For the third year in a row, the Michigan PGA Section has earned a coveted wildcard spot to compete in the 2026 PGA HOPE Secretary’s Cup. Held during PGA Championship week this May, the event celebrates the PGA HOPE that is dedicated to giving military Veterans a meaningful connection to golf, community, and purpose.

Each team features four Veterans from PGA HOPE and one PGA or LPGA Professional, playing a 5-person, 9-hole scramble. This year, Michigan’s team brings together stories of resilience, bravery, and transformation.

Roy Thomas – U.S. Marine Corps

Roy Thomas joined the Marines the night of his high school graduation, arriving in California just a day before the September 11 attacks. His journey took him to Okinawa, South Korea, and eventually Ar Ramadi, Iraq, where he was severely wounded by a grenade while defending a rooftop. The injuries led to the loss of his left eye, and his bravery earned him a Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart.

After returning home, Roy struggled to find purpose. Golf changed that. “Golf was therapy; I had a mission again,” he says. Through PGA HOPE, he discovered a community that understood his journey and a sense of stability that helped him move forward. Today, he plays regularly with his fellow Marine and close friend, Chris MacIntosh, proving the bonds forged in service can last a lifetime.

Chris MacIntosh – U.S. Marine Corps

Chris graduated boot camp just days before September 11, 2001, and soon joined Echo Co., 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines—the same unit as Roy Thomas, known as the “Magnificent Bastards.” In March 2004, he deployed to Ar Ramadi, Iraq, where intense urban combat left a lasting mark. By the time he returned home, he was a changed man, carrying anger, grief, and the weight of losing both parents in 2014 and 2015.

Chris’s path “Back to Baseline” began in 2019 when he moved to Michigan and reconnected with Roy. Golf became his sanctuary. “For me, it’s a place where I can forget about life’s problems… they’re fun problems,” he says. PGA HOPE gave him more than a sport. It gave him a community of Veterans who understand his struggles, helping him stay present and navigate toward stability.

Joel Collins – U.S. Army

Staff Sergeant Joel Collins served in the Michigan Army National Guard from 2008 to 2020, including a deployment to Helmand Province, Afghanistan. His experiences left emotional scars, compounded by a severe car accident in 2018. When he medically retired in 2020, Joel describes his life as a “free fall.”

PGA HOPE offered him a lifeline. “I refer to this program as stopping the ‘Free Fall.’ It gave me a baseline… and relationships that act as a ‘pull cord’ for my social and emotional welfare,” he explains. Today, Joel draws strength from the Veteran community, proving resilience and recovery are possible even after the toughest challenges.

Ryan Young – U.S. Army

Chief Warrant Officer Ryan Young served from 1999 to 2013 as a Counterintelligence Agent and Aeromedical Evacuation Pilot, completing over 300 missions during his Iraq deployment. The transition to civilian life left him isolated for a decade, avoiding Veteran organizations altogether.

PGA HOPE sparked a turning point in 2025. “It was the first interaction with a Veteran’s organization I’ve ever experienced. It sparked a ‘self-change’ that allowed me to trade avoidance for appreciation,” Ryan reflects. The program also reconnected him with his father, a Vietnam-era Air Force Veteran, and inspired him to help other Veterans through peer support work.

Scott Vice, PGA

Scott Vice, a PGA Member since 1991, channels his deep respect for his family’s military legacy into PGA HOPE. Though he never served, Scott helps Veterans find the peace, purpose, and teamwork that golf provides.

From leading sessions in Michigan to supporting programs nationwide, Scott has witnessed firsthand the power of PGA HOPE. “There is nothing more rewarding than seeing the smiles on the Veterans’ faces,” he says. Guiding Veterans like Roy, Joel, and Ryan from isolation to camaraderie remains his greatest reward.

The Michigan team heads to the Secretary’s Cup not just to compete, but to celebrate perseverance, community, and the transformative power of golf. For these Veterans, every swing is more than a shot, t’s a step forward.