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Parke III Wins Michigan Player's Tour Championship

Superb 71 in cool and wet conditions bests Cairns by 3

October 6, 2008

Bath, Michigan -- It was the final event of the year, played on one of the most difficult courses in Michigan.

And with fall-like weather conditions only the toughest players could tolerate, it was John Park III of Howell who posted a superb one under par 71 to win the Michigan Player's Tour Championship October 6th at Hawk Hollow Resort (Eagle Eye G.C.) in Bath. Brian Cairns of Waterford, runner up in the 2008 Michigan PGA Professional Championship and a two-time winner on Tour this year, finished 2nd with a 74.

John Parke III

The event was played in cool and wet conditions, with temperatures in the mid to upper 40s for most of the round and a light drizzle. Heavy rains a couple of days prior to the event forced the Tour to implement the lift, clean, and place rule. Despite the conditions, the course was in excellent shape, with the greens running at about 11 on the Stimpmeter. All but 3 of the holes were played at their maximum length.

The Tour Championship drew a field of 13 players, the largest field on the Tour in 2008. Because the event drew at least 12 players, the Tour was able to pay out $1,000.00 to the champion.

"We made a promise this year to pay a minimum of one grand to the winner of each event drawing at least 12 players," said Tour Director Ken Carter. "Unfortunately, it took us the entire season before we had 12 players actually show up. I think things will pick up, though, especially as the Michigan economy begins to recover."

The Tour would like to thank all of the players who participated in Tour events this season, and to encourage them to keep an eye on this web site for breaking news concerning the 2009 season.

For scores in the Michigan Player's Tour Championship, please go to the Results page.

Wilson, Carter finish 1 stroke back

September 22, 2008

Brian Cairns

Bellaire, Michigan – On an ideal day for scoring, Brian Cairns of Waterford overcame a balky driver and a couple of near disasters to post an even par 72 and win the Shanty Creek Open on September 22. His score bettered Paul Wilson of Grayling and Tour Director Ken Carter by one shot.

A teaching professional based at Highland Golf Center in Milford, Cairns is a two time winner of the Michigan PGA Professional Championship, and finished second to PGA Professional National Champion Scott Hebert of Traverse City in the Section Championship this year.

Playing conditions were perfect, sunny and 74 degrees with light winds. With the maple trees in Northern Michigan now beginning to sport fall colors, Cedar River G.C. was the place to be on Monday. Unfortunately for the event, only four players were on hand to compete.

"It's always disappointing to have so few players competing in an event," noted Carter. "But even with 4 players, the competition is intense, and you have to play extremely well to prevail. Everyone in the group today had a chance to win, and it all came down to the last hole. I know I had the adrenaline going."

For scores, please go to the Results page.

Northville Hills Open Cancelled

September 27, 2008

Due to a lack of entries, the Michigan Player's Tour has been forced to cancel the event scheduled for Monday, September 29 at Northville Hills G.C. in Northville. As of Friday at 5 pm, there were only 3 players signed up for the event.

The final event of the season is the Michigan Player's Tour Championship, to be held Monday, October 6 at Hawk Hollow Resort (Eagle Eye G.C.) in Bath, just northeast of Lansing. There are already several entries for this event, so get your entry in soon as tee times are limited.

Only player to post a score under 80

Brad Phillion

September 15, 2008

Treetops Village, Michigan – Living up to its reputation, the Robert Trent Jones Masterpiece at the Treetops Resort in Gaylord again withstood all challengers, yielding only one score under 80 in the Treetops Resort Open on September 15. Brad Phillion of Saginaw was the winner, posting a 6 over par 77. Paul Wilson of Grayling, winner of the Saginaw Valley Open the week before, finished 3 shots back.

"This event has a history of high winning scores," says Ken Carter, Director of the Tour. "In 2006, I shot 79 to win, and in 2007, in heavy winds, the winning score was 82. It's one thing to play here for fun, but when you are playing it competitively for a score, it's an awesome challenge."

Weather was not a factor the day of the event, which turned out sunny and 56 degrees. The course was extremely wet, however, as the remnants of Hurricane Ike passed over Michigan the day before, dropping about 2 inches of rain. The event was played under lift, clean, and place conditions.

Phillion, an unaffiliated professional who works in the electrical supply business in Saginaw, played a solid round highlighted by a chip in birdie on the 208 yard par three 13th.

Fore scores, please go to the Results page.

Treetops Resort, Robert Trent Jones Masterpiece

Four under par 33 on back nine leads to victory

September 8, 2008

Freeland, Michigan – On a day that began cool and overcast, it took several holes for the sun to finally break out for the players competing in the Saginaw Valley Open on the Michigan Player’s Tour. And when it did, it was Paul Wilson of Grayling who responded with a blistering 4 under par 33 on the back nine at The Golf Club at Apple Mountain to shoot a one under par 71 and win by three shots over Jacob Leyrer of Lansing. This was Wilson’s first win on Tour this year.

Paul Wilson

Wilson, who was the leading money winner on the Michigan Player’s Tour in 2007, had an adventurous week prior to the round. He had spent several days bear hunting in Northern Ontario north of Lake Superior, and immediately upon his return had to make a trip to Jackson to visit his father in the hospital. According to Wilson, he had put nearly 2,000 miles on his truck in the previous week.

The Golf Club at Apple Mountain is an excellent layout that features very fast and undulating greens, numerous bunkers, and plenty of water coming into play on several holes. Playing at 6,962 yards par 72, it isn’t extremely long, but the design forces the player to hit accurate shots or else. “Apple Mountain was an excellent test, and all of the players really liked it,” said Tour Director Ken Carter. “I can certainly envision a really big Tour event out here one day."

For complete scores and a few pictures, please go to the Results page.

Swihart 's 71 Wins At The Grande

Dakotas Tour vet overcomes tricky greens to post only subpar score

August 18, 2008

Jackson, Michigan – Fresh off a stint on the Dakotas Tour, Jason Swihart of Jackson overcame the tricky greens of The Grande G.C. to post a one under par 71 to win The Jackson Open August 18th on the Michigan Player's Tour. Jeff Rachar, assistant professional at Pine Lake C.C. in Orchard Lake, finished second, a distant seven shots back.

Jason Swihart

Swihart will return to the Dakotas Tour next week to play in the final 3 events, and then will return to Michigan in preparation for PGA Tour Qualifying School. His prequalifier will be at Woodbridge G.C. in Wylie, Texas, September 23 - 26.

The Grande is a beautifully designed course by Raymond Hearn, and features a very distinctive style of bunkering as well as some of Michigan's most challenging greens. Many of the players in the field were consistently fooled by the undulating greens and three putts were common. The course plays at 7,181 yards, par 72.

Brian Cairns of Milford, winner of the Majestic Open on July 28th, was slated to play but withdrew due to injury.

The event was played in near perfect conditions, with temperatures in the low 80's, very little humidity, and a moderate breeze of 10 - 15 mph from the west.

For complete scores, please go to the Results page.The Michigan Player' Tour has been forced to cancel The Shootout At The Fortress, scheduled for August 25th at The Fortress

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Taylor Open Cancelled

August 28, 2008

The Michigan Player's Tour has decided to cancel The Taylor Open, scheduled for September 2nd at the Lakes of Taylor G.C. in Taylor. As of Thursday evening, the Tour office had received only a handful of entries, which was insufficient to justify conducting the event.

The next event on the schedule is The Saginaw Valley Open, to be played September 8th at the 6962 yard, par 72 Golf Club at Apple Mountain. To enter, please go to the Registration page, or call the Tour office at 888-678-8878.

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To obtain a copy of the flyer to be posted at various courses in the Great Lakes region, click here.

To obtain a Tour brochure, click here.

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