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Eric Lilleboe Leads 2018 Order of Merit
Eric Lilleboe of Okemos, MI led the 2018 Michigan Players Tour Order of Merit, collecting 4 victories and winning $2,300.00 in 4 stroke play events. Lilleboe was a former NCAA Division II All American out of Ferris State University. Lilleboe’s scoring average for the season was 66.25 (4 rounds), the lowest in Tour history. During the 2018 season, the Tour conducted a total of 11 stroke play events, and paid out $14,725.00 in prize money. Overall, there were 186 entries into Tour events during 2018. In the thirteen seasons the Tour has been in operation, 120 stroke play events have been conducted, with 304 different players participating. Total prize money paid out during the twelve seasons was $104,621.49. The complete list of money winners in 2018 is shown below.
Order of Merit
Mudd Wins Tour Championship Posts 75 In Clear and Cool Conditions, Wins By 3
And yet, the difficulty of Buck’s Run G.C. in Mt. Pleasant quickly became apparent at the 2018 Michigan Players Tour Championship. And in the end, the best score anyone could manage was a 3 over par 75 by Patrick Mudd of Crown Point, Indiana, a score which beat Nicholas Symonds of Eau Claire and Spenser Fisher of Lansing by 3 shots. At 6,914 yards, Buck’s Run G.C. is not the longest course on the Tour, but with a collection of holes that are among the most demanding in the entire state, it played as the toughest. The par 3s, in particular, each require a carry over water to small undulating greens, and there are several holes with water in play on both the drive and approach. The 18th hole, a 469 yard par 4, may be the most difficult finishing hole in the entire state. The round was played under sunny blue skies, a temperature of 62°, and calm winds. For complete scores, please go to the Results page.
Edges Juszczyk By One Shot At Eagle Eye Classic
But the former NCAA Division II All-American from Ferris State University has won the last five MPT events he has competed in, a streak going back to the 2017 MPT Championship at Tullymore, matching the record of 5 consecutive wins set by Joseph Juszczyk of Dearborn Heights in 2015. The latest win occurred September 15 at the 2018 Eagle Eye Classic, where Lilleboe posted an impressive six under par 66, a score that clipped, you guessed it, Joseph Juszczyk by one shot. The score was particularly notable given the fact Eagle Eye is the longest and most difficult course on Tour, playing 7,323 yards to a 75.9 handicap, 145 slope rating. In the five wins, Lilleboe has a scoring average of 67.20. Eagle Eye G.C. is one of five courses comprising the Hawk Hollow Resort, one of Michigan’s most spectacular golf resorts. Eagle Eye was the first solo design of Chris Lutzke, who was an associate of Pete Dye for over 20 years. For complete scores, please see the Results page.
Five under par 67 gets it done at Huntmore G.C.
Second place went to James Holley of Howell, who earlier in the summer, finished second in the 2018 Michigan Open Championship, which was won by amateur Jake Kneen. The 2018 Brighton Open, conducted at the challenging Huntmore G.C. in Brighton, was the third win in three events this season for Lilleboe, who has a scoring average of 66.33 strokes in the three wins. He also won the Shootout At The Fortress in Frankemuth on July 7th, and the Hawk Hollow Open in Bath on July 14th. This scoring streak is unmatched in the 13 seasons of the Tour. Huntmore G.C. is a beautifully maintained, but difficult course located a few miles south of Highland on Old U.S. 23 in Livingston County. It plays 7,115 yards to a par of 72. For complete scores, please see the Results page.
Kors Takes Timber Trace Title Posts 2 Under Par 70, Wins By 3
Second place was shared by Matt DiPaolo of Royal Oak and Josh Shaw of Pinckney, who is the course superintendent at Timber Trace. Both players posted one over par 73s. As an amateur, Kors could not accept a check for the win, but instead will receive a $500.00 gift card. Amateurs are restricted to winning a prize voucher with a maximum value of $750.00 per event (see the USGA Rules Of Amateur Status, Rule 3-2 (a)). Timber Trace G.C. is a beautiful course, playing 7,020 yards from the championship tees. Designed by Jim Dewling and Pat Conroy, Timber Trace is located in rural Livingston County just west of Pinckney, which is a world away from the bustling western suburbs of the Detroit Metro area. An interesting feature at Timber Trace is the 5 minute drive through the Lake Wallaby Natural Area, which occurs between the 12th green and the 13th tee. For complete scores, please see the Results page.
Lenahan And Regier Split Jackson Open Title Both Players Post 2 Under Par 70s
But due to personal obligations, both players decided to split the title instead of heading back to the first tee for a playoff. Lenahan is a multiple winner on the MPT, having won five events in 2011 and 2012. This was Regier’s first event on Tour. Both players, along with Nick Contini of Granville, OH, are scheduled to compete in the First Stage of PGA Tour Qualifying School in September. The Grande is one of Southeast Michigan’s most beautiful and challenging public courses, and is noted for its large undulating greens and unique bunkering, which allow for numerous pin positions. Over the years, the course has shown a remarkable resistance to low scoring, a trend which continued in this event. For complete scores, please see the Results page.
Bohannon Picks Up First Tour Win Even Par 72 Edges Juszczyk By One
And with a clutch birdie on the final hole, Jordan Bohannon of Southfield preserved his one shot lead over Joseph Juszczyk of Dearborn Heights to win the 2018 Pheasant Run Open by one shot. Bohannon posted an even par 72 for the win. It was a beautiful day, with no rain in the forecast.....but.... with Mother Nature being who she is, pop up thunderstorms developed quickly in the afternoon, leading to an hour and a half suspension of play for lightning. Pheasant Run G.C. is part of a large residential development in Canton Twp., and is owned and operated by the township. Designed by Arthur Hills, it is a beautiful course, with several holes set in wooded isolation from the community. For complete scores, please see the Results page.
Consecutive Eagles On Front Nine The Difference
Second place went to Joe Juszczyk of Dearborn Heights, who posted a 69. On July 7th, Lilleboe won the 2018 Shootout At The Fortress, firing a seven under par 65, a win that came on the heels of a T6 finish in the Michigan Open, an event he led after the second round. Hawk Hollow G.C. is a beautiful, Jerry Matthews designed parkland course, featuring perhaps the most difficult finishing holes on the Tour. It measures, 6,912 yards from the tips, and is located just a few miles north of the Michigan State University campus. For complete results, please see the Results page.
Birdies Five In A Row On Back Nine To Edge Burry
Lilleboe posted a 7 under par 65 for the win on the classic and demanding layout. This was the 4th staging of the Shootout At The Fortress, an event that has seen some of the best scoring on Tour. In the four events at the Fortress, the average winning score is 67.5 strokes. Another noteworthy fact about this year’s event is that the 23 players who competed in this year’s Shootout was the largest turnout in the history of the MPT. The previous record occurred at the Jackson Open in 2006, the first year of the Tour. The Fortress is one of Southeast Michigan’s most beautiful and challenging public courses, and is noted for its perfect conditioning, and also for the demanding 13th hole, which has a narrow fairway that winds between two large ponds in the driving area. For complete results, please see the Results page.
Hooks Wins Coyote Preserve Open Captures First 36 Hole Tournament On Tour In 11 Years
Second place went to Blaze Hogan of Big Rapids, who posted 74 - 76. Although there was a small group of only 12 players in the field, players contemplating joining the Tour should note the significantly larger paycheck available in 36 hole events. Hooks picked up $800.00 for the win, an amount that could have easily topped $1,000.00 with only a handful more players. The Tour will now seek to add a couple more 36 hole events this season. Should these events be scheduled, they will be announced here on the Tour web site and by email. Coyote Preserve G.C. is an Arnold Palmer Signature Golf Course, and is one of the most beautiful and challenging public courses in Southeast Michigan. It plays to a yardage of 6,912 yards, and a par of 71. For complete scores, please see the Results page.
MPT Players Excel In Michigan Open James Holley finishes second, but wins first place money
Traverse City, Michigan -- Jake Kneen, an amateur from White Lake, Michigan, survived a triple bogey on the 16th hole, and a final round 75, to capture the 2018 Michigan Open Championship on June 14 by two shots, allowing him to hoist the illustrious James Standish Trophy, a trophy containing the names of several members of the World Golf Hall of Fame, including Walter Hagen, who won the Michigan Open in 1921. James Holley of Howell, who was runner up in the first two MPT events this season, finished second at -6. Since Kneen is an amateur, Holley picked up first place money in the event. Also playing in the final group was Eric Lilleboe, who won the 2017 Michigan Players Tour Championship last fall. Lilleboe trailed Kneen by 3 shots entering the final round. Other MPT players finishing in the money were Joseph Juszczyk (T9), Brett White (T16), Blaze Hogan (T22), Brian Cairns (T25), and Jay Jurecic (T25).
Hooks Picks Up First Tour Win Posts Even Par 72 In Difficult Conditions
And emerging with the win was Joe Hooks of Commerce Township, posting an even par 72 on the lengthy track, which is located just a mile north of downtown Oxford. Second place went to last week’s runner up James Holley of Howell, who posted a 74. Boulder Pointe G.C. is a very demanding Conroy-Dewling Associates design, stretching over 7,400 yards from the championship tees. Several par fours on the course stretch to nearly 500 yards, making the course a big hitter’s paradise. Driving areas on several holes are also tight, with ponds, forests, and areas of deep grass and fescue ready to gather your ball if you are slightly off line. For complete scores, please see the Results page.
Defeats James Holley On First Hole
Hogan, who winters in Hobe Sound, Florida, won the 2017 Mystic Creek Open for his first Tour win last summer. During the winter of 2017-2018, Hogan competed on the Minor League Golf Tour in Florida, and was 85th on the money list with $1,249.34 in earnings, posting two top 3 finishes in his last 4 starts. Devil's Ridge G.C. is a challenging, but fun course to play, and demands precise driving on many holes to score well. Water also comes into play in both the driving areas and near the greens on several holes. The course also features unusual elevation changes for this part of the State. As the opening event of the 2018 Tour season, the DRO provided players competing in the Michigan Open a chance to get in a competitive round prior to the tournament. This is also true of the Boulder Pointe Open, which will be conducted the following week on June 9th. For complete scores, please see the Results page.
Tour To Conduct 13 Events This Season
The 2018 season will be the second year in which the Tour will conduct all of its events on weekend afternoons. In 2017, this proved successful, as the Tour essentially doubled participation in most events. It is hoped even more players will come out and tee it up with us in 2018. The season will begin on June 2nd with the Devil's Ridge Open in Oxford, and for the first time in 11 years, the Tour will conduct one or more 36 hole events. A separate story regarding this follows. The Tour will utilize three new courses in 2018. These are as follows --
The 2018 season will conclude with the Michigan Players Tour Championship on September 22, to be held at the incredible Buck's Run G.C. in Mt. Pleasant. |
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