HALL FINANCIAL MICHIGAN OPEN

Eric Lilleboe Defends as 108th Championship Moves to Shanty Creek Resort's Cedar River Course

BELLAIRE – Defending champion Eric Lilleboe of Okemos has only checked out the new host golf course via a satellite view, but he is thrilled with the ...opportunity to play it and become a three-time winner.

The 37-year-old mini-tour professional will head the field in the 2025 Hall Financial Michigan Open Championship presented by Make The Turn and Harbor Title Agency, which will be played on the Cedar River Course at Shanty Creek Resorts for the first time in the championship’s 108-year history next Monday through Thursday, June 9-12.

“My goal is to win another Michigan Open because it’s such a special tournament and playing it on a course I haven’t played before is exciting and part of the challenge,” he said. “I’m hoping for a lot of patience, a little luck and a ton of good golf shots.”

Lilleboe spent much of the winter rehabilitating a back injury and said he is ready to go.

“I lost my status on the PGA Tour Americas last year and then had to rehab the injury, so I haven’t played in much yet this year,” he said. “I have been working on it though. My back feels good. It’s a matter of keeping it healthy. I can feel my game coming around.”

A year ago, at Oakland University’s Katke Cousins course, Lilleboe maintained the lead through the final three rounds to win the $15,000 first-place check. As the 2019 champion, he also had his name engraved on the James D. Standish Trophy for the second time.

The Cedar River course is a celebrated design by the late PGA Tour star Tom Weiskopf, and Lilleboe said he is familiar with World Golf Hall of Famer’s design work.

“From what I can tell it is a pretty straightforward challenge that requires some great planning and playing, and the key for me will be hitting a lot of drivers so I can get wedge in my hand,” he said. “That’s when I can be aggressive and that’s when I play my best. I will play a practice round Sunday, make a plan and be ready to go.”

Hall Financial is the presenting sponsor for a fourth consecutive year and has supporting sponsors in Make The Turn and Harbor Title Agency. The purse for the 2025 championship will be announced during tournament week.

While the Cedar River course will be a first-time play for Lilleboe and several others in the field, some PGA professionals in the field will be familiar with the layout. Shanty Creek hosted the Michigan PGA Professional Championship from 2000 to 2005.

Cedar River is one of five courses at the resort. It opened in 1999 to rave reviews and can be played to a maximum yardage of 7,001. It was Weiskopf’s first course in Michigan and features isolated holes, generous tree-lined fairways, classic natural green settings, significant elevation changes and includes one of his trademark dramatic drivable par 4 holes (301-yard No. 13).

Michigan PGA Tournament Director Justin Phillips has made site visits, and he said the course is in wonderful condition and should provide a great place to determine the 2025 Open champion.

“Shanty Creek is excited to have us, and we’re excited to have the tournament on a great Northern Michigan golf course,” he said. “We always have a strong field, a great purse and once again tremendous support from Hall Financial and our supporting sponsors. It should be a wonderful week.”

A full field of 156 golfers, including 12 past champions, tour professionals, Michigan Section PGA professionals and top amateur players will play the first two rounds before a 36-hole cut to the low 70 scorers and ties.

Among the 12 past champions in the field, including Lilleboe, are six-time winner Scott Hebert of Traverse City Golf & Country Club (1997, ’99, 2000, ’01, ’02, ’06), three-time champion Steve Brady of Oakland Hills Country Club (1992, ’96), two-time champion Jeff Roth of Boyne Golf Academy (1998, ’04), two-time winner Jake Kneen of White Lake (2018, ’22), Joe Juszczyk of Dearborn (2023), Matt Thompson, the golf coach at Hillsdale College (2017), Jeff Bronkema of Caledonia (2016), Tom Werkmeister of Hudsonville (2013), Andy Ruthkoski of Muskegon (2007), Barry Redmond of Chelsea (1989) and Tim Matthews of Scotts (1986).

Ryan Lenahan of South Lyon, the PGA Director of Instruction at Walnut Creek Country Club, who recently played in the 2025 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club in North Carolina, is in the field.

Last year’s Michigan Amateur Champion, McCoy Biagioli of White Lake, who is transferring from Ferris State University to Michigan State University, is among the top amateur players in the field.

Tyler Copp of Ann Arbor, the runner-up a year ago and a former Michigan Amateur Champion, is among the several mini-tour players in the field.

First played in 1916, the Michigan Open annually attracts the top professional and amateur golfers in the state and its list of winners includes golf legends Walter Hagen, Al Watrous, Chuck Kocsis, Horton Smith and Dave Hill.

ABOUT HALL FINANCIAL: Hall Financial is proud to partner with the Michigan PGA and the Hall Financial Michigan Open. Supporting the Michigan PGA and its members is a passion for Hall Financial CEO, David Hall. Growing the game of golf in the state of Michigan while providing a key financial resource is a privilege for Hall Financial. David Hall started Hall Financial in 2016 with the core mission to be the most client-focused mortgage company in the industry. Since its inception, the company has built a reputation for making the mortgage process simple and fast while delivering clients with Five-Star service. With nearly 7,000 Five-Star reviews, the team at Hall Financial is committed to providing customized mortgage solutions tailored to each client’s needs. Media contact for Hall Financial: Mark Gildersleeve, Sr. Vice President- Growth & Strategy, 248-590-0131, mgildersleeve@hallfg.com. Website: callhallfirst.com

⛳️LAST CALL⛳️
Registration for the Hall Financial Michigan Open 3-Spot Qualifier closes TODAY at 5 PM!

Click the link below for more information! 👇

Michigan Open "3" Spot Qualifier Event :: Welcome

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Wilson & Kehoe win the 2025 adidas State Pro Am!

PGA Professional from Bay Meadows Family Golf Center in Traverse City and one of his former junior golfers, Murphy Kehoe, overcame a crowded leaderboard and two playoff holes to defeat Michigan’s top golfers to win their first Adidas ...State Pro Am at The Highlands on Tuesday!

A huge turnout of 136 teams of one PGA Professional and one amateur teed it up on Monday and Tuesday using the Arthur Hills & Heather Courses at The Highlands in this historic state best ball event that started in 1935.

With 24 teams within 3 shots of the lead after round 1, we knew it would be a close finish. The team of professional Dave Kendall from Washtenaw Golf Club and his amateur partner Casey Baker held a 1 shot lead after shooting 64 on The Heather, but could not keep up the momentum and fell short in round 2 as they looked to pick up their 3rd Adidas State Pro Am title.

Despite the windy conditions in round 2, there were a lot of good scores as teams made their move to the top of the leaderboard. The team of PGA Professional Jeff Caminiti from Caminiti Golf Academy and his amateur partner, Rickey Shilts, as well as PGA Professional Zak Knoll from Western Golf & CC and his amateur partner, Kyle Bentley, both had rounds of 63 to jump up to the top of the leaderboard early in the second round. Jeff and Rickey finished one shot back at -11 under and Zak and Kyle finished 2 shots back.

After birdies at both holes #15 and #16, Scott and Murphy jumped into the lead and looked to pull away. However, a costly bogey at the par 5 18th hole on the Arthur Hills course left them tied at the end of the day with the team of Baker Stevenson from Meadowbrook Country Club and his amateur partner, Joeseph Mancinelli, who shot 65 the final round.

The playoff went back to #18 on the Arthur Hills. After both teams made birdie there, Scott and Murphy were able to clinch the victory with a par on the second playoff hole. I am sure this will be talked about for years to come at family gatherings as Joe Mancinelli’s brother Dominic is set to marry Murphy’s sister this coming August.
Scott and Murphy now get their names on this historic trophy with the likes of Al Watrous, Walter Burkemo, Horton Smith, Randy Erskine and many other Hall of Famers as well as an exemption into the Tournament of Champions.

Congratulations to amateur Brett Hudson on his hole in one on Tuesday on Hole #16 of The Heather!

The Highlands always proves to be such a great venue for this event. The golf courses were in great condition. The total effort just to get the golf courses open and playable after the severe tree damage from the ice storm was amazing.

Teams were able to play and experience the new Doon Brae short course while they were there at The Highlands. The early reviews were all very positive as everyone really enjoyed it. The course opens to the public on June 6.

Thank you as well to our sponsor Adidas! They were onsite and set up a mobile pro shop for all the players providing them with a tournament gift.

For complete results click below :
https://www.golfgenius.com/pages/11367098925816250972?back_link=true

It is the final day of the adidas State Pro Am and our leaders have officially teed off! The team of Dave Kendall & Casey Baker are seeking their 3rd Adidas State Pro Am title.

Click the link below to follow along their round:
...https://www.golfgenius.com/pages/11367098925816250972?back_link=true

It’s the smiles for us - happy Women’s Golf Day!

@womensgolfday #womensgolfday #allsmiles

Taking a moment today to reflect, remember, and give thanks to those who served and sacrificed.

#MemorialDay #HonorAndRemember #thankyouforyourservice