105Th WESTERN AMATEUR GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP
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July 30 - August 5, 2007 105th WESTERN AMATEUR GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP Hole No. 9 Gets a New Look Caddie Shack - Dream House for U-M Evans Scholars Point O’ Woods Golf & Country Club, Benton Harbor, Michigan Schroeder Chrysler Dodge Honda is proud to be a leading sponsor of the 105th Western Amateur Golf Championship Good Luck to all Contestants! Schroeder Motors “ A family tradition for over half a century” Schroeder Chrysler Dodge Honda 2149 E. Napier Ave. Benton Harbor, MI 49022-1846 (269) 926-6181 schroedermotors.com 2007 Western Amateur 1 4 Western Amateur 2007 105th Western Amateur Contents Departments Schedule of Play 5 From the Chairman 7 From the Governor 9 Course Map 29 Friends of the Western Amateur 48 Tournament Committee 49 Results Since 1899 50 Western Golf Association/ Evans Scholars Foundation 59 Past Chairmen 62 History of the Point O’ Woods 64 2006 Results 66 Advertiser Index 67 Features- Third Time’s a Charm for Bronson LaCassie 12 World’s Top Amateur Players Take Aim at 105th Western Amateur Title — Players to Watch 16 Past Western Amateur Competitors in Top 75 on PGA TOUR’s FedEx Cup Standings 24 Hole No. Nine Gets a New Look 26 Hole by Hole Tour of the Point O’ Woods Course 30 We Love This Game 42 Caddie Shack - Dream House for U-M Evans Scholars 44 Medalist Won Joon Lee Ties Course Record 56 A View From the Fairway 68 2007 Western Amateur 5 Schedule of Play Wednesday & Thursday August 1 & August 2 18 holes of qualifying each day; the low 50 contestants and ties after 36 holes enter the final 36 holes of quali- fying Friday, August 3 Final 36 holes of qualifying; low 16 after 72 holes enter match play. In the event of tie for 16th position, a sudden- death playoff will be held to determine the qualifier(s). * The playoff will begin as soon as the last contestant has completed 72 holes of qualifying. Players involved in the playoff will be disqualified if they fail to report to the tee when called. Saturday, August 4 Match play at 18 holes; first round in the morning and quarterfinals in the afternoon. Sunday, August 5 Semifinals in the morning; finals in the afternoon. 6 Western Amateur 2007 From the Chairman “Experience the Tradition” oint O' Woods Golf & Country Club is once again proud to host the Western Amateur Golf Tournament, affectionately referred to as “The Western Am.” PWelcome! “Experience the tradition” as we watch this event take place for the 105th consecutive year. By attending, you will forever be a part of the tournament's his- tory as you witness some of golf's finest amateurs face the challenges of Point O' Woods. Chances are, one or more of the amateurs you see in this tournament will join the ranks of professional golf's superstars like Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Chris DiMarco, Curtis Strange and many more, all of whom have played in the Western Am here at the Point. Point O' Woods has partnered with the Western Golf Association (WGA) and has hosted the Western Am since 1971. The WGA, through its Evans Scholarship Foundation, has provided a means for thousands of young men and women to attend college, who, other- wise, wouldn't have had the opportunity. Many Evans Scholarship recipients have been from Southwest Michigan. Many thanks go out to the members of the Point for giving up their course for this tourna- ment. Special thanks go out to the many vol- unteers who donate their time and effort, because without them this tournament would not be possible. Kind Regards, Dan Pannozzo Tournament Chairman 2007 Western Amateur 7 8 Western Amateur 2007 From the Governor Best Wishes from the Governor July 30, 2007 Dear Friends: t is my pleasure as Governor of the State of Michigan to welcome you to the 105th Western Amateur Golf Tournament hosted by Point O’ Woods Golf & Country Club in beautiful Benton IHarbor. For enthusiasts and competitors alike, the Western Amateur Golf Tournament is an exciting event. For over a century, the Western Golf Association has challenged amateur golfers across the nation. I am pleased to recognize the all-around winners of the Tournament, the Evans Scholars Program of the Western Golf Association. Providing college scholarships to golf caddies is a wonderful contribu- tion to the future leaders of our state and nation. I commend you on your commitment to the youth of Michigan. If you are visiting Michigan for the first time, I invite you to discover the attractions that draw so many to our state – in addition to great golf, of course. The beauty of Michigan’s great beaches and outdoors are cer- tainly not to be missed or forgotten! Again, welcome. Please accept my best wishes for an outstanding 105th Western Amateur Golf Tournament! Sincerely yours, Jennifer M. Granholm Governor 2007 Western Amateur 9 10 Western Amateur 2007 105th WESTERN AMATEUR GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP Point O’ Woods Management Staff Dan Pannozzo Tournament General Chairman & Club General Manager Ron Fox Golf Course Superintendent Tom Rose PGA Golf Professional Mark Smith Chef Elizabeth Geldhof Clubhouse Manager Karen Halleckson Sales & Marketing Representative Point O’ Woods Officers and Board of Directors Ann Byrne President Drew Seaman Vice President Mike Piraino Secretary John Peck Treasurer Barry Conybeare, John Alexander, Robb Svendsen Geoff Heekin, Jim Engel Western Golf Association Richard E. Peterson President Edward R. James Past President, President of ESF Trustees Donald D. Johnson Executive Director John Kaczkowski Tournament Director Patrick Timson Tournament Manager Gabe Ottolini Associate Tournament Director Robert L. Gerbel Director from Point O’ Woods J. Christopher Wyse Director from Point O’ Woods Gary Holaway Communications Director The Western Amateur would like to recognize and thank Bowater Paper for their paper donation and IPC Print Services for their printing donation. Cover & course photography by Dave Richards, Resort & Golf Marketing Photograph of Hole Nine by Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios 2006 photography by Clarence Sormin, [email protected] Produced by Great Lakes Sports Publications, Inc. 4007 Carpenter Road, #366, Ypsilanti, MI 48197 (734) 507-0251 [email protected] 2007 Western Amateur 11 Third Time’s a Charm for Bronson LaCassie Australian Is First From Continent to Win Western Amateur Championship Courtesy of Western Golf Association Richard E. Peterson, Western Golf Association president, and Bronson LaCassie, 2006 Western Amateur Champion, hold the George R. Thorne Championship trophy. ronson LaCassie held on to defeat Spain’s Pablo Australians Geoff Ogilvy, Adam Scott, Aaron Baddeley Martin on Sunday to claim the 2006 Western and Mathew Goggin, who all have prospered as profession- BAmateur title and become the first Australian in the als, are among the Australians who reached the Sweet 16 at tournament’s 104-year history to have his name engraved the Western Amateur at Point O’Woods G. & C.C. in Benton on the George R. Thorne Championship Trophy. Harbor, yet were unable to claim the championship. LaCassie, 23, of Brisbane, Australia, joins a list of golf’s “It definitely makes you believe you can go on and do greats who have won the prestigious national title, includ- what they’ve done. It is really special,” said LaCassie, the ing Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Jack Nicklaus. But the Western Amateur’s first international champion since names of his fellow countrymen absent from the trophy Michael Kirk, of Johannesburg, South Africa, won in 2000, give LaCassie confidence he can live his dream of success and only the third foreign champion in history. Jim as a professional golfer. Nelford, of Canada, won in 1977. “Definitely winning a tro- 12 Western Amateur 2007 phy Tiger’s won feels special and is something I’ll never forget. Individually, it’s the biggest thing that’s hap- pened to me in my career.” LaCassie, 23, a junior at the University of Minnesota, took command of the match on the back nine after he and Martin, 20, of Malaga, Spain, made the turn all square. LaCassie won the par 4, 10th with a 12-foot birdie putt, then carded back-to-back birdies on the par 5, 13th and par 4, 14th to take a 3-up lead. Martin answered by winning the par 5, 15th, with a conceded eagle putt, and the par 4, 16th, also with a conceded birdie putt, after LaCassie missed the greens on both of his approaches. Undaunted, LaCassie answered on the 208-yard, par 3, 17th, hitting a 5-iron to eight feet below the cup and curling the putt in for a birdie and the 2 and 1 victory. “I felt on 15 I got a little unlucky with a flier over the green, and on the 16th I had an awkward yardage,” said LaCassie. Not much else went wrong for LaCassie. “I really felt confident out there,” he said. “I never got nervous. I pretty much knew where all my shots were going to Runner-up Pablo Martin of go.” Malaga, Spain, celebrates a shot. LaCassie, who was beaten by Martin by four strokes when they were paired in the third round of this year’s NCAA championship, knew he would have to play his best. “He’s a great player. He’s won a lot of college events and is very experienced,” LaCassie said. “I knew he was going to be tough to beat.” Martin, a first-team All-American and a member of Oklahoma State’s 2006 NCAA Championship team, cred- ited LaCassie’s clutch putting as the difference in the match. “I had my chances,” Martin said. “You can always hit it closer and make more putts. I had birdie chances.