Michigan Golf Scene

The who’s who of Michigan prep golf will appear at the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA)  Coca-Cola Junior Championships at Boyne this week.  Players from 2011 Division One Medalist Max Kollin (North Farmington) and Henry Do (pronounced dough) of Ypsilanti highlight a field of players from 20 different states and overseas that will play the Moor course at Boyne Highlands from July 3rd through the fifth.

Henry Do Signs His Scorecard

   The string of accolades following Kollin and Do are tremendous. Kollin also won the 2011 Oakland County Medalists honors and has done well at elite AJGA events finishing in fourth place in this event last year and 4^th at the Randy Wise Open at Warwick Hills in Grand Blanc last August. While he has cooled off this season, Indiana University has signed Kollin to be a Hoosier this fall. Henry Do is also among the players to watch. Do chose not to play high school golf this past spring as he focused on qualifying in amateur events across the country. He won the 2011 AJGA Randy Wise Open coming from behind with one hole to play to erase a two shot lead by Michael Nagy (Manistique)who bogeyed the 18th and then Do won with an iron shot on the same hole that was tapped in for birdie after he hit it just two feet for the victory. Do was the only Michigan player to earn the right to play in the AJGA Junior Players Championship at the TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Verde, Florida.

   Also in the field are three recently crowned 2012 MHSAA Champions.  Nick Carlson (Hamilton) won the Division 2 title over Tyler Polulak (DeWitt) and they are both entered in the field. Sam Weatherhead (Grand Rapids West Catholic) is the Division 3 Champion and he will be joined by Division 4 Champion Ted Rider of Kalamazoo Hackett. In addition, three members of the Birmingham Brother Rice Warriors will compete including Kyle Gaines (Oxford); Lucas Belanger (Clarkston); and Jeremy Ball (Bloomfield Hills).

This 144 player event will also feature Aaron Knutson (Lake Orion) Patrick Luther (Novi) Bailey Truesdell (Grand Blanc) and Brandon Barrows (Lake Orion)and quite a few accomplished prep players who will test their skills at the 6,850 par 72 course. While 66 players from Michigan are entered in the field, Doug Ghim of Arlington Heights, Illinois won this event in 2011. Joey Garber of Petoskey, Michigan won in 2010.