The Tournament of Champions' unique format has provided for some interesting dynamics in recent years.
Last year at Boyne Mountain Resort's Alpine course, a 15-year-old amateur, Hentry Do of Ann Arbor, almost won the whole thing. A female, Alison Fouch, an LPGA Tour player from Michigan State University, was in the final group.
How did these two almost beat eventual champion Andy Matthews, a talented mini-tour player from Ada? Matthews, 31, won by overcoming a four-stroke lead over the last three holes to outlast Do.
The great equalizer is the participants compete at different tees. This unique 54-hole event pits men, women, juniors, seniors, professionals and amateurs against each other. To be invited, you have to win a Michigan major golf tournament. The 20th version of the tournament is set for Aug. 1-3 in Boyne Falls.
Here's the breakdown of the tees: The forward tees play to 5,905 yards and are used by men ages 70+ and all women. The middle tees measure to 6,562 yards and are played by men 50+ and any junior men with high school eligibility remaining. The back tees are used by all men ages 49 and under and measure 6,938 yards.
“It’s hard to believe this is our 20th year,” said Tournament Co-Founder Stephen Kircher.
Kevin Helm, the current Michigan PGA Executive Director marveled, “Twenty years... what an example of how committed Boyne Mountain and the Kircher family are to promoting tournament golf and all that beautiful Northern Michigan has to offer. We are truly thankful as they welcome us for the 20th year."
Seven former winners are in the field: Dan Olsen (1992), Mike Erickson (1993), J.R. Roth (1995, 1996, 1999, 2008), Tom Harding (1997), John Dal Corobbo (1998), Scott Hebert (2009) and Matthews.
There are also a number of family connections led by Peter Green and his daughter Suzy Green-Roebuck. Siblings Ryan and Natalie Brehm are playing, as are Steve and Jeff Cuzzort, Dave and Dan Ellis, John and Dave Nolan and Jerry and Kyle Roman. Two fathers and sons are also in the mix: Frank McAuliffe and Frank IV along with Nick and Jody Berklich.
Other notables in the field are freshly crowned Michigan Open Champion Randy Hutchison. There is a $55,000 purse and the champion receives a green jacket and honorary lifetime Country Club of Boyne membership. The top 70-players and ties will make the 36-hole cut.
Live scoring can be found at www.michigan.pga.com. A special thanks to Tim Hygh for much of the information in this post.
Showing posts with label Andy Matthews. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Andy Matthews. Show all posts
Friday, July 29, 2011
Friday, July 30, 2010
Matthews wins dramatic Boyne Tournament of Champions
BOYNE FALLS, Mich. - Andy Matthews, of Ada, erased a four shot deficit over the final three holes to win the Boyne Tournament of Champions at Boyne Mountain Resort.
Matthews, 30, is a seasoned Canadian Tour professional and was trailing 15-year old Henry Do of Ypsilanti when the storybook ending for a sophomore in high school competing with Michigan’s best golfers turned into a putting nightmare. Do shook the Michigan golfing community by shooting a 10-under par 62 in Tuesday’s second round. He started the final round with a two-stroke advantage over LPGA Tour player Allison Fouch and a three stroke lead over Matthews. That lead was expanded to four shots as the final group headed to the fateful last three holes.
“I was kind of nervous, “ Do said. “I told myself to be confident and just make pars until a birdie situation became available.”
The five-foot four-inch Do did just that and was 11-under sailing into the 16th hole. He proceeded to three put 16 while Matthews birdied. That two stroke swing left him with a two-stroke lead heading to the par 3 17th. Do three putted again on 17 to take a one shot lead into the final hole. On the par 5 18th, Do and Matthews both laid up and hit wedges for their third shots landing well below the hole. Do nearly missed his putt while showing Matthews the line. Matthews made the 35-footer for birdie to get to 9-under. Do missed his two footer for par and a chance for a playoff. Matthew's won $10,000 of the $55,000 purse.
“I was stunned when Henry missed,” Matthews said. “I got a great look from his putt. I feel for Henry. We’ve all been there and he will grow from the experience."
The Tournament of Champions is a unique event pitting men, women, juniors and seniors together on Boyne Mountain’s Alpine course. The men play from the back tees at 6,938 yards, the senior men and high schoolers play from 6,562 yards and the women play from 5,898 yards. Matthews was the low man, Fouch the low woman at 6 under, Dave Kendall was the low senior at 5 under and Do was the low amateur at 7 under.
Matthews, 30, is a seasoned Canadian Tour professional and was trailing 15-year old Henry Do of Ypsilanti when the storybook ending for a sophomore in high school competing with Michigan’s best golfers turned into a putting nightmare. Do shook the Michigan golfing community by shooting a 10-under par 62 in Tuesday’s second round. He started the final round with a two-stroke advantage over LPGA Tour player Allison Fouch and a three stroke lead over Matthews. That lead was expanded to four shots as the final group headed to the fateful last three holes.
“I was kind of nervous, “ Do said. “I told myself to be confident and just make pars until a birdie situation became available.”
The five-foot four-inch Do did just that and was 11-under sailing into the 16th hole. He proceeded to three put 16 while Matthews birdied. That two stroke swing left him with a two-stroke lead heading to the par 3 17th. Do three putted again on 17 to take a one shot lead into the final hole. On the par 5 18th, Do and Matthews both laid up and hit wedges for their third shots landing well below the hole. Do nearly missed his putt while showing Matthews the line. Matthews made the 35-footer for birdie to get to 9-under. Do missed his two footer for par and a chance for a playoff. Matthew's won $10,000 of the $55,000 purse.
“I was stunned when Henry missed,” Matthews said. “I got a great look from his putt. I feel for Henry. We’ve all been there and he will grow from the experience."
The Tournament of Champions is a unique event pitting men, women, juniors and seniors together on Boyne Mountain’s Alpine course. The men play from the back tees at 6,938 yards, the senior men and high schoolers play from 6,562 yards and the women play from 5,898 yards. Matthews was the low man, Fouch the low woman at 6 under, Dave Kendall was the low senior at 5 under and Do was the low amateur at 7 under.
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