Weatherhead, Hrynewich, Mancinelli and Lewis Are Final Four In Michigan Amateur
BATH – A Michigan State golfer, a University of Michigan golfer, a Grand Valley State golfer and a former Hope College golfer make up a young and strong final four in the 105th Michigan Amateur Championship presented by Carl’s Golfland at Eagle Eye Golf Club.
Sam Weatherhead, the Spartan from Grand Rapids, will meet Reed Hrynewich, the Wolverine from Muskegon, in one semifinal Saturday morning, and Laker Domenic Mancinelli of Northville takes on former Flying Dutchman Ben Lewis of Holland in the other semifinal. Each of them won two matches Friday to advance.
Lewis, 23, a 2015 graduate of Hope now working as a caddie at Wuskowhan Players Club near Holland and contemplating the possibility of playing professional golf, has been the giant killer of the tournament by taking out three former champions.
He topped 2001 champion Andy Matthews of Ada 1-up with a birdie on the par 5 No. 18 hole in the afternoon quarterfinal, after topping 2006 champion Greg Davies of West Bloomfield 2 and 1 in the round of 16. He started match play on Wednesday with a first-round win over Randy Lewis, a two-time champion who like Davies is in the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame.
“I don’t know about (giant killer),” Lewis said. “I did realize they were all former champions, and also great guys to play with. That made it all the more enjoyable to play with them and play against them.”
Lewis and Matthews played a close match throughout and at 18 Lewis had 276 yards remaining after hitting his drive.
“Evan (Telzerow, his caddie from Grand Rapids) asked me what the disadvantage was if I didn’t go for it in two,” he said. “I said I don’t know if there is one, so I hit it and it rolled up there.”
The ball rolled on the front edge of the green, and he two-putted for a birdie. Matthews missed about a 12-foot birdie chance and the match was over.
Mancinelli, 19 and a sophomore-to-be at GVSU, had to go extra holes to win both of his matches. He beat Oakland University golfer Jake Kneen of White Lake in 19 holes, and then beat 38-year old Shelby Township attorney Anthony Sorentino in 20 holes in the quarterfinal match.
“It has been exciting and a battle,” Mancinelli said. “Both matches were really good.”
Mancinelli was 2-down to Sorentino through two holes of the quarterfinal and said his father and caddie, Joe, settled him down.
“He told me it had been a long day, but to calm down and not let frustration take over,” he said. “I settled down, played solid and battled.”
Weatherhead, 21 and a senior-to-be at MSU, did his part in setting up the Spartans vs. Wolverines semifinal by beating Jason May of Birmingham 3 and 2 in the round of 16 and taking out 2013 champion Andrew Chapman, a former Wolverine from Traverse City, 7 and 5 in the quarterfinals.
“I feel pretty good, my putting and driving have been holding me up and I’m excited, ready to come back tomorrow and keep playing,” he said. “It should be fun to play against (Reed Hrynewich). I know him. He plays for Michigan, so I see him a lot and we saw each other some in high school and in the summers. He’s a very good player, so I have to keep playing well.”
Hrynewich, 21 and a senior to be at Michigan, had to go 19 holes to hold off Nate Gunthorpe of Ovid in the round of 16, and then rolled to an 8 and 6 win over Dan Ellis, the assistant golf coach at Michigan State.
He said all parts of his game have been solid, and he’s ready for another showdown with a Spartan.
“I’ve only made two bogeys in the last four rounds, so I have to keep doing that on this course,” he said. “I’m comfortable with my game right now, and looking forward to playing another day. I came here to win. This could be my last Michigan Amateur with being a senior and maybe going pro, so I want to do as well as I can.”
The semifinals round will start at 8 a.m. with the championship match likely around 12:30 p.m. Parking and admission are free.
The complete match play bracket and results can be found at www.gam.org, as well as live scoring during play.
via Greg Johnson
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