Preston shoots impressive 64 to take lead in Tournament of Champions
BOYNE FALLS -- Finishing 10 shots behind the winner of the recent Waterloo Open in Iowa gave Drew Preston renewed focus for his return to Michigan and the Tournament of Champions at Boyne Mountain Resort.
The result: The 22-year-old mini-tour professional from Grand Rapids fired a career-best 8-under-par 64 on the Alpine course Monday.
His round, which included six birdies and an eagle, set a torrid pace through the first round of the 22nd version of the tournament that brings together Michigan championship pedigree professionals, amateurs, seniors, juniors, men and women playing for the same title from different tees.
“I rolled in some birdie putts of 20-feet plus on the front nine and that got me going,” he said. “I wasn’t trying to be too aggressive or do anything crazy, but putts started falling and I just stayed patient and let it happen.”
Preston, 22 and last year’s Michigan Amateur Champion after finishing up his career at Bowling Green State University, had a two-shot lead on last year’s Michigan Open champion, Barrett Kelpin of Kalamazoo, who turned pro last year after finishing his college golf at the University of Iowa.
Defending champion JR Roth of New Mexico, recent Michigan Senior Open champion Ron Beurmann from the Country Club of Jackson, Muskegon touring pro Andrew Ruthkoski and 72-year-old Larry Clark of Traverse City made up the group at 4-under-par 68.
Rochester Hills’ Jeff Champine shot 70 to check in as the low amateur. Also at 70 were 2011 champion Lee Houtteman of Manitou Passage Golf Club, Kyle Roman of Hidden River Golf & Country Club and Charles Pasco of Metamora Golf & Country Club. Suzanne Green-Roebuck shot 72 for the low score among the women.
The field in the 54-hole $55,000 event will be cut to the low 50 scorers and ties following Tuesday’s second round. The final round is Wednesday, and all rounds are being played on the Alpine course. Gallery is welcome, and live scoring is available at www.michiganpgagolf.com.
Kelpin, who had seven birdies against one bogey in his round, said his 66 came in part because he fed off the success of Preston.
“You can’t lose the tournament the first day, but you don’t want to get lapped either,” he said. “He played well and I realized I had to make some birdies. I think we fed off each other a little bit. I’ve known Drew for a long time. He’s from Grand Rapids and I’m from Kalamazoo so we have been trying to beat each other for several years.”
Preston had three consecutive birdies on Nos. 16, 17 and 18 with birdie putts of 20-feet or more on each hole. He also made an eagle-3 on the par 5 No. 12 hole with a 40-foot putt.
“It was going my way all day today, but I did make it easy on myself by not missing too many fairways or greens,” he said. “I had a reality check last week (in Waterloo). I didn’t want to think people were that much better than me, so I worked on a couple of things and told myself you just have to trust it. That worked well for me today.”
1
Drew Preston
Ada, MI
64
-8
2
Barrett Kelpin
Kalamazoo, MI
66
-6
T3
Larry Clark
Traverse City,MI
68
-4
Andrew Ruthkoski
Muskegon, MI
68
-4
Ron Beurmann
Country Club of Jackson
68
-4
J.R. Roth
San Juan Country Club
68
-4
T7
Kyle Roman
Hidden River Golf & CC
70
-2
Jeff Champine(a)
Rochester Hills, MI
70
-2
Lee Houtteman
Manitou Passage Golf Club
70
-2
Charles Pasco
Metamora Golf & CC
70
-2
T11
David Nolan
Timberwood Golf Club
71
-1
George Bowman
Oakhurst Golf & CC
71
-1
Barry Redmond
Boyne Golf Academy
71
-1
Bill Mory
Meridian Sun Golf Club
71
-1
Tim Matthews
Scotts, MI
71
-1
T16
Frank McAuliffe
Kendall Academy of Golf
72
Even
Andrew Mogg
GolfTEC - Novi
72
Even
John Seltzer
The Polo Fields Golf & CC - Ann
72
Even
Brian Cairns
Fox Hills Golf & Banquet Center
72
Even
Henry Do(a)
Canton, MI
72
Even
Jeff Cuzzort
Grosse Ile, MI
72
Even
Joshua Bauer
Pontiac, MI
72
Even
Suzanne Green-Roebuck
Ann Arbor, MI
72
Even
T24
Josh Fryer
Franklin Hills Country Club
73
+1
Kevin Muir
The Wyndgate
73
+1
Timothy Katanski
Ann Arbor Golf & Outing
73
+1
Dave Kendall
Kendall Academy of Golf
73
+1
Scott Hebert
Grand Traverse Resort & Spa
73
+1
Steven Cuzzort
Grosse Ile, MI
73
+1
Mike Raymond(a)
Jackson, MI
73
+1
Ian Ziska
Katke GC/FSU
73
+1
T32
Bob Ackerman
Bob Ackerman Golf
74
+2
Aaron Bush
Forest Lake Country Club
74
+2
Gene Gizzarelli(a)
Bloomfield Hills, MI
74
+2
Jack Seltzer
Kendall Academy of Golf
74
+2
Chris Mory
Haslett, MI
74
+2
Dan Urban
Grand Rapids Golf Academy
74
+2
Patrick Colburn(a)
Traverse City, MI
74
+2
Mark Hill
Traverse City Golf Center
74
+2
Korey Mahoney
Buckley, MI
74
+2
Ken Allard
Detroit Golf Club
74
+2
T32
Steve Vecellio
Scalawags Golf Club
74
+2
Ron English
Charlotte, MI
74
+2
T44
Mike Fedewa(a)
Canton, MI
75
+3
Jeff Gniewek
Knollwood Country Club
75
+3
Thomas Harding
Kendall Academy of Golf
75
+3
Steve Wells
Hampshire Country Club
75
+3
Tom Jamieson(a)
Lansing, MI
75
+3
Larry Mancour
PGA Life Member
75
+3
T50
Joseph Pollack
Greg Norman Collection
76
+4
James Deiters
Midland Country Club
76
+4
Frank McAuliffe IV
Ann Arbor, MI
76
+4
Steve McKalko(a)
Troy, MI
76
+4
Kirk Scheerhorn
Wuskowhan Players Club
76
+4
Peter Green(a)
Franklin, MI
76
+4
Gary Robinson
PGA Life Member
76
+4
Alex Zeoli(a)
Rochester Hills, MI
76
+4
Gabriella Yurik(a)
Oakland, MI
76
+4
T59
Al Kuhn
Fountains Golf & Banquet
77
+5
Eric Lilleboe
Okemos, MI
77
+5
Steve Maddalena(a)
Jackson, MI
77
+5
Denis Husse
Tyrone Hills Golf Club
77
+5
David Tokarsky
Saginaw Country Club
77
+5
Jared Dalga(a)
Grand Rapids, MI
77
+5
James Boyle
Cadillac Country Club
77
+5
Nick Berklich
PGA Life Member
77
+5
T67
Mark Zelazny
Dearborn Country Club
78
+6
Andrew Bethune
Saginaw Valley St University
78
+6
Tom Fortuna
Knollwood Country Club
78
+6
Agim Bardha
Birmingham, MI
78
+6
T71
Chuck Pohl
Traverse City,MI
79
+7
John Pershern
Lochmoor Club
79
+7
Brent Kish
Edgewood Country Club
79
+7
Brian Moore
Fieldstone Golf Club
79
+7
Blaze Hogan(a)
Big Rapids, MI
79
+7
T76
Mike Erickson
Bloomfield Hills Country Club
80
+8
Michael Sequite(a)
Marshall,MI
80
+8
Chris Johnson
Thousand Oaks Golf Club
80
+8
Brian O'Neil
Boyne USA Resorts
80
+8
Mike Ray(a)
Dearborn, MI
80
+8
Kyle Murphy
Grandville, MI
80
+8
Jim VanderMolen(a)
Richland, MI
80
+8
Kelly Hartigan(a)
Lake Orion, MI
80
+8
T84
Roger Kuhl(a)
Jackson, MI
81
+9
Karen VandenBerg
Country Club of Jackson
81
+9
Mark Woods(a)
Bloomfield Hills, MI
81
+9
T87
Jordan Young
Fox Hills Learning Center
82
+10
Jerry Roman
Hidden River Golf & CC
82
+10
Mick DeKorver
Watermark Country Club
82
+10
T90
David Graulau
Greystone Golf Club
83
+11
Dick Bury
PGA Life Member
83
+11
92
Gary Smithson
Thousand Oaks Golf Club
84
+12
T93
Robert Petchauer
Bennington Golf Club
85
+13
John Gates
Treetops Resort-North Course
85
+13
95
Bill Harrison(a)
Highland, MI
86
+14
96
Doug Hartigan(a)
Clinton Twp, MI
88
+16
97
Pete Doerr(a)
Coldwater, MI
89
+17
T98
John Traub
PGA Life Member
WD
WD
Willie Mack III
Flint, MI
WD
WD
Matt Baker(a)
Flint, MI
WD
WD
Robert Makoski
PGA Life Member
WD
WD
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