HALL FINANCIAL/FOUNDERS BREWING CO. MICHIGAN OPEN Presented by Make The Turn

Joe Juszczyk Chases Second State Title, Leads After First Round

BELLAIRE – Joe Juszczyk of Dearborn Heights is 39 and considering transitioning from being a journeyman tour professional for the last ...15 years to being a teaching professional.
“Life stuff is kind of taking priority and I just want to be around home a bit more,” he said after taking the lead Monday through the first round of the Hall Financial/Founders Brewing Co. Michigan Open presented by Make The Turn.
The 2023 Michigan Open champion shot 6-under 65 on the Cedar River Course at Shanty Creek Resort and had a one-shot lead on Traverse City golfers Shea Harmeson, an amateur, and Bay Meadows professional Cameron Ruge, who each shot 66.
Joe Montpas, an amateur from Flushing, mini-tour pro Will Anderson of Portage and two-time Open champion Eric Lilleboe of Okemos were next after 67s, and defending champion Otto Black of Brighton was among the crowd at 68.
The starting field of 156 golfers plays another round Tuesday followed by a 36-hole cut to the low 70 and ties. The $100,000 championship continues through Thursday.
Juszczyk, who doesn’t have current tour status, said he has played only 10 rounds this year while teaching at Whole Golf in Bloomfield Hills and was happy with the way he played.
“I made a couple bogeys on par 3s that I would like to clean up, but I’m putting well and keeping it in play,” he said. “I wasn't hitting it very well last year when I came here, so coming in this year I was a little guarded. But I’m hitting it a lot better this year, so I’m trying to attack wherever I can.”
He made eight birdies against his two bogeys and said he would love to add a second Open title to his resume.
“I would love to add a second, a third, a fourth, fifth, as many as I can,” he said and laughed. “I plan to keep on playing in this event and the Tournament of Champions. I don’t really know what the future holds. I might get back at (tour golf). I might not. It just depends.”
Harmeson, who is 21 and recently finished his collegiate career at Kansas State University, and Ruge, 27 and last fall’s Michigan PGA Match Play Champion, each played in the morning wave.
“I’ve been playing pretty solid the last couple of weeks and then didn’t play great yesterday in a fun round with my friends, so I was kind of no expectations,” Harmeson, a former Saginaw Valley State golfer said.
“Sometimes that makes it a little easier to come out and just give it your all, and I’m home in Northern Michigan and this course has a homey feel to it. I’ve played a lot like it up here.”
Harmeson plans to become a professional at the end of the summer. He is playing in the British Amateur next week and plans to play in the Michigan Amateur Championship and attempt to qualify for the U.S. Amateur.
Ruge and his hot putter charged across the back nine with a 6-under 29. He made birdies on 10, 15, 17 and 18, which were wrapped around an eagle on the drivable par 4 No. 13 hole.
“I drove the green about 25 feet behind the pin at 13 and made it,” he said. “I found something on the second day of the (Michigan Pro-Am) and I’m playing solid.”
He said last year’s win in the Michigan PGA Match Play Championship has given him great confidence going into this season.
“Getting that first big win is a big reason I was able to have the back nine I had today,” he said. “I feel like I can contend in all the championships.”

ABOUT HALL FINANCIAL: Hall Financial is proud to partner with the Michigan PGA and the Hall Financial/Founders Brewing Co. Michigan Open. Supporting the Michigan PGA and its members is a passion for Hall Financial CEO, David Hall. Growing the game of golf in the state of Michigan while providing a key financial resource is a privilege for Hall Financial. David Hall started Hall Financial in 2016 with the core mission to be the most client-focused mortgage company in the industry. Since its inception, the company has built a reputation for making the mortgage process simple and fast while delivering clients with Five-Star service. With nearly 7,000 Five-Star reviews, the team at Hall Financial is committed to providing customized mortgage solutions tailored to each client’s needs. Media contact for Hall Financial: Mark Gildersleeve, Sr. Vice President- Growth & Strategy, 248-590-0131, mgildersleeve@hallfg.com. Website: callhallfirst.com

ABOUT FOUNDERS BREWING CO: Founders is one of the highest-recognized breweries and one of the 10 largest craft breweries in the country. Founded in 1997 in Grand Rapids, it has been ranked as one of the top breweries in the world by Ratebeer.com since 2006 and several of its beers are in the top 100 beers of the world on Beeradvocate.com. Surrounded by the Great Lakes, Founders is devoted to using Michigan’s freshwater resources in a sustainable fashion to provide the highest quality beer possible – from All Day IPA to craft beer stalwarts like KBS, which celebrates 20 years of barrel-aged excellence this year. Website foundersbrewing.com

ABOUT SHANTY CREEK: Shanty Creek is a four-season destination resort spanning nearly 5,500 acres and four distinct villages: Summit, Schuss, Cedar River, and Hawk’s Eye, each with lodging, dining, and golf. Located in Northern Michigan’s Bellaire, just 30 miles northeast of Traverse City, Shanty Creek offers a variety of activities and outdoor recreation perfect for your next Michigan getaway. Website: www.shantycreek.com. Media contact for Shanty Creek: Lindsey Southwell, lsouthwell@shantycreek.com, 231-676-9598.

The Hall Financial/Founders Brewing Michigan Open is underway...
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PRACTICE DAY PICTURES AT THE HALL FINANCIAL/FOUNDERS BREWING CO. MICHIGAN OPEN PRESENTED BY Make The Turn

BELLAIRE – The first round of the 109th Hall Financial/Founders Brewing Co. Michigan Open presented by Make The Turn starts on Monday at 8 a.m., and Sunday was the final practice ...day for the field of 156 starting golfers.
Otto Black, 32, a mini-tour professional, is defending on the Cedar River Course at Shanty Creek Resort.
A year ago, Black shot a closing 1-under 70 for a 16-under 268 total on Cedar River to win by two shots, earn $13,500 and have his name inscribed on the historic James D. Standish Trophy.
The Cedar River course is a celebrated design by the late PGA Tour star Tom Weiskopf.
Hall Financial is a title sponsor for the fifth consecutive year and has helped usher in increased entries and record purses. This year Founders Brewing Company is joining Hall Financial as a title sponsor for the 2026 Hall Financial/Founders Brewing Co. Michigan Open Championship.
The Grand Rapids-based craft brewing company, one of the largest and most-recognized breweries in the U.S., is sponsoring a major state golf championship for the first time.
Make The Turn, the Troy marketing agency, is also returning as a presenting sponsor.
The Michigan Section PGA, which administers the championship, expects the tournament to continue to thrive and that this year’s purse should exceed $100,000. It will be announced during the tournament.
Cedar River is one of five courses at the resort that previously hosted the Michigan PGA Professional Championship from 2000 to 2005. It opened in 1999 to rave reviews and can be played to a maximum yardage of 7,001. It was Weiskopf’s first course in Michigan and features isolated holes, generous tree-lined fairways, classic natural green settings, significant elevation changes and includes one of his trademark dramatic drivable par 4 holes (301-yard No. 13).
A full field of 156 golfers, including 10 past champions, tour professionals, Michigan Section PGA professionals and top amateur players will play the first two rounds before a 36-hole cut to the low 70 scorers and ties.
Among the past champions in the field, including Black, are six-time winner Scott Hebert of Traverse City Golf & Country Club (1997, ’99, 2000, ’01, ’02, ’06), two-time champion Jeff Roth of Boyne Golf Academy (1998, ’04), two-time champion Eric Lilleboe of Okemos (2019, ’24), Joe Juszczyk of Dearborn (2023), Matt Thompson, the golf coach at Hillsdale College (2017), Jeff Bronkema of Caledonia (2016), Tom Werkmeister of Hudsonville (2013), Andy Ruthkoski of Muskegon (2007) and Tim Matthews of Scotts (1986).
Lilleboe has applied to the USGA for reinstatement as an amateur and will not be allowed to accept earnings from the purse, but he will be playing for a third title.
Ryan Lenahan of South Lyon, the PGA Director of Instruction at Walnut Creek Country Club, who recently played in the 2026 PGA Championship, is in the field.
First played in 1916, the Michigan Open annually attracts the top professional and amateur golfers in the state and its list of winners includes golf legends Walter Hagen, Al Watrous, Chuck Kocsis, Horton Smith and Dave Hill.

HALL FINANCIAL/FOUNDERS BREWING CO. MICHIGAN OPEN Presented by Make The Turn

BELLAIRE – Defending champion Otto Black of Brighton has looked forward to playing in the Hall Financial/Founders Brewing Co. Michigan Open presented by Make The Turn since his amateur days, and this year ...returns with renewed confidence.

Black, 32, a mini-tour professional, will defend in the 109th edition of the state championship next Monday through Thursday, June 8-11, on the Cedar River Course at Shanty Creek Resort.

“Pretty excited for sure to go back, especially since it’s at the same course as last year,” he said. “I can tap into those good memories and moments, especially when things don’t go your way, which always happens in tournament golf.”

A year ago, Black shot a closing 1-under 70 for a 16-under 268 total to win by two shots, earned $13,500 and had his name inscribed on the historic James D. Standish Trophy.

“The main thing you gain when you win an event like that, especially one you have played in for so long, is confidence,” he said. “You gain confidence in your planning and your execution and just knowing you had what it takes to be great players in a great tournament.”

The Cedar River course is a celebrated design by the late PGA Tour star Tom Weiskopf, and Black called it a great tournament course.

“It has some demanding tee shots and it’s all about giving yourself potential looks for birdie,” he said. “You have to be careful off some of the tees. There are some holes you can attack, and then there are some where you can’t be as aggressive. I had a good plan last year and I can call on that and adjust from there depending on the weather.”

Hall Financial is a title sponsor for the fifth consecutive year and has helped usher in increased entries and record purses. This year Founders Brewing Co. is joining Hall Financial as a title sponsor for the 2026 Hall Financial/Founders Brewing Co. Michigan Open Championship.

The Grand Rapids-based craft brewing company, one of the largest and most-recognized breweries in the U.S., is sponsoring a major state golf championship for the first time.

Make The Turn, the Troy marketing agency, is also returning as the presenting sponsor.

The Michigan Section PGA, which administers the championship, expects the tournament to continue to thrive and that this year’s purse should exceed $100,000. It will be announced during the tournament.

Cedar River is one of five courses at the resort that previously hosted the Michigan PGA Professional Championship from 2000 to 2005. It opened in 1999 to rave reviews and can be played to a maximum yardage of 7,001. It was Weiskopf’s first course in Michigan and features isolated holes, generous tree-lined fairways, classic natural green settings, significant elevation changes and includes one of his trademark dramatic drivable par 4 holes (301-yard No. 13).

A full field of 156 golfers, including 10 past champions, tour professionals, Michigan Section PGA professionals and top amateur players will play the first two rounds before a 36-hole cut to the low 70 scorers and ties.

Among the past champions in the field, including Black, are six-time winner Scott Hebert of Traverse City Golf & Country Club (1997, ’99, 2000, ’01, ’02, ’06), two-time champion Jeff Roth of Boyne Golf Academy (1998, ’04), two-time champion Eric Lilleboe of Okemos (2019, ’24), Joe Juszczyk of Dearborn (2023), Matt Thompson, the golf coach at Hillsdale College (2017), Jeff Bronkema of Caledonia (2016), Tom Werkmeister of Hudsonville (2013), Andy Ruthkoski of Muskegon (2007) and Tim Matthews of Scotts (1986).

Lilleboe has applied to the USGA for reinstatement as an amateur and will not be allowed to accept earnings from the purse, but he will be playing for a third title.

Ryan Lenahan of South Lyon, the PGA Director of Instruction at Walnut Creek Country Club, who recently played in the 2026 PGA Championship, is in the field.

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Help us build something special for junior golf in Michigan

⛳️🏆 CHAMPIONS AT THE HIGHLANDS! 🏆⛳️

Huge congratulations to PGA Professional Brian Cairns (Fox Hills Learning Center) and Michigan State University golfer Julian Menser on capturing their first-ever Adidas State Pro-Am title!

After battling a crowded leaderboard in ...Round 1, the duo absolutely caught fire in Round 2. They started at a blistering pace—making birdies on 5 of their first 6 holes, and then rattling off 3 more in a row on 9, 10, and 11. Despite late windy conditions, no one could touch their spectacular 8-under 64, securing a dominant 4-stroke victory! 💪🔥

With this historic win, Brian and Julian engrave their names on the legendary trophy alongside golf icons like Al Watrous, Walter Burkemo, and Horton Smith, while also punching their ticket to the Tournament of Champions.

A massive thank you to our incredible sponsor, Adidas, for being onsite with an amazing mobile pro shop and providing gifts for all the players!

👉 Check out the full leaderboard and complete results here: https://www.golfgenius.com/pages/12463224210182931101

Congratulations, Chris! 👏