By Greg Johnson- Special to www.skyviewsports.net
LANSING – The Michigan PGA Section Match Play Championship presented by the PGA Tour will be decided Tuesday and Wednesday at Eagle Eye Golf Club
The final 16 golfers have advanced from chapter or senior organization match play rounds to battle at Eagle Eye Golf Club for the Jim Picard Trophy and the $3,000 first-place prize out of a $15,000 purse.
Two Michigan Golf Hall of Fame Members, both of whom are two-time past champions, will lead the field in this year’s final 16. Scott Hebert from Traverse City Golf & CC (2017, 2019) advanced through the Northern Chapter and Tom Harding from Carl’s Golfland (2001, 2002) advanced through the Senior Organization.
Other past champions in the field this year include defending champion Cody Haughton from Red Run Golf Club, who advanced through the Eastern Chapter and Kosta Ramirez (2022), who advanced through the Western Chapter.
Andrew Mogg from Wabeek Country Club and Scott Brotebeck from Walnut Creek Country Club have advanced to the final four through the Senior Organization. Two Michigan Golf Hall of Fame members and past champions, Brian Cairns from Fox Hills Learning Center and Ron Beurmann from the Country Club of Jackson, are playing Saturday to determine the fourth spot from the Senior Organization.
In the Western Chapter part of the bracket, Michael Carrillo from Gull Lake Country Club and Ryan Leitner from the Ryan Leitner Golf Academy have advanced for the first time. Scott Cook from the Mines Golf Course has also played his way into the round of 16 through the Western Chapter.
In the Eastern Chapter it will be a first-round matchup of two instructors from the Kendall Academy of Golf with Patrick Wilkes Krier and Ryan Lenahan meeting. They have teamed up for multiple Michigan PGA wins but will face each other on Tuesday. Darren Husse from Warwick Hills Country Club will join Haughton to round out the four players representing the Eastern Chapter.
Gary Lewandowski from Tullymore Golf Club, Shaun Bezilla from Harbor Point Golf Club and Kyle Roman from Hidden River Golf & Casting Club have advanced through the Northern Chapter and will join Hebert in the final 16.
Round of 16 matches and the quarterfinal round will be played on Tuesday, with the semifinals and championship match on Wednesday. A complete bracket and more tournament information can be found at michiganpga.com.
The Michigan PGA Match Play Championship dates to 1980 and is considered one of the four major Michigan PGA championships along with the Michigan Open, Michigan PGA Professional Championship and Tournament of Champions.
Eagle Eye was designed by Chris Lutzke in collaboration with Pete Dye. It continues to rank as one of the top public golf courses in the state and regularly hosts major events. It hosted the Michigan PGA Professional Championship from 2006 through 2011, the Michigan Amateur in 2016 and the NCAA Division 1 Men’s Regional in 2023. The Director of Golf is Luke Thode, the golf course superintendent is Steve Fiorillo and Event Coordinator is Michigan PGA Associate Jason McCutcheon.