BOYNE FALLS – First, Jay Jurecic of Crystal Falls erased a two-shot deficit on the par-5 No. 18 hole of the Alpine course with a 260-yard 3-wood shot that bounced off the flagstick to inside one foot, resulting in a tap-in eagle-3.
Then in a sudden-death playoff with Grant Haefner of Bloomfield Hills, Jurecic’s third shot, a 45-yard pitch shot from the rough right of the green rolled to within five inches, and with the tap-in birdie he won the 33rd Tournament of Champions at Boyne Mountain Resort Wednesday.
“I kept thinking all day, even when I was struggling there in the middle of the round a bit, that I still have a chance, I can still eagle 18,” he said. “I wasn’t banking on it hitting the flag and sticking it to a foot. But that was my hope, the miracle finish.”
Jurecic, 55 and a former teacher chasing the PGA Tour Champions dream, shot a final round 5-under 67 for a 13-under 203 total.
With the regulation-ending eagle it matched the 67 of Haefner, a 27-year-old mini-tour player, and it forced the playoff.
“I had chances to make birdie twice there on 18 and it didn’t happen,” Haefner said. “He beat me. He hit an amazing shot and made an eagle, and then he made a birdie in the playoff. Congratulations to him. I played well, played my game and I had the lead. I didn’t hit the shots I needed at the end which means I still have things to work on. It’s so hard to win, but he made it happen.”
Michigan Golf Hall of Famer Tom Werkmeister of Hudsonville, a senior golfer like Jurecic, shot a final 65 for 206 and third place.
Otto Black of Brighton, the 2021 Tournament of Champions winner and the Michigan Open Champion earlier this summer, shot 71 for 207. He held the lead during the final round but had trouble coming in with double-bogey off an errant tee shot at 16 and a bogey at 17.
Also finishing at 207 was Jack Kneen of South Lyon, a two-time Michigan Open winner who shot 69.
Four golfers finished at 208 including defending champion Joe Juszczyk of Dearborn Heights, who shot 71, Michigan State University men’s golf coach Chad Kurmel of Okemos, who shot 69, UPS delivery driver Jeff Bronkema of Caledonia, who shot 70, and Korn Ferry Tour player Joey Garber of Petoskey, who shot 70.
Jurecic, Haefner and Black started the day tied for the lead, and through 10 holes Jurecic was one shot up on Black and two on Haefner.
Haefner rallied with birdies at holes 12, 14 and 16 to build his two-shot lead while Jurecic faltered with three-putt bogeys at No. 11 and No. 14.
Jurecic said trailing by two shots on No. 18 tee he realized an eagle on the 562-yard par 5 was his only hope.
“I made a (12-foot) par putt on 14 that kept me in it , then the birdie at 16 was big, I hit a good shot at 17 and then on 18, to hit the flagstick from 260 – I mean I didn’t bank on hitting that 3-wood off the flag, but I’m really glad it did,” he said. “Then the great pitch in the playoff, I just trusted my years of training and visualized it. I just couldn’t believe I hit that to five inches though. It was a dream come true to win that way.”
With his miraculous finish Jurecic took home the $10,500 first-place check, the historic Walter Burkemo Trophy, and the traditional green blazer emblematic of his membership for life in the Country Club of Boyne.
“I know I’m blessed to be able to still chase my dream,” he said. “I think I’m playing the best golf of my life at 55 to be honest. I’m going to just keep going and keep trying to get better.”
He lauded the format of the unique championship that brings together men, women, professionals, amateurs, seniors and juniors – all who have won significant Michigan championships – playing for the same title from different tee positions.
“It gives everybody a chance on a great golf course,” he said. “This is really special. Glory to God.”
ABOUT BOYNE MOUNTAIN RESORT: Boyne Mountain has been a favorite Midwest destination since 1948. The family-owned, four-season resort has earned Certificates of Excellence from TripAdvisor and has been recognized by Conde Nast Traveler readers as being among the top 50 Best Places to Ski and Stay in North America. The water park is listed among Budget Travel’s Top 10 Indoor facilities, and the resort is a readers’ choice favorite of Spa Magazine. Boyne Mountain recently added Skybridge Michigan to their list of attractions, the world’s longest timber suspension bridge spanning over 1100 feet sitting 120 feet over the valley floor. Boyne Mountain is home to The Alpine and The Monument golf courses, as well as 60 runs on 415 skiable acres. Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, Solace Spa, Michigan’s largest indoor waterpark, Zipline Adventures, disc golf facilities, lift-serviced mountain biking, beach activities, kids’ programs, lodging, meeting, and wedding facilities as well as real estate are offered at the resort.
BOYNE Golf includes a collection of 10 courses at Michigan three resorts, The Highlands, Boyne Mountain Resort and the Inn at Bay Harbor, located within 15 miles of Petoskey. Beyond the world-class golf, BOYNE Golf is centered amid one of America’s most beautiful vacation spots. The scenic Lake Michigan beach towns of Charlevoix, Harbor Springs and Petoskey are minutes away, and a side trip to Mackinac Island is easily managed. Guests can enjoy award-winning spas, waterfront dining, sandy beaches, watersports, gaming, microbreweries, wineries, hiking, biking, tennis, zip-lining, shopping and more capped by the spectacular northern Michigan sunsets. For more information on BOYNE Golf, visit www.BOYNEgolf.com.
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