Bronkema Leads After Three Rounds At Michigan Open

Back Nine Birdie Binge Gives Wayland’s Jeff Bronkema Lead in 99th Michigan Open

HIGHLAND TOWNSHIP – Jeff Bronkema of Wayland made five consecutive birdies on the back nine in a 6-under 66 at Prestwick Village Wednesday to take the lead heading into the final round of the 99th Michigan Open Championship presented by LaFontaine Automotive Group.

“I scraped it around the front and couldn’t get anything going and then something clicked and I hit it to six-feet on 13, inside three feet on 14 and 15, made a 40-footer downhill for birdie on 16 and about a 20-footer for birdie on 17,” said the 27-year-old Plainwell native and mini-tour professional who finished second to Jeff Cuzzort in last year’s Michigan Open.

“I’m excited to get going tomorrow and finish one spot higher.”

Bronkema’s 66 gave him a 10-under 206 total with amateur and 2013 champion Tom Werkmeister of Grand Rapids two shots back at 208 and standing second after a 69.

Wes Gates, a mini-tour golfer out of Novi, matched the 66 of Bronkema for 209. He was tied with 2007 champion Andy Ruthkoski of Muskegon, who shot 71.

Dearborn amateur Evan Bowser of Dearborn, who shot 71, Okemos mini-tour player Eric Lilleboe, who shot 71, and Ada mini-tour player Drew Preston, who shot 72, made up the group at 210, four shots off the lead.

Cuzzort, the defending champion from Grosse Ile, shot 72 and checked in at 211 with Battle Creek native and Royal Oak resident Matt Thompson, who shot 73.

At stake in Thursday’s final round is the winner’s $8,000 share of a $54,500 purse. In addition, for the third consecutive year sponsoring LaFontaine will present the winner with a lease on a new Cadillac.

Bronkema said his golf game has become more consistent over the last year. He won five times on Florida’s Minor League Tour of one and two-day events over the winter.

“I got married last July, maybe the ring has something to do with it,” he said and laughed. “I feel like I’ve been playing really well all week, just haven’t made any putts until today. I’m confident with my swing. I get the putter going tomorrow and I will be just fine.”

Werkmeister, who in 2013 was the first amateur to win the Michigan Open since 1975, will be in the final group of a Michigan Open for the fourth time.

“I don’t know if that helps or not,” he said. “These (mini-tour) guys play every day and bomb it 50 yards past me. I’ll just play my game. Today I kind of scraped it around with smoke and mirrors, but I took advantage of the birdie situations.”

Werkmeister broke his arm seven months ago in an accidental fall at home, and said he feels some pain with each shot.

“It doesn’t really have an effect on the shot though,” he said. “I will ice it and I will be fine. It’s not bothering my swing really.”

Gates, a 2013 graduate of Bowling Green State University, said he had a stress free 66 to jump into the mix.

“I really just didn’t make mistakes,” he said. “The course was softer because of the rain, and I made some putts I should make and a couple I shouldn’t.”

The 25-year-old golfer who has a best finish of 12th in four previous Michigan Opens said his goal for the final round was to simply play well. He has been in the heat recently, falling in a playoff in a mini-tour event in Ontario two weeks ago.

“What I’m going to shoot is what I’m going to shoot, I just hope it falls in place,” Gates said. “I’ve worked hard to be in positions like this. I don’t work hard to finish 30th. I work hard to have a chance to win.”

vis Greg Johnson