Summer Tournament Schedule One Event Lighter By Kelly Hill Managing Editor he loss of a title sponsor has cost Michigan one of its Tmajor annual tournaments. The Champions Tour will not visit the Grand Rapids area this summer as the long-running tournament, last known as the Farmers Charity Classic will no longer be played. The event had been billed as “West Michigan’s Premier Sporting Event.” Golf fans around the state who wish to see some of the legends of the game will still have the oppor- tunity, however, at the annual Ford Senior Players Championship at the TPC of Michigan, in Dearborn. Michigan golf fans also may Wild Bluff Golf Course hosted the 2004 Bay Mills Open Players Championship. have to make a few logistical deci- Photo by Art McCafferty sions this summer, particularly dur- The Ford Senior Players the Bay Mills Open Players ing the final week of July. The Championship will be played at Wild Buick Open, Western Amateur Championship Now the only Champions Tour Bluff Golf Course in Brimley. Golf Championship and the Michigan fans can enjoy a full week of quality Women’s Open all will be stop in Michigan, the event played at Dearborn’s TPC of Michigan is action by attending the Michigan played during the same week. PGA Championship Monday through Here is a quick look at the scheduled for July 4-10 and will carry a purse of $2.5 million. Mark Wednesday of that week, prior to upcoming summer tournament heading to Bay Mills. schedule: James became a first-time champion on the Champions Tour when he The Western Amateur won last year’s tournament by one The Buick Open Tiger Woods, Hal Sutton and stroke over Jose Maria Canizares Vijay Singh will attempt to Andy North are among the stars and two over Bruce Fleisher. James defend his championship when the who won this title before turning finished at 13-under, despite a 1-over state’s only stop on the PGA Tour is professional. Played at Point O’ 73 in the final round. played July 25-31 at Warwick Hills Woods Golf Club in Benton in Grand Blanc. Singh’s victory last Harbor from July 25-31 this year, year was his fourth of the season and The Bay Mills Open the tournament is known as the came by just one stroke over John The Canadian Tour stops in “Masters” of amateur golf. Ryan Daly and two over Tiger Woods. Michigan August 22-28 this year, as Moore beat Australian James 14 S P R I N G 2 0 0 5 • M I C H I G A N G O L F E R M A G A Z I N E Nitties on the first extra on the NGA hole to claim last year’s crown. Hooters Tour. He Moore also won last year’s U.S. finished four Publinxer, the U.S.Amateur strokes ahead of Championship and won Arnold five-time Michigan Palmer’s Turning Point Invitational Open champion at the Country Club of Detroit. Scott Hebert and six strokes ahead of The Michigan Open two-time LPGA The state open will be played Tour champion for the 25th time on The Bear at Elaine Crosby. Grand Traverse Resort and Spa in Acme. Slated for June 27-30, the The Michigan Michigan Open was won last year PGA by Knollwood Country Club pro Championship Jeff Roth, who will be inducted in Slated for Aug. the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame on 22-24 at Shanty May 15. Roth shot a 4-under 68 in Creek in Bellaire, the final round to finish three the state’s PGA strokes ahead of Eric Jorgensen of Championship was Grandville and Mike Austin of won last year by Burton. It was Roth’s second Open Joe Pollack, who title, as he also won in 1998. almost blew the six- stroke lead he The Michigan Women’s enjoyed entering Open the tournament’s Scheduled for July 25-27 at final eight holes. Crystal Mountain in Thompsonville, Pollack, who was a Ryan Moore won the 102nd Western Amateur, then the state’s top women’s tournament part-time instructor took top honors at Arnold Palmer’s Turning Point was won last year by Grandville at Boulder Creek Invitational. – Photo by Clarence Sormin. native Stacy Snider, who played col- Golf Club in subur- legiately at Michigan State. Snider ban Grand Rapids, won his first won a year ago on the first hole of a major Michigan championship by The Women’s playoff with Amy Malinaric of one stroke over Ron Beurmann of Michigan Amateur Rancho Mirage, CA. the Country Club of Jackson. Championship The Tournament of The Michigan Amateur Now presented by the Golf Champions Championship Association of Michigan, the The most unusual event in the The 94th state amateur champi- tournament is scheduled for July state each summer, this tournament onship is scheduled this year for 13-15 at Radrick Farms. Sarah features men,women, profession- June 21-25 at Muskegon Country Martin and Jenna Walter, both of als, amateurs, seniors and juniors. Club. Last year, 19-year-old Jeff whom had finished second in pre- Played on the Monument and Cuzzort of Grosse Ile won the title at vious women’s state amateur Alpine courses at Boyne Mountain Grosse Ile Golf and Country Club, championships, needed four extra Resort, and scheduled for July 18- where he had served as a caddie for holes before Martin won the 88th 20 this year, the tournament was two seasons. Cuzzort defeated MSU playing of the tournament last won last year by Eric Jorgensen, sophomore Matt Harmon 3 and 2 in year. Martin was a senior at MSU who last summer played regularly the championship match. last year. MG M I C H I G A N G O L F E R M A G A Z I N E • S P R I N G 2 0 0 5 15.