ackerman Golf
- Former champion Barry Redmond of Boyne Resorts
- Former champion Tim Matthews of Scotts, Mich.
- Former Champion Randy Hutchinson of Traverse City
- Former Champion Andy Ruthkoski of Muskegon
- Barrett Kelpin of Kalamazoo, who tied the 23-under all-time tournament scoring record of Chick Harbert in winning in 2012
- Mount Pleasant’s Doug LaBelle, who in recent years has been a regular on the PGA Tour. He played in a sectional qualifying event to make the field.
- Brian Cairns of Fox Hills Learning Center in Plymouth
- Lee Houtteman of Manitou Passage in Cedar,
- Matt Pesta of Lincoln Hills in Birmingham,
- on Beurmann of Country Club of Jackson
- Thomas Harding of Kendall Golf Academy
- Pretwick host professional Brent Goulding.
Sponsoring LaFontaine Cadillac is one of 22 LaFontaine Automotive Group franchises in 16 locations across southeast Michigan, and for the second consecutive year will present the Michigan Open champion with a one-year lease on a new Cadillac. This year’s winner will drive away in a 2015 SRX.
Located just north of Milford in Highland Township on 426 acres of natural, rolling terrain amid a family-focused community, Prestwick was designed by architect Ron Garl.
Play starts Monday at 8 a.m. The field will play 72-holes with a cut after 36-holes to the low 70 scorers and ties. The public is welcome free of charge.
Visit www.michiganpgagolf.com for more information.
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