Michigan Amateur Sweet 16 Set

MICHIGAN AMATEUR: Shea Harmeson Pulls Upset, Makes “Sweet 16”

  HARBOR SPRINGS – Shea Harmeson of Traverse City, a Saginaw Valley State University golfer, knocked off the top seed, and the prestigious “Sweet 16” was established in the 113th Michigan Amateur Championship presented by Carl’s Golfland on The Heather course at The Highlands at Harbor Springs Wednesday.

  Harmeson, who was a second-team All-GLIAC selection for the SVSU golf team, beat stroke play medalist and No. 1 seed Scott Strickland of Bloomfield Hills 2-up in the afternoon round of 32. In the morning round of 64 he topped Jeffrey Andrus of Clawson 3 and 1.

  He moved on to the “Sweet 16” in just his second Michigan Amateur appearance. He missed the cut into match play a year ago in his first appearance.

  “I mean, going off last year, I just wanted make the cut this year,” he said. “And then once you do that you just try to take it as far as you can.”

  Strickland, a 41-year-old senior vice-president for Morgan Stanley, said he and Harmeson had a back-and-forth match that turned at No. 17.

  “I hit a bad shot and he hit an unbelievable shot from the fairway bunker at 17,” he said. “I mean, he’s a very good player. He’s got a great golf game and we had a lot of fun. I think we both played well and would have beaten a lot of other guys out there this afternoon. I hope he keeps it going.”

 Harmeson, who won the Ferris State University Invitational during his collegiate season, was excited when he realized he was matching up with Strickland in the afternoon.

  “I knew it wouldn’t be easy by any means, and it was a fun match, back-and-forth,” he said. “It’s exciting to be moving on. It’s always good to beat someone who’s ranked better than you.”

  Harmeson will meet another Traverse City area golfer Thursday morning in the “Sweet 16.” Brian Hasse, a 40-year-old caddie from Interlochen who winters in Jupiter, Fla.

  As usual, the “Sweet 16” covered a cross-section of amateur golfers of various ages, including eight collegiate golfers, two high school players, a business owner, salesman, broker and others.

  The oldest golfer in the “Sweet 16” is 52-year-old Jeff Champine of Rochester Hills, the owner of Unicas Air, and the youngest is 15-year-old J.P. Levan, an East Grand Rapids High School golfer.

  Levan is playing in his first Michigan Amateur after making the field as an alternate from his qualifier, and he rolled in an 18-foot par putt on hole 18 to hold off David Szymanski of East Lansing 1-up in the round of 32. He beat Andrew Tindall of Chelsea 3 and 1 in the morning round of 64.

  “I’m pretty proud and just happy to be here,” Levan said. “I made some good putts, hit a lot of good shots. It’s fun out there.”

  Champine is in the “Sweet 16” for the fourth time after he beat Michael Fenech of Macomb 1-up in the round of 32, and in the round of 64 topped Scott Oudsema of Ann Arbor 1-up.

  “How about that at 52?” he said. “It was fun out there. The farthest I’ve ever gone is the quarterfinals. Trying to see how far I can go once again.”

“Sweet 16” Bracket

Chuck Kocsis Bracket (Upper)

Shea Harmeson, 19, Traverse City, Golfer at Saginaw Valley State University

Bryan Haase, 40, Interlochen, Caddy

Jimmy Dales, 23, Northville, Golfer at University of Wyoming

Drew Coble, 23, Lake Orion, Golfer at Grand Valley State University

Adam Burghardt, 21, Clinton Township, Golfer at Wayne State University

Nicholas Hodge, 46, Kalkaska, Freight Account Manager

Drew Miller, 18, East Lansing, Incoming Freshman at Michigan State University

Jack Zubkus, 20, Ada, Golfer at Penn State University

Glenn Johnson (Lower)

McCoy Biagioli,18, White Lake, Golfer at Ferris State University

Caleb Bond, 20, Williamston, Golfer at Michigan State University

Evan Johnson, 22, Grosse Ile, Golfer at Northwood University

Thomas Sullivan, 22, Grosse Pointe, Recent MSU Graduate in Finance

Jeff Champine, 52, Rochester Hills, Owner of Unicus Air

Chet VandenBerg, 35, Portage, Agriculture Sales

Matt Zerbel, 29, Saint Joseph, Produce Broker

JP Levan, 15, Grand Rapids, Golfer at East Grand Rapids High School

BRACKETS, INFORMATION: Visit GAM.org