Joseph Kiss scores hole in one on way to victory

August 9, 2010

Joseph Kiss

And in the end, he responded with an immaculate, 5 under par 67, including a hole in one on the par three 12th hole, a shot which proved to be the difference in securing his second win on Tour.

Trailing former Michigan PGA Player of the Year Brian Cairns and 2010 Michigan Open runner up Eric Wohlfield by two shots at the turn, Kiss went birdie, birdie, ace, par, birdie over his next 5 holes, leaving him with a three shot lead over both Cairns and Wohlfield. Just prior to a one hour rain delay, a birdie by Cairns and a bogey by Kiss on 15 left Kiss with a one shot lead, but he never relinquished it as both players parred in.

The Grande G.C. is a beautiful and challenging Raymond Hearn design cut through mature forests and wetlands, and features a very unique style of bunkering. The final three holes are difficult, requiring solid shotmaking to bring home a decent score.

For scores, please see the Results page.

Micoff, Wohlfield Share Honors In Gaylord

Both players post 68, split winnings

August 2, 2010

Eric Wohlfield and Jon Micoff

The battle began on the front nine when Micoff nearly drove the downhill, 430 yard par 4 third hole and chipped to 3 feet. On the fourth, a 556 yard par 5, he reached in two with a mid iron, and holed a 4 foot eagle putt. And on the fifth, a 478 yard par 4 with the pin tucked behind the front bunker, he holed a 25 foot putt to go four under for the round. Meanwhile, Wohlfield carded an even par 36 to trail by 4 at the turn.

Both players played solid golf for the next several holes. By the 14th hole, Wohlfield still trailed by four shots, but that’s when his game caught fire. He played the final five holes in 3 under, ultimately catching Micoff on the final hole when Micoff pulled his approach and made bogey.

The playoff began at the 1st hole and lasted three holes. Both players made par on the first hole, both birdied the second, and both parred the third. Due to time constraints, the two players decided to cut the playoff short after three holes and call it a tie, splitting the available prize money.

The event was played at the demanding (and scenic) 7,347 yard Otsego Club (The Tribute), a fabulous Gary Koch design.

For scores, please see the Results page.

Images From The Tribute

3rd Hole, 430 yards, Par 4	4th Hole, 556 yards, Par 5	5th hole, 478 yards, Par 4

July 26, 2010

Daniel Lim

Lim got off to a quick start, carding three birdies on his first six holes. Bogeys at 8 and 9 left him one shot behind Micoff, who birdied 8 and 9 to post a two under 34.

The back nine proved dramatic, as Lim, Micoff and Lussenhop all held or shared the lead at one point or another. On the 12th tee, Lim held a one shot lead after Micoff double bogeyed the par three 11th. By the time the players reached 17, Lim and Lussenhop were tied at even par, with Micoff two back. Bogeys by Lussenhop on 17 and 18 sealed the deal for Lim, who prevailed despite a three putt bogey on the final hole.

Lim, a member of the Stanford University golf team from 2005 to 2008, graduated in 2009 with a degree in communications. He is spending part of his summer in Northern Michigan preparing to compete on the NGA Hooters Tour.

The event was played on the beautiful 6832 yard Treetops Resort (Fazio Premier), one of four spectacular courses at Treetops. Treetops also boasts the nine hole Threetops Par 3 course, site of the annual Par 3 Shootout.

For complete scores, please go to the Results page.

Two under par 70 clips Wohlfield by one

July 6, 2010

Tom Leafstrand

And in the end, it was 51 year old Tom Leafstrand of Ludington who prevailed, posting a two under par 70, taking down 2010 Michigan Open runner-up Eric Wohlfield of Brighton by one shot. Tom’s son Don Leafstrand tied for third with defending champion Joseph Kiss of East Leroy. Both shot even par 72.

At the turn, Leafstrand held a one shot lead at one under, but a birdie on the 640 yard 10th hole by Wohlfield left them tied. Birdies at 11 and 12 by Leafstrand and a birdie on 12 by Wohlfield gave Leafstrand a one shot lead, but bogies by Wohlfield on 13 and 15 expanded the lead to three. A birdie by Wohlfield on 16 cut the lead to two, which Leafstrand took to the 18th tee.

The final hole proved dramatic, as a bogie by Leafstrand gave Wohlfield a chance to tie with a birdie chip from just off the back of the green. The chip was on line most of the way, but it just missed, and the win was secured.

The event was played on the gorgeous Thousand Oaks G.C., a challenging Rees Jones design ranked by Golf Digest as one of Michigan’s top 25 courses. The course played at 7,128 yards to a par of 72.

For complete scores, please go to the Results page.

June 21, 2010

Eric Wohlfield

And at the end of the day, it was Eric Wohlfield of Brighton who was left standing on top of the leaderboard after posting a solid 5 under par 67. Greg Stefan, winner of the Boulder Pointe Open two weeks ago and Anthony Dietz finished one shot back with 68s. Clayton Zwicker of Ludington also posted a round in the 60s to finish fourth.

Wohlfield, who was a runner up in the Michigan Open Championship the week before, could have shot even lower, missing a couple of birdie putts inside 10 feet on the front nine. Wohlfield won this event in 2009 with a 7 under par 65.

The Fortress is a beautiful Dick Nugent design featuring plenty of water hazards and fescue lining each fairway. It has a very tricky stretch of finishing holes that make it tough to bring home a decent score.

For complete scores, please go to the Results page.

June 17, 2010

Orchard Lake, Michigan -- Ryan Brehm of Mount Pleasant fired a final round 67 to win the Michigan Open Championship Presented By Lincoln Mercury at Orchard Lake Country Club June 17th. Eric Wohlfield of Brighton, who led the 2009 Michigan Players Tour Order of Merit, finished in a tie for second with Gary Smithson of Grand Rapids, who shot 65. It was Brehm's second consecutive Michigan Open title.

Beginning the final round two shots behind leader Andy Matthews of Ada, Brehm opened with two birdies on the first four holes to tie for the lead. A birdie on the fith gave Matthews the lead again, but he lost it on the next hole with another birdie by Brehm. After bogeys on seven and nine, Matthews fell three back, and could never recover.

Gary Smithson, head professional at Thousand Oaks G.C. in Grand Rapids, made things interesting, charging out of the pack with a four under par 31 on the front nine. After birdies on ten and twelve and a Brehm bogey on thirteen, Smithson was one back, but he could never quite overtake Brehm down the stretch. A late birdie by Brehm on the 442 yard fifteenth sealed the deal.

Brehm is currently 58th on the NGA Hooter's Tour money list. He earned $10,000.00 for the win.

June 7, 2010

Greg Stefan

Second place went to Michael Murray of White Lake, who posted a 75. It was Murray’s first event on the Tour, who recently qualified for the Michigan Open with a 74 at Flint Golf Club.

Boulder Pointe G.C. is a strong test of golf with a numerous par 4s measuring over 450 yards and plenty of water. But after heavy rains and severe storms that ravaged the area the on Saturday, it played extremely long, with tee shots bouncing backwards after landing in the fairway, often adding 30 yards or more to approach shots.

Stefan, who is currently a scout for the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, collected $400.00 for the win.

For complete scores, please see the Results page.

Images From Boulder Pointe G.C.

2nd Hole, 197 yds., Par 3	4th Hole, 141 yds., Par 3	17th hole, 212 yds., Par 3

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Tour Adds Events At Forest Dunes, Other Top Courses

2010 Extreme Series schedule completed

May 12, 2010

"The Extreme Series schedule includes some of the most spectacular courses you will play anywhere, not just Michigan," notes Tour Director Ken Carter. "Forest Dunes, for example, is ranked the number 1 public course in America by Golf World magazine. The others are fantastic as well. I guarantee you, no other tour in America can even come close to this lineup of courses in terms of difficulty, beauty, and the raw adventure you will experience while playing them."

All of the Extreme Series events (except the Extreme Series Championship) will be conducted on Saturday afternoons, allowing players who cannot make it to regular tour events (played on Mondays) to compete. Players may play for low score (medal play), skins, or both. Top amateurs are invited to play as well.

For more information, players may check out the Schedule page, or call the Tour office at 888-678-8878, .

Investor secured, guarantee to commence at The Fortress June 21st

June 3, 2010

The Michigan Player;\'s Tour is pleased to announce it has secured an investor, allowing the Tour to offer guaranteed minimum $1,000.00 first place checks in several selected Men's Division events.

"The $1,000.00 checks will be paid no matter what," said Tour Director Ken Carter. "Should any of the events with the guarantee in place draw a field of 30 or more players, we will be able to extend the guarantee to additional events."

The first event in which the guarantee will be in place will be The Shootout at The Fortress, scheduled for Monday, June 21st. Additional events with the guarantee will be announced immediately following the Fortress event.

The offer will also be extended into Women's Division events, but the date at which the guarantee will take effect will be announced later. "First, we will publicize the guarantee, and then gauge the response. Once we have a core group of ladies committed to play, then we'll announce the dates," Carter said.

The Tour has sought investors since its inception, but because the recession in Michigan began in June 2006 (the same month the Tour began operations), none could be found. "Securing an investor is a great milestone for the Tour, and will definitely help us achieve our goal of creating e viable alternative to the tours in the southern states," Carter said

Posts 1 under par 70 on Coyote Preserve G.C.

Matt Lee

Fenton, Michigan – It was a perfect day for scoring – sunny skies, very little wind, and a course softened by overnight rains.

And taking advantage of these conditions was Matt Lee of Farmington, who birdied his first two holes en route to a 3 under par 33 on the front nine, and an overall score of 70 to win The Coyote Preserve Open by four shots on June1st.

Second place money was split by six time Tour winner Paul Wilson of Grayling, and Robert Shaw of Adrain. Both shot 74.

The event was played on the immaculate Coyote Preserve G.C., a spectacular Arnold Palmer Signature course just a few miles south of Fenton. The course played at 6,912 yards to a par of 71.

The second event of the 2010 schedule is The Boulder Pointe Open, to be played June 7th at the lengthy 7,424 yard Boulder Pointe G.C. in Oxford.

For scores, please go to the Results page.

Coyote Preserve G.C. a fabulous Arnold Palmer design

May 29, 2010

The Michigan Player's Tour will commence its 2010 schedule at the Coyote Preserve Open, to be held at the 6912 yard, Par 71  Coyote Preserve G.C. in Fenton on Tuesday, June 1st.

A spectacular Arnold Palmer design, Coyote Preserve is characterized by considerable elevation changes, expansive fairways, and well-bunkered, undulating greens. The course has a great finish, with two par fives in the final three holes, including the 551 yard 18th, which is reachable in two by the longer hitters. The defending champion is Jay Jurecic of Caspian, Michigan, who later in the summer of 2009 finished in 15th place on the Dakota's Tour money list.

For an excellent review of the course, please go to the Two Guys Who Golf web site.

Wohlfield earns medalist honors in local qualifying at The Orchards

May 18, 2010

Eric Wohlfield of Brighton posted a 2 under par 70 in windy and cool conditions at The Orchards G.C. in Washington to earn medalist honors in local qualifying for the 2010 U.S. Open Championship on May 18th. Wohlfield's 70 was the only sub par round out of 65 players to post scores. Wohlfield led The Michigan Players Tour Order of Merit in 2009 with $3,125.00 in earnings.

For hole by hole scores at The Orchards, as well as results from Battle Creek C.C. on May 10, check out the GAM web site.

At Hazeltine National G.C. in Chaska, MN (site of the 2009 PGA Championship), Jay Jurecic of Caspian, MI was one of nine players to advance to Sectional qualifying on May 17th. Jurecic, who has two wins on the Michigan Players Tour, posted a 74, three shots behind medalist Andy Paulson from White Bear Lake, MN.

For local qualifying results on the USGA web site, click here.

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Tour Notes

April 11, 2010

Skins Game Option

2nd Hole, True North G.C. -- 467 yds., par 4 (Photo courtesy of True North G.C.)

Beginning this year, players may opt to play for skins only at Tour events and not compete for overall low score. The cost to enter the skins game alone will be the greens fee of the round (at the Tour discount rate) plus $30.00, of which $20.00 will go into the skins pot.

By creating this option, the Tour hopes more players will come out and compete. As Tour Director Ken Carter notes, "Down in Austin, Texas, they have a skins game every Tuesday at Jimmy Clay G.C., and that game consistently gets 40 to 50 players, including a couple of PGA Tour players if they're in town. There is no reason we can't duplicate that scenario here in Michigan, but on courses that are 20 times more spectacular and demanding."

USGA ruling on grooves

The Michigan Player's Tour has decided not to enforce the new rule issued by the USGA concerning grooves until the 2024 season, when the rule is fully implemented at all levels of the game.

There are two reasons for this decision.

1. The courses used by the Tour are generally so difficult, the additional spin of square grooved irons will have little effect on overall scoring. "Non-conforming wedges may save a shot here or there, but on this tour it takes a monumental effort for most players to break 75. If we had 10 to 20 players posting rounds in the 60's every week, then it would make a difference," noted Carter.

2. With Michigan experiencing the worst of the U.S. recession, players should not be saddled with the additional burden of being forced to purchase a new set of irons to compete. "It's tough enough to get players to play," Carter said, "but for the Tour to say, 'Sorry, you have to buy a new set of irons before you can play,' I think that would pretty much force the Tour out of business altogether."

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Did You Know?

April 11, 2010

Here are a few facts which might surprise you about the Michigan Player's Tour:

Did you know.....

-- The Michigan Players Tour is an "open" tour -- anyone with game can play. Unlike other tours in Michigan, it is not restricted to PGA Section professionals and assistants.

-- 2010 will be the 5th year the Tour has been in operation?

-- The Tour has paid out a total of $39,895.00 in prize money during these 4 years?

-- A total of 106 different players have competed in Tour events?

-- A typical Tour event will generate a $1,000.00 first place check if only 30 players participate?

-- No other tour in the U.S. plays as many top ranked public and resort courses as the Michigan Player's Tour?

-- No other tour in the U.S. plays in more comfortable weather conditions? The average high temperature in central Michigan during July is 82.1 degrees....compared to 105.9 degrees in Phoenix, AZ, 92.2 degrees in Orlando, FL, 86.8 degrees in Myrtle Beach, SC, and 84.5 degrees in Bismarck, ND.

Of all the professional golf tours in the U.S., the selection of courses used by the Michigan Players Tour are second to none in both beauty and difficulty, and will provide players with a challenge that cannot be equaled on any other tour in professional golf.

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Tour Gearing Up for 2010

December 5, 2009

Michigan Player's Tour is developing a very robust schedule for 2010, and for the second consecutive year, will schedule events for both men and women.

10th Hole, Tullymore G.C.

The 2010 Women's Division schedule will consist of 12 events, with the first event also occurring on June 1st. There will be an off week during the Women's Michigan Open in mid July. The Women's schedule will conclude with the MPT Ladies Tour Championship on Monday, September 6th.

Once again, the schedule will include a collection of MPT Extreme Series events, which will be held on Saturday afternoons on some of Michigan's most exotic and difficult courses. In order to make these events more appealing, the format of the Extreme Series will change to a skins game as opposed to a regular tour event, making the entry fees for these events much less expensive.

The Tour is working diligently to secure sponsorship for the 2010 season, with the goal of providing at least a $1,000.00 guaranteed minimum 1st place check in all events. Please keep an eye on this web site for breaking developments over the next few months.

October 13, 2009

The Michigan Player’s Tour would like to extend its appreciation to all of the players who participated in Tour events in 2009.

Eric Wohlfield

During the 2009 season, the Tour conducted a total of 16 events, and paid out $14,730.00 in prize money. Overall, 43 different players participated during 2009. In the four seasons the Tour has been in operation, 42 events have been conducted, with 106 different players participating. Total prize money paid out during the four seasons was $39,895.00.

The complete list of money winners in 2009 is shown below.