Sports

Michigan PGA Championship to be Decided on OU Courses This Week

Spectators are welcome to attend the tournament, which features the top club and teaching pros in the state.

The Michigan PGA Championship is being decided over 54-holes of competition this week on the R&S Sharf and Katke-Cousins golf courses at Oakland University.

The two courses are hosting the annual championship of the top club and teaching professional players for the first time. The played a round each on the two courses Monday and will do so again today, with Wednesday’s closing round on the Katke-Cousins course. An estimated $46,000 purse is at stake.

On Monday, John Seltzer and Ian Ziska watched Dave VanLoozen get off to a fast start in the first round, and it inspired them in an impressive finish.

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Seltzer, the head professional at The Polo Fields Golf & Country Club in Ypsilanti, and Ian Ziska, the head pro at Katke Golf Course at Ferris State in Big Rapids, each turned in 6-under-par rounds of 66 on the R&S Sharf course Monday to share the lead through the first of three rounds in the state championship for teaching and club professionals.

VanLoozen, a professional at Edgewood Country Club in Commerce Township, was playing in the same group with the co-leaders, and birdied four of the first six holes. He was 6-under-par before finishing with two bogeys in the last three holes for a 68.

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That left him tied for second with four other 68-shooters, including defending champion Scott Hebert of Grand Traverse Resort, Brad Dean of Crystal Mountain Resort, Tom Harding of Kendall Golf Academy and Lee Houtteman of Grand Traverse Resort. Dean and VanLoozen played the R&S Sharf course, while Harding, Hebert and Houtemann played the Katke-Cousins course at the 36-hole facility.

Seltzer, 33, and Ziska, 35, each would like to win their first Michigan PGA Championship titles, but both are also very aware of the top 10 finish necessary to qualify for the 2013 Professional National Championship. 

OU teaching professional Matthew Zavadil and Heath Scott of Tullymore Golf Resort in Stanwood each shot 69 on the Sharf course, and were three off the pace.

The field of 146 golfers will be cut to the low 70 scorers and ties after today's second round. Gallery is welcome and parking and admission are free.

Live scoring and tournament information is available at michiganpgagolf.com.

This news was provided by the Michigan PGA.


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