DeLong Leads Heading Into Final Round At Michigan Open

HALL FINANCIAL MICHIGAN OPEN: Birdie-Ace-Birdie Stretch Puts Grand Valley State’s Charles DeLong In Front For Final Round

  ROCHESTER HILLS – Charles DeLong of DeWitt received the Jack Nicklaus Award, from Jack Nicklaus himself, as the top player in NCAA Division II golf just last Sunday in Ohio, and this week he is playing, well, dramatically like Jack in trying to win the 106th Hall Financial Michigan Open presented by Make The Turn, Brighton Ford and Coppercraft Distillery.

 The 21-year-old Grand Valley State University golfer offered up some Golden Bear-like dramatics when he made birdie on the par 4 No. 11 hole, a hole-in-one on the par 3 No. 12 hole (9-iron, 167 yards) and then another birdie on the par 4 No. 13 hole for a 3-1-3 stretch to key at 3-under 68 in the third round on the Katke-Cousins Course at Oakland University Golf & Learning Center.

  “The 3-1-3 stretch, that’s a first for me,” he said. “I just had my first hole-in-one last week, so two in two weeks. That was cool. It hit short a few feet and just skipped in.”

  Earlier in the day he finished off the last nine holes in a 6-under 65 in the weather suspended round two. His 11-under 202 total had him just one shot ahead of Joe Juszczyk of Dearborn Heights, the PGA Tour Canada player who shot 69 on the heels of 67 in the second round for 203, 10-under.

   “To be going into the final round with the lead, that’s all you can ask for,” DeLong said. “I played great most of the day but struggled a little bit coming in with my swing. I know what I’m doing and I just need to dial it in on the range. I feel good about my chances.”

  Juszczyk is in the final pairing of the Michigan Open for the second consecutive year.

  “I played so badly in the last round last year I had to qualify again,” he said. “Hoping for more this time. Winning your state Open would be special, and it would get me in the Tournament of Champions every year, too.”

  Tyler Copp of Ann Arbor, a mini-tour player who led after the first round, looms just three shots back at 8-under 205. The 2020 Michigan Amateur champion shot a 70 in the third round.

  Barrett Kelpin of Kalamazoo, the 2012 Michigan Open champion, worked his way into the hunt with a 67 for 7-under 206.

  Two players were at 207; James Holley of Howell, who shot 70, and Zach Sudinsky of Ypsilanti, who shot 69.

  The field will battle early on Thursday. Tee times for the final round have been moved up and Nos. 1 and 10 tees will be used in an effort to beat an afternoon forecast of thunderstorms. The first tee time is 7:40 a.m. and the leaders (DeLong, Juszczyk, Copp) will go off No. 1 at 9:28 a.m.

  DeLong said getting the award last week at The Memorial Tournament from Nicklaus was special.

  “He was super generous with his time after the ceremony,” he said. “He stuck around, answered questions and told stories. It was so cool that a star like that is willing to give up their time and just hang out with you.”

  He said it did give him confidence coming into the Michigan Open.

   “I mean you always play to get the win, but it was a confidence boost for sure,” he said. “I mean, you’re being recognized as the best player in the country for your division. It was cool.”

  DeLong was paired with Juszczyk and Copp in the third round and said the final round should be fun.

  “We were making birdies, so it should be back and forth like today and we will see what happens,” he said.

  Jusczcyk, 36 and a veteran of the mini-tours and the Michigan Open, said he was happy to get another shot in the final pairing of the Michigan Open despite his finish of a par on the par 5 No. 16 hole, a bogey 5 on the No. 17 hole and a par 5 on the No. 18 hole.

  “Not feeling great about finishing with three fives, but I’ve been playing well and I’m feeling good,” he said. “It was a long day, but I feel great about the way I’m putting and hitting the ball overall. Definitely excited for tomorrow.”

SCORES: michiganpga.com or link to Hall Financial Michigan Open Champ – Michigan Open Championship Leaderboard | Michigan PGA (bluegolf.com)

ABOUT HALL FINANCIAL: David Hall started in the mortgage business in 1996 and his passion for the business and his clients has never been stronger. After working for others for over 20 years, David started Hall Financial in 2016 with the core mission to be the most client-focused mortgage company in the industry. Website: callhallfirst.com

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