John Seltzer Leads First Round of 2016 Michigan PGA

Blythefield’s John Seltzer Feels It, Sets Pace in Michigan PGA Professional Championship

ADA TOWNSHIP – John Seltzer, the head golf professional at Blythefield Country Club in nearby Belmont, fired a 6-under 66 to lead through the first round of the 95th Michigan PGA Professional Championship Monday on the Ridge Course at Egypt Valley Country Club.

“I think I’ve learned how to get the most out of my game without playing a lot of competitive golf,” said Seltzer, who last week was busy at Blythefield with the annual Blue Blazer event. “I played 27 holes (Sunday) to try and get the feel back, and the feel was back a little bit today. I hit it well.”

He had a one-shot led on two golfers named Kyle at 67 – Kyle Holmes, the head pro from nearby Quail Ridge Golf Club and Kyle Martin, and assistant at The Lochmoor Club of Grosse Pointe Woods, a native of the Grand Rapids area and member at Egypt Valley while growing up.

Mark Zelazny, an assistant pro at Dearborn Country Club, was next at 68, and the five golfers at 69 included seven-time champion Scott Hebert of Traverse City Golf and Country Club, three-time champion Brian Cairns of Fox Hills Learning Center in Plymouth and 2004 champion Joe Pollack of Yamaha Golf Carts Plus in Plainwell.  Also at 69 were Steven Vecellio of Birmingham Country Club and John Pershern, the head pro at The Lochmoor Club.

Defending champion Dan Urban, the head pro at Gull Lake Country Club, shot 75.

The field of 119 plays another 18 holes Tuesday in the 54-hole, three-day, $55,000 championship, only round two is on the Valley Course. A cut to the low 60 and ties follows the second round, and the final round Wednesday will be on the Tournament Course that is made up of the two back nines of the Ridge and Valley.

Seltzer, whose Michigan Golf Hall of Fame father Jack (King Par Superstore, Flushing) is also playing in the field, said his 66 could have been even better.

“I left about three (birdies) out there that I could have made, but 66 is a great start,” he said. “I also saved a few pars, so I’m good with 66. I hit a lot of quality iron and wedge shots in, and made some putts.”

Holmes, 29 and the head pro at Quail Ridge for three years, said he didn’t really come with a game plan and surprised himself.

“I just wanted to hit good shots,” he said. “I’ve been progressively feeling better about my game. I just don’t play at lot. So for me, it was making putts and not making big mistakes. I didn’t make any mistakes. I birdied one and two and the nerves went away and I replaced them with good shots and good swings.”

Martin said he knew the course conditions softened by recent rain when mean good scores.

“I knew it was time to go low,” he said. “I had no bogeys on the card, so it was a good day – solid.”

Martin, 32, said he is very comfortable at Egypt Valley where he essentially learned the game.

“I know both courses well, know all the swales and where not to hit it,” he said. “I expect to play well here, but I still have to go out and do it.”

RESULTS: Complete scores and pairings can be found at www.michiganpgagolf.com

via: Greg Johnson