Suzy Green-Roebuck Wins 2016 Michigan PGA Women’s Open; Makes History

Suzy Green-Roebuck Makes History Winning Third Michigan PGA Women’s Open Championship

THOMPSONVILLE – Suzy Green-Roebuck of Ann Arbor became the first three-time winner of the Michigan PGA Women’s Open Championship with a sizzling 6-under 66 Wednesday on the Mountain Ridge course at Crystal Mountain Resort.

She also became the oldest winner at age 49, and did it with her father, Pete, serving as her caddie. Pete, 75, is a four-time Michigan Amateur champion who at age 56 in 1996 became the oldest winner of that state championship.

“We talked about that coming up 18,” said Green-Roebuck, who played at Ohio State University and on the LPGA Tour and mini-tours before starting a family that includes three children (Lydie, 12, Hank, 11, Pete, 10).

“We come up here and he asks me if I still want him to caddie. That’s the beauty of golf carts being used in this tournament. He can be out there with me, helping me. He knows how to read a green, and it’s great quality time with him just doing the golf thing.”

Green-Roebuck’s 66, the low round of the day, gave her a 9-under 207 for the championship and earned her first-place money of $6,000 out of the $37,000 purse.

Jenny Coleman, a second-year Symetra Tour player from Rolling Hills Estates, Calif., who is headed for the Tullymore Classic this weekend at Tullymore Resort, shot a closing 69 for 210 and second place.

Amy Ihm of Peosta, Iowa, a recent University of Iowa graduate, shot 72 for 214 and third alone in her professional debut.

The second-round leader, Ashley Tait of Littleton, Colo., shot 75 and tied for fourth at 215 with Anna Younjin Kim of Ontario, who shot 74.

Former Michigan State standout Lindsey McPherson of Flushing shot 73 for 216, and first-round leader Lauren Grogan, the former University of Michigan golfer now coaching at Central Michigan, shot 75 for 218.

Michigan State women’s golf coach Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll was the low amateur in the field. She shot 76 for 226 and a tie for 25th.

Green-Roebuck started fast in the final round. She dropped a 40-footer for birdie on No. 1, and followed it up with birdies on Nos. 2, 3, 7 and 9 to shoot 5-under 31 on the front nine and launch into a lead she never relinquished.

She made eight consecutive pars across the back nine, and the birdied the par 5 No. 18 to win and share a big hug with her father.

“I was lucky on the first hole to get that one to drop, but after I made the next two putts it relaxed me,” she said. “The rest of the day I made it easy on myself. I had more birdie chances, and just played solid. My swing was feeling really solid. It got better each day. Where’s a tournament I can play in tomorrow?”

Green-Roebuck, who won her first two Michigan Open titles in 1994 and ’99, said she enters each year thinking she still has a chance despite the youngsters bombing tee shots past her ball.

“This is really icing on the cake,” she said. “It’s fun to challenge myself and put myself out there. I love playing golf with these young ladies who take it so seriously and are so talented. I don’t play much, but I practice some and I feel like I know my game. It feels good to validate it and know it’s still there.

“I look at the list of champions and 1994 looks like 1964, it is so long ago. Seems like three lifetimes ago now. I don’t want to go backwards through life, but sometimes I wish I knew then what I know now.”

Complete results from the first round and pairings for the second round can be found at www.michiganpgagolf.com

via Greg Johnson