FLINT – The 99th Michigan PGA Professional Championship is Monday through Wednesday at Flint Golf Club.
The state championship for Michigan PGA Section golf professionals also serves as the starting point and qualifier on the road to major championship golf with the best players in the world at the PGA Championship of 2021.
Defending section champion Jeff Roth of Boyne Golf Academy heads the field of 128 professionals, including 13 past champions, in the $54,000 championship on the storied Flint Golf Club course designed by famed architect Willie Park Jr.
A cut will be made to the low 60 scorers and ties after Tuesday’s second round in the 54-hole tournament. The low nine golfers at the end of the tournament – along with Scott Hebert of Traverse City Golf & Country Club, Jeff Roth of Boyne Golf Academy and Ben Cook of Yankee Springs Golf Course in Wayland who are already qualified – will play in the 2021 PGA Professional National Championship next April.
The low 20 finishers from that national championship move on to play with the best players in the world at next year’s PGA Championship May 17-21 at The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island, S.C.
Eight-time Michigan PGA Professional champion Hebert (2006, ’07, ’08, ’09, ’11, ’12, ’14, ’16) and five-time champion Roth (1998, ’99, 2001, ’03, ’19) are two of the 13 former winners of the Gilbert A. Currie Trophy in the field at Flint.
The others are 2017 champion John Seltzer of Seltzer Golf School, three-time winner Brian Cairns of Fox Hills Learning Center (1996, 2000, 2013), two-time winner Steve Brady of Oakland Hills Country Club (1993, ’95), two-time winner Barry Redmond of Chelsea (1990, ‘92), Dan Urban of Gull Lake Country Club (2015), Ron Beurmann of Country Club of Jackson (2010), Joe Pollack of Grand Rapids (2004), Tom Harding of Carl’s Golfland (1997), PGA Life Member Jack Seltzer of Flint (1988), PGA Life Member John Traub of Berkley (1984) and PGA Life Member Randy Erskine of Rochester (1978).
Flint Golf Club dates to 1910 as a social club, and the course was opened in 1919. Park, a two-time British Open champion turned designer, fashioned a parkland golf course that has stayed true to its roots over the years. It can play as long as 6,671 yards at par 72. Somewhat unique to the Park design are five par-3 and five par 5 holes.
Flint Golf Club is hosting the Michigan PGA Professional Championship for the fourth consecutive year. It has been a regular host to PGA and Golf Association of Michigan tournaments over the years, including the 2001 Michigan Amateur Championship, and it has also hosted golf legends. Sam Snead set the course record in June 1963 shooting a 61.
Flint Golf Club’s staff is headed by General Manager and PGA Golf Professional Scott Brotebeck, who is part of the tournament field. The superintendent is Alex Lincoln.
Last year, Roth, a Michigan Golf Hall of Fame member, made more Michigan golf history. The 61-year-old Boyne Golf Academy instructor shot a closing 4-under 68 for a 17-under 199 tournament total and the win.
It was the fifth Michigan PGA Professional title for the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame member who lived in the Flint area and worked at Flint Golf Club as head golf professional through the 1990s. His 17-under total, which earned him the $7,000 first-place check, was four shots better than Cook, who rallied with a closing 64.
The Michigan PGA Professional Championship dates to 1922 and past champions include golf legends Walter Hagen, Chuck Kocsis and Chick Harbert.
The Michigan PGA Professional Championship is presented by Club Car and OMEGA with supporting sponsors Titleist/Footjoy, TaylorMade, Nike, Golf Channel and the PGA Tour.
See michiganpga.com for more information, live scoring during the tournament and pairings. Gallery is welcome. Parking and admission are free. More information on Flint Golf Club is available at flintgolfclub.com.
