BACK NINE BLITZ: Birmingham Country Club’s Tim Pearce Wins Michigan PGA Professional Championship

MUSKEGON – Tim Pearce, the head golf professional at Birmingham Country Club, has knocked on the door in major tournaments a handful of times in the last few years.
This time he ...birdied his way through the door, shooting a closing 4-under 68 with a flawless back nine performance and won the 105th Michigan PGA Professional Championship by two shots Wednesday at Muskegon Country Club.
“I’ve tried so hard to win this so many times that today I kind of accepted that whatever the result, I just wanted to enjoy it,” he said. “I’m very happy. In a tournament like this someone has to just kind of break away, and it felt like all day we were kind of bunched up and no one was going to take it.”
Then he took it, first by making back-to-back birdies via approach shots to within seven feet on the back-to-back par 5s, No. 13 and 14.
“I took advantage of the par 5s, made good shots, and then with four holes to go I told myself to suck it up and hit some more good golf shots coming in,” he said, “because what else are you going to do? Then I hit the best six iron maybe of my life on 15 (a par 3) to about three feet for birdie, and then on 18 I hit a really good four-iron, maybe one of the best of my life, too, on the green, right when I needed it. Just to pull off the shots I needed is really rewarding.”
Pearce’s final 68, which included a 33 on the back nine via birdies on holes 13, 14, 15 and 18, put him at 8-under 208.
Matt Thompson, the teaching pro from Jonesville who led or shared the lead after the first two rounds, shot a closing 71 for 210, and tied for second with Nick Joy of High Pointe Golf Club near Traverse City, who shot 70.
Ryan Lenahan of Walnut Creek Country Club in South Lyon shot 70 for 211 to finish fourth.
Eight-time Michigan PGA Professional champion Scott Hebert of Traverse City Golf & Country Club closed with a 69 for 213 and tied for fifth with Jim Deiters of Midland Country Club, who shot 72, and James Delnick of Carl’s Golfland in Plymouth, who shot 73.
Thompson, who runs junior golf programs at The Hills of Baw Beese Lake in Hillsdale and Binder Park Golf Course in Battle Creek, said he had a shortage of birdie chances in the final round.
“I didn’t have a lot of close looks, just didn’t get shots close and it might not have mattered, but man, I wish I could have the swing back on 18 because I think I had the right club and then I went up one and hit it horrible,” he said. “The bogey at 16, too. I hit a poor chip there and didn’t give myself a good chance at par. One of these tournaments, I’m going to have to be the guy that fires the good score in the final round.”
Pearce, 31, took home the $7,500 first-place check and the historic Gilbert A. Currie Trophy, and said the thought of not getting it done once again did creep into his mind, but he kept the right attitude.
“I was happy to have the chance to keep knocking on the door and having that chance,” he said. “That’s all you can really do, give yourself the chance. I’m proud of myself for hanging in there and playing the best I could today. It feels so great.”
Pearce and seven other top finishers qualified with their performance for the 2027 PGA Professional National Championship at Streamsong Resort in Florida next April. The low 20 finishers in the national championship earn spots in the 109th PGA Championship at Fields Ranch East, PGA Frisco in Texas next May to compete with the best players in the world.
Lanahan, Hebert and five-time past champion Jeff Roth of BOYNE Golf Academy, based on past performances, are already exempt players ticketed for the 2027 PGA Professional National Championship.
The eight from this week who will join them at Streamsong are Pearce, Thompson, Joy, Deiters, Delnick, three-time past champion Ben Cook of Quail Ridge Golf Club near Grand Rapids (72 for 214), Gary Lewandowski of Tullymore Golf Club in Stanwood (71 for 214), and Frank McAuliffe of Meadowbrook Country Club (72 for 215).
In related news announced on Wednesday, Lenahan was named to the U.S. PGA Cup Team, which will represent the United States against golf professionals from Great Britain/Ireland in the 32nd PGA Cup in October at The K Club in Ireland.

SPONSORS: This year’s presenting sponsors are Club Car, Corebridge Financial and Rolex. Supporting partners are Gallagher, the Golf Channel, the PGA Tour, and Shipsticks. Supporting sponsors are Titleist/Footjoy, Callaway Golf, Nike, and TaylorMade.

RESULTS: See michiganpga.com.

MICHIGAN PGA PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP:
Matt Thompson of Jonesville Recovers, Takes Lead into Final Round

MUSKEGON – Matt Thompson bogeyed three consecutive holes early in his round Tuesday but battled back and will have a one-shot lead starting the final round of the 105th ...Michigan PGA Professional Championship Wednesday at Muskegon Country Club.
The 36-year-old teaching professional from Jonesville who shared the lead at 4-under after the first round, shot 71 for a 5-under 139 total.
Three golfers checked in on his heels.
James Delnick of Carl’s Golfland, who shared the first-round lead with Thompson, checked in at 140 after making birdies on his last two holes to shoot 72.
He was joined at 140 by Tim Pearce of Birmingham Country Club, who matched the low round of the tournament with a 68, and Nicholas Joy of High Pointe Golf Club near Traverse City, who shot a second consecutive 70.
“I settled down after a couple of bad swings, birdied eight and nine to get back a little, and then played solidly on the back,” said Thompson, who runs junior golf programs at The Hills of Baw Beese Lake in Hillsdale and Binder Park Golf Course in Battle Creek.
“All in all, after that start I can’t ask for much more than a chance in the final round.”
Several golfers have a chance at the $7,500 first-place check and the Gilbert A. Currie Trophy in the final round of the $56,000 championship. Six golfers were within three shots of the lead and 14 within five shots after two rounds.
Following the trio at 140 was a twosome at 141, including Ryan Lenahan of Walnut Creek Country Club in South Lyon, who shot 71, and Jim Deiters of Midland Country Club, who shot 69.
Three-time champion Ben Cook of Quail Ridge Golf Club near Grand Rapids (2020, ’21, ’24) jumped into the mix with a 68 for 142.
And four more golfers were at 143, including Gary Smithson of Grand Rapids and Golf Cars Plus – Yamaha who shot 69, Gary Lewandowski of Tullymore Golf Resort in Stanwood, who shot 71, Darren Husse of Warwick Hills Golf & Country Club in Grand Blanc, who shot 71, and Frank McAuliffe of Meadowbrook Country Club, who shot 68.
The 36-hole cut was made at 159 with 64 players moving on to the final round where beyond being champion there are other things at stake.
Another important feature of this week’s championship is that it serves as the starting point and qualifier on the road to major championship golf with the best players in the world at the 109th PGA Championship of 2027 (May 2027 at Fields Ranch East, PGA Frisco, TX).
The low eight golfers, not including three Michigan golfers who are already exempt, will earn spots in the 2027 PGA Professional National Championship at Streamsong Resort in Florida, next April 25-28. The low 20 finishers from that national event move on to play with the best players in the world in the PGA.
Scott Hebert of Traverse City Golf & Country Club, an eight-time past champion who shot 70 and is tied for 12th place, Jeff Roth of BOYNE Golf Academy, a five-time past champion, who shot 72 and was tied for 20th, and Lenahan, who is two shots off the lead, are exempt players already ticketed for the 2027 PGA Professional National Championship.
Thompson, the 2017 Michigan Open Champion and a former University of Michigan standout, feels good about his chances in the final round. He was tied with two others for the lead a few weeks ago going into the final round of the Tournament of Champions at Boyne Mountain. He finished second by a shot when touring professional James Piot of Canton fired a 65 on the Alpine Course to pass him.
“I had a great mentality for the final round at the Tournament of Champions and I played well,” he said. “I’ll just try to do the same thing, just play my game, pick my spots. If somebody shoots 65 here, hey they deserve it.”

SPONSORS: This year’s presenting sponsors are Club Car, Corebridge Financial and Rolex. Supporting partners are Gallagher, the Golf Channel, the PGA Tour, and Shipsticks. Supporting sponsors are Titleist/Footjoy, Callaway Golf, Nike, and TaylorMade.

RESULTS, TEE TIMES: See michiganpga.com. Gallery is welcome. Parking and admission are free. More information on Muskegon Country Club is available at www.muskegoncc.com.

MICHIGAN PGA PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP:
Matt Thompson, James Delnick Share Lead at Muskegon CC

MUSKEGON – Matt Thompson, a teaching professional who runs junior golf programs in Hillsdale and Battle Creek, and James Delnick, a teaching professional at Carl’s Golfland in ...Plymouth, shared the lead through the first round of the 105th Michigan PGA Professional Championship at Muskegon Country Club Monday.
They each shot 4-under 68 with Thompson playing in the morning wave, and Delnick playing in the afternoon on a windy, sunny day.
Muskegon Country Club’s highly regarded Donald Ross course held its own as just seven golfers in the field of 108 shot under par, including a foursome who shot 70, the second-best score of the day.
The foursome at 70 included defending champion Patrick Wilkes-Krier of Kendall Academy in Ypsilanti, Ryan Lenahan of Walnut Creek Country Club in South Lyon, Cody Haughton of Red Run Golf Club in Royal Oak and Nicholas Joy of High Pointe Golf Club near Traverse City.
Tyler Wong of Sunnybrook Country Club in Grandville was the only golfer who checked in with a 71, and the five golfers at even-par 72 were Gary Lewandowski of Tullymore Golf Resort in Canadian Lakes, Darren Husse of Warwick Hills Golf & Country Club in Grand Blanc, Tim Pearce of Birmingham Country Club, Kosta Ramirez of Mines Golf Club in Grand Rapids and Jim Deiters of Midland Country Club.
The field plays another round Tuesday before a 36-hole cut to the low 60 scorers and ties. The final round in the $56,000 54-hole championship is on Wednesday.
Thompson, the 2017 Michigan Open Champion, has been teaching two junior golf programs while playing and practicing very little this summer, but he has still managed to play well in the few tournaments he plays.
“I’m just trying to play and just keep everything the same,” he said. “I drove it really well, got it on the green and made a few birdies.”
Thompson, who will be 37 next week and earlier this summer finished second to touring professional James Piot of Canton in the Tournament of Champions at Boyne Mountain, said making a 20-foot birdie putt on hole 15 and hitting an approach shot to three feet on No. 4 were the highlights of his round.
“This is a great golf course and I just kind of plodded along enjoying it,” he said. “I’ve played one full round since the TOC. I’m not sure how I’m doing it, but I’m playing well and not going to change anything now.”
Delnick, 32 and a Ferris State University Professional Golf Management graduate from Clarkston, said his game has improved through the summer.
“I missed the cuts at the Michigan Open and the Tournament of Champions, but I kind of started to figure it out a little bit,” he said. “I was prepping for this, and I know that I have the game for it. There’s a learning curve to it. This is my third (Michigan PGA Professional Championship) and I feel like I’ve been getting better and right now my game is in a good spot.”
Delnick had eight birdies on his card for the round and birdied five of the last six holes on the back nine to finish.
“I putted really well and just did some monster scrambling on the front nine to get through it,” he said. “Then on the back I settled in a little bit and hit some really good shots. Coming down the stretch I got the driver kind of rolling again.”
In addition to bringing the state’s top playing professionals together to play for the Michigan Section championship and the historic Gilbert A. Currie Trophy, another important feature of this week’s championship is it serving as the starting point and qualifier on the road to major championship golf with the best players in the world at the 109th PGA Championship of 2027 (May 2027 at Fields Ranch East, PGA Frisco, TX).
The low eight golfers, not including three Michigan golfers who are already exempt, will earn spots in the 2027 PGA Professional National Championship at Streamsong Resort in Florida, next April 25-28. The low 20 finishers from that national event move on to play with the best players in the world in the PGA.
Scott Hebert of Traverse City Golf & Country Club, an eight-time past champion who shot 74, Jeff Roth of BOYNE Golf Academy, a five-time past champion, who shot 76, and Lenahan, who was part of the foursome opening with a 70, are exempt players already ticketed for the 2027 PGA Professional National Championship.

SPONSORS: This year’s presenting sponsors are Club Car, Corebridge Financial and Rolex. Supporting partners are Gallagher, the Golf Channel, the PGA Tour, and Shipsticks. Supporting sponsors are Titleist/Footjoy, Callaway Golf, Nike, and TaylorMade.

RESULTS, TEE TIMES: See michiganpga.com. Gallery is welcome. Parking and admission are free. More information on Muskegon Country Club is available at www.muskegoncc.com.

Another week, another Drive, Chip & Putt Sub-Regional!

16 golfers from our final Sub-Regional are advancing to Crooked Stick Golf Club on September 20, their next stop on the road to the National Finals!

A huge thank you to Kalamazoo Country Club for their hospitality! ...Congratulations and good luck to all the advancers!

MICHIGAN PGA PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP: Practice Day at Muskegon Country Club

MUSKEGON – It was practice day at Muskegon Country Club for the 105th Michigan PGA Professional Championship, which starts Monday morning and goes through Wednesday.
In addition to bringing the ...state’s top playing professionals together to play for the Michigan Section championship, the historic Gilbert A. Currie Trophy and a purse of $56,000, another important feature of the Michigan PGA Professional championship is it serving as the starting point and qualifier on the road to major championship golf with the best players in the world at the 109th PGA Championship of 2027 (May 2027 at Fields Ranch East, PGA Frisco).
The low eight golfers, not including three Michigan golfers who are already exempt, will earn spots in the 2027 PGA Professional National Championship at Streamsong Resort in Florida, next April 25-28. The low 20 finishers from that national event move on to play with the best players in the world in the PGA Championship.
Scott Hebert of Traverse City Golf & Country Club, Jeff Roth of BOYNE Golf Academy and Ryan Lenahan of Walnut Hills Country Club, based on past performances in the national tournaments, are the exempt players already ticketed for the 2027 PGA Professional National Championship.
Defending champion Patrick Wilkes-Krier of Kendall Golf Academy in Ypsilanti is one of 14 former Michigan PGA Professional champions in the field, and that list of past champions covers a sizable portion of the tournament’s history.
It includes eight-time champion Hebert (2006, ’07, ’08, ’09, ’11, ’12, ’14, ’16) five-time champion Roth (1998, ’99, 2001, ’03, ’19), three-time champion Ben Cook of Quail Ridge Golf Club (2020, ’21, ’24), two-time champion Kyle Martin of Lochmoor Club (2023, ’22), three-time champion Brian Cairns of Fox Hills Learning Center (1996, 2000, 2013), John Seltzer of Egypt Valley Country Club (2017), Dan Urban of Gull Lake Country Club (2015), PGA Life Member Ron Beurmann of Jackson (2010), Tom Harding of Carl’s Golfland (1997), two-time champion Steve Brady of Oakland Hills Country Club (1993, ’95), two-time champion and PGA Life Member Barry Redmond of Chelsea (1991, ‘92), PGA Life Member Jack Seltzer of Flushing (1988) and PGA Life Member John Traub of Berkley (1984).
The field of 108 golfers will play 54-holes over three days with a cut to the low 60 scorers and ties after Tuesday’s second round.
The Michigan PGA professional Championship dates to 1922 and the past champions list includes Walter Hagen, Al Watrous, Chick Harbert, Jimmy Demaret, Horton Smith, John Barnum, Randy Erskine, Lynn Janson and Buddy Whitten.

DID YOU KNOW? Patrick Wilkes-Krier, the defending champion this week, reached the championship match of the 2005 Michigan Amateur Championship at Muskegon Country Club. He finished as runner-up, falling to Christian Vozza of Traverse City, 5 and 4.

SPONSORS: This year’s presenting sponsors are Club Car, Corebridge Financial and Rolex. Supporting partners are Gallagher, the Golf Channel, the PGA Tour and Shipsticks. Supporting sponsors are Titleist/Footjoy, Callaway Golf, Nike and TaylorMade.

RESULTS, TEE TIMES: See michiganpga.com. Gallery is welcome. Parking and admission are free. More information on Muskegon Country Club is available at www.muskegoncc.com.

MICHIGAN PGA PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP: Muskegon Country Club Hosting, Patrick Wilkes-Krier Defending

MUSKEGON – Muskegon Country Club and the Michigan PGA Professional Championship each have over 100 years of history, but the two longtime state golf entities are getting together for the... first time in a major way.

Muskegon CC, which dates to 1908, is hosting the 105th Michigan PGA Professional Championship, Monday through Wednesday, Aug. 24-26.

The highly regarded Donald Ross-designed Muskegon course has hosted several championships and USGA qualifiers, including two Michigan Amateur Championships and some PGA team and chapter tournaments, but never a Michigan PGA Professional Championship or Michigan Open Championship.

“I’m excited about it,” said Justin Phillips, the Michigan Section PGA’s tournament director. “What stands out is the golf course. I’ve looked at scores of other championships played there, and U.S. Open qualifiers, and it plays much harder than what the yardages on the scorecard would suggest.”

Phillips said the green complexes are great, but very challenging.

“Another great thing is that it will be an enjoyable course for all our members to play,” he said. “We have a lot of our PGA Life Members and senior members still playing in this championship. It kind of brings all of our players together and because of the yardage, and the traditional classic design, everybody can play it and enjoy it, but it will also provide a strong test that will determine a worthy champion.”

The club was founded in 1908 on 130 acres of sand dune overlooking Lake Michigan and features rolling terrain and fescue lined fairways. It can play up to 6,697 yards from the back tees, and in Ross fashion features challenging green settings.

The course was originally laid out by noted designer Thomas Bendelow but in 1920 was redesigned by Ross. In the last two decades the club has concentrated on removing some trees and returning the design to the Ross specifications.

In addition to bringing the state’s top playing professionals together to play for the Michigan Section championship, the historic Gilbert A. Currie Trophy and a purse of $56,000, another important feature of the Michigan PGA Professional championship is it serving as the starting point and qualifier on the road to major championship golf with the best players in the world at the 109th PGA Championship of 2027 (May 2027 at Fields Ranch East, PGA Frisco).

The low eight golfers, not including three Michigan golfers who are already exempt, will earn spots in the 2027 PGA Professional National Championship at Streamsong Resort in Florida, next April 25-28. The low 20 finishers from that national event move on to play with the best players in the world in the PGA Championship.

Scott Hebert of Traverse City Golf & Country Club, Jeff Roth of BOYNE Golf Academy and Ryan Lenahan of Walnut Hills Country Club, based on past performances in the national tournaments, are the exempt players already ticketed for the 2027 PGA Professional National Championship.

Defending champion Patrick Wilkes-Krier of Kendall Golf Academy in Ypsilanti is one of 14 former Michigan PGA Professional champions in the field, and that list of past champions covers a sizable portion of the tournament’s history.

It includes eight-time champion Hebert (2006, ’07, ’08, ’09, ’11, ’12, ’14, ’16) five-time champion Roth (1998, ’99, 2001, ’03, ’19), three-time champion Ben Cook of Quail Ridge Golf Club (2020, ’21, ’24), two-time champion Kyle Martin of Lochmoor Club (2023, ’22), three-time champion Brian Cairns of Fox Hills Learning Center (1996, 2000, 2013), John Seltzer of Egypt Valley Country Club (2017), Dan Urban of Gull Lake Country Club (2015), PGA Life Member Ron Beurmann of Jackson (2010), Tom Harding of Carl’s Golfland (1997), two-time champion Steve Brady of Oakland Hills Country Club (1993, ’95), two-time champion and PGA Life Member Barry Redmond of Chelsea (1991, ‘92), PGA Life Member Jack Seltzer of Flushing (1988) and PGA Life Member John Traub of Berkley (1984).

The field of 108 golfers will play 54-holes over three days with a cut to the low 60 scorers and ties after Tuesday’s second round.

A year ago, at Walnut Creek Country Club, Wilkes-Krier birdied the final hole and won the 104th championship by one shot over Cook. He dedicated the win to his late mentor Dave Kendall.

The Michigan PGA professional Championship dates to 1922 and the past champions list includes Walter Hagen, Al Watrous, Chick Harbert, Jimmy Demaret, Horton Smith, John Barnum, Randy Erskine, Lynn Janson and Buddy Whitten.

SPONSORS: This year’s presenting sponsors are Club Car, Corebridge Financial and Rolex. Supporting partners are Gallagher, the Golf Channel, the PGA Tour and Shipsticks. Supporting sponsors are Titleist/Footjoy, Callaway Golf, Nike and TaylorMade.

RESULTS, TEE TIMES: See michiganpga.com. Gallery is welcome. Parking and admission are free. More information on Muskegon Country Club is available at www.muskegoncc.com.