Harbor Springs, MI – On Tuesday at Boyne Highlands it was the team from East Lansing that got it rolling as professional Chad Kurmel from Michigan State’s Forest Akers Golf Facility and his amateur partner Dan Ellis, Assistant Golf Coach for the Spartans Men’s and Women’s teams combined for their first Adidas State Pro Am title.
This event that typically always takes place the first week in June was rescheduled this year due to Covid and modified a bit with all 72 teams playing the Ross Course on Monday and the Moor Course on Tuesday at Boyne Highlands. Using the Moor was a change this year as the event is always played on the Heather Course and then rotates between the Hills and the Ross every other year.
It was this second round on The Moor where Chad and Dan emerged from the crowded leaderboard shooting a (-9) under par round of 63 giving them a 129 (-15 under) total and a 4 shot victory. Kurmel said that Tuesday was the first time he has played the Moor and seems to play his best golf the first time he plays a course. That was certainly the case on Tuesday as he helped Dan combine for 9 birdies and no bogeys.
After the first round on the Ross there were 15 teams within 3 shots of the leaders. Professional from Red Run Golf Club Cody Haughton and his amateur partner Wade Johnston and professional Garrick Hunger from Great Oaks Country Club and his amateur partner Joey Falk, both teams shoot 65 ( -7 under). This gave them a 1 shot lead heading into the final round over 4 teams including Chad and Dan.
The father son team and defending champions Gary Smithson from Yamaha Golf Cars Plus and Brad Smithson made a nice run to get within 1 shot of the leaders at one point on the back nine but could not keep pace with Kurmel and Ellis and finished in second place, 4 shots back. Also finishing in second place at a 133 (-11) total was the team of professional John Seltzer from the Seltzer Golf School and his amateur partner Ryan Mouw.
Congratulations to professional Kyle Martin from the Lochmoor Club on his Hole in One on Tuesday on #17 of the Moor. This was also the only skin of the tournament as he picks up $2600 for his team with this great shot.
When we knew the event was not going to happen in June it was the team at Boyne Highlands that stepped up and helped make the event happen this week. The golf courses were in great tournament condition and the staff always does a tremendous job hosting this event. Boyne has always been a great partner of the Michigan PGA and we really appreciate their cooperative effort to make this event a success this year !
We would also like to thank Adidas for their continued support and sponsorship of this event, especially during these difficult times. Each participant received tee gifts courtesy of adidas that they were able to pick out online set up with a virtual store that was created for this event.
For complete results and payouts click HERE