105th WESTERN AMATEUR - Michigan Golfer ON-LINE

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
FeaturesThird 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 qualifying
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 suddendeath 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”
P
oint O' Woods Golf & Country Club is once again proud to host the Western
Amateur Golf Tournament, affectionately referred to as “The Western Am.”
Welcome! “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 history 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, otherwise, 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 tournament. Special thanks go out to the many volunteers 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:
I
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
Harbor.
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 contribution 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 certainly 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
Martin on Sunday to claim the 2006 Western
Amateur title and become the first Australian in the
tournament’s 104-year history to have his name engraved
on the George R. Thorne Championship Trophy.
B
Australians Geoff Ogilvy, Adam Scott, Aaron Baddeley
and Mathew Goggin, who all have prospered as professionals, are among the Australians who reached the Sweet 16 at
the Western Amateur at Point O’Woods G. & C.C. in Benton
Harbor, yet were unable to claim the championship.
LaCassie, 23, of Brisbane, Australia, joins a list of golf’s
greats who have won the prestigious national title, including Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Jack Nicklaus. But the
names of his fellow countrymen absent from the trophy
give LaCassie confidence he can live his dream of success
as a professional golfer.
“It definitely makes you believe you can go on and do
what they’ve done. It is really special,” said LaCassie, the
Western Amateur’s first international champion since
Michael Kirk, of Johannesburg, South Africa, won in 2000,
and only the third foreign champion in history. Jim
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 happened 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.
Runner-up Pablo Martin of
Malaga, Spain, celebrates a shot.
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
go.”
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, credited 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. He just played better than me.”
Forced to withdraw from his first Western Amateur a
year ago due to muscle soreness in his arms after being
introduced to water-skiing a couple of days before the
competition, Martin made the most of his second
chance. “It was a great week … a fun week,” he said.
“It’s awesome to be at a tournament like this. It’s as
good as it gets.”
Won Joon Lee, 2006 Medalist, shot a course
and tournament record 61 on the third round.
14
Western Amateur
2007
With three of the final four hailing from outside the
United States, the internationals were heavy favorites to
prevail. “Golf’s getting more and more popular everywhere in the world,” said LaCassie, who chose to attend
college in the United States so he could compete in the
summer amateur circuit. “The ones you see here (at the
Western Amateur) are the best amateurs in the world.
They want to come and play here.”
Although LaCassie intends to turn professional after he
finishes school next year – he has just one year of eligibility remaining – he indicated the timing “depends on what
happens. If I’m still an amateur, I’ll definitely be back next
year,” he said.
Morning Semifinals
In the morning semifinals, Martin defeated the lone
semifinalist from the United States, Scott Pieri, 38, of Fort
Wayne, Ind., 5 and 3, and LaCassie edged Dawie Van Der
Walt, 23, of Cape Town, South Africa, 3 and 1.
Martin moved in front of Pieri early with a birdie on
the par 5, 525-yard second, then methodically built the
lead to 5 up through 12 en route to the win. Martin finally closed the door with an eagle on the par 5, 15th after
hitting a 197-yard 6-iron eight feet from the hole and
making the putt.
“It was a good match,” Martin said. “He’s a great guy.”
“I felt great today,” said Pieri, a former PGA professional who regained his amateur status in March. “I was
just a little bit off. I didn’t play my best, and I got beat.”
Scott Pieri of Fort Wayne, Indiana, was
the lone semifinalist from the United States.
Despite the loss, Pieri embraced the experience. “This
was the experience of a lifetime to me,” said Pieri, who
played as a professional in thee PGA TOUR tournaments
in 1997. “I always felt that nothing would top my PGA
TOUR events, but this was the best week I’ve ever had in
golf.”
On Saturday, Pieri defeated two of Martin’s teammates
on the OSU Cowboys’ national title team, 2006 NCAA
champion Jonathan Moore and Tyler Leon. On Sunday,
Martin got revenge. “I certainly was the underdog, playing
three college All-Americans at age 38,” Pieri offered.
In the second semifinal, Van Der Walt took a 2-up lead
after LaCassie bogeyed the short, par 4 eighth. But
LaCassie won the par 3, 11th, then pulled all square with
an eagle on the 550-yard, par 5, 13th. He birdied the par
4, 14th to take his first lead in the match.
Van Der Walt, a senior at Lamar University, gave
LaCassie a nod for playing the better round in their match.
“Bronson was playing good,” he said. “I knew it was going
to be a tough match. He made a good putt on nine not to
go 3 down, and made that eagle on 13.”
Although he plans to turn pro in 2007, Van Der Walt
left the door open for a return appearance at the
Western Amateur. “I have one more year in school, then
I’ll turn pro next summer. Maybe I’ll come back next
year,” he said.
Semifinalist Dawie Van Der Walt, a native of
South Africa, played in his first Western Amateur.
2007
Western Amateur
15
World’s Top Amateur Players Take
Aim at 105th Western Amateur Title
Players to Watch
he 2007 Western Amateur field is one of the
strongest in recent championship history, featuring
five first team NCAA All-Americans, including
2005 Western Amateur champion and 2007 NCAA champion Jamie Lovemark.
helped lead the Cardinal to the 2007 NCAA
Championship. Second team All-PAC 10. Third in the
2006 California State Amateur. Medalist, 2006 San
Francisco City.
Playing in his first Western Amateur.
The field also includes five of the top eight in the
Golfweek Men's Amateur Rankings through mid-summer,
including No. 1 Kyle Stanley and No. 2 Dustin Johnson.
Alan Bratton, 35, Stillwater, Oklahoma
T
In addition, Lovemark is one of 12 past Western
Amateur “Sweet 16” qualifiers who will be competing in
the 105th Western Amateur the week of July 30 at Point
O'Woods Golf & Country Club in Benton Harbor, Mich.
“We're pleased to have so many top amateurs in the
field again this year,” said John Kaczkowski, Western
Golf Association tournament director. “Many of them
will be joining the ranks of the top professionals in just a
few short years. We're fortunate to be able to watch them
develop their talents in such a competitive event as the
Western Amateur.”
Following are 35 players who could make an impact
in this year's championship.
Rohan Blizard, 23, Sydney, New South
Wales, Australia
Won the 2007 Australian Amateur, the 2007 SBS
Invitational in New Zealand and the 2007 Tasmanian
Open. Was a 2006 New South Wales State Squad Member.
Winner, 2005 Royal Sydney Jug, W.E. Alexander Open
and the Mollymook Open. Winner, 2004 Avondale Medal.
Runner-up, 2007 Mandurah Easter Amateur in West
Australia, and the 2005 Avondale Medal and 2005
Concord Cup.
Playing in his second Western Amateur.
Joseph Bramlett, 19, Saratoga,
California
Sophomore, Stanford University.
2007 second team All-American at Stanford, where he
16
Western Amateur
2007
1995 graduate, Oklahoma State University.
Champion, 2006 Oklahoma State Amateur. Runner
up, 2007 New Year's Invitational and quarterfinalist,
2006 U.S. Mid-Amateur. Assistant coach for the 2006
Oklahoma State NCAA Championship team. 1995
Walker Cup team member. A four-time All-American,
earning first-team honors in 1994 and 1995. Co-recipient
of 1994 Nicklaus Award (along with two-time Western
Amateur champion Justin Leonard). In 1995, he led OSU
to the eighth of its 10 national championships. Academic
All-America honors in 1994 and 1995. Big Eight Player of
the Year in 1992 and 1994. Conference medalist honors
in 1992 and 1995. Currently tied for fourth on the
school’s all-time list with seven career victories. Played
professionally from 1995-2000, competing on the Asian
Tour from 1996-97, the PGA Tour in 1999 and the
Buy.com Tour in 2000.
Playing in his sixth Western Amateur. Made the Sweet
16 in 1992, 1993 and 1994.
Ryan Brehm, 21, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan
Senior, Michigan State University.
Won the 2007 Michigan State Amateur after tying for
second in medal qualifying. Second team, All-Big Ten in
2007, helping the Spartans earn a tie with Minnesota for
the Big Ten title. Also won the 2007 Boilermaker
Invitational. 2006 first team All-Big Ten selection, and
2005 Big Ten Freshman of the Year. Second, 2006
Michigan Amateur. Second, 2005 and 2006 Big Ten
Championship. Second, 2005 Duke University Home
Tournament. Tied for 72nd in 2005 Buick Open.
Playing in his second Western Amateur. Made the
2006 Sweet 16 in his first appearance.
Attorneys for Injured People
Bruce C. Conybeare
Of Counsel - Retired
Free Initial Consultation
H. Kevin Haight
(800) 983-0561
Barry R. Conybeare
Also Licensed In Illinois
“It’s The Only Call
You’ll Have To Make”
Robert J. Ehrenberg
519 Main Street, St. Joseph, Michigan 49085-1365 • (269) 983-0561 • [email protected]
2007
Western Amateur
17
Players to Watch
Kevin Chappell, 21, Fresno,
California
Senior, UCLA.
2007 second team All-American and first team
All-PAC 10. Tied for second, 2007 NCAA West
Regional. Medalist, 2006 NCAA East Regional. Tied
for second, 2005 NCAA Western Regional. Won gold
medal in the 2004 World Cup in Japan.
Playing in his second Western Amateur.
Andrew Dodt, 21, Gatton,
Queensland, Australia
Queensland Academy of Sport.
Won the 2007 Australian Amateur and
Keppera Bowl (Australia) and the 2006 Malaysian
Open. Tied for second, medalist honors in 2007 New
Zealand Amateur.
Second, 2007 Riversdale Cup (Australia). Top amateur in the 2006 Australian Open (tied for 11th).
Runner up, 2005 New Zealand Amateur, New
Zealand Stroke Play and Riversdale Cup.
Semi-finalist, 2004 Australian Amateur and
quarter-finalist, 2004 Australian Amateur.
Playing in his third Western Amateur. Made
the "Sweet 16" in his first appearance in 2005.
Erik Flores, 20, Grass Valley,
California
2005 champion, Jamie Lovemark, returns
to play in his third Western Amateur.
Bronson Burgoon, 20, Montgomery,
Texas
Sophomore, Texas A&M.
Earned third team All-American honors in 2007, posting lowest scoring average for Texas A&M as a freshman.
2007 All-Big 12. Third, 2006 Ping Golfweek Preview
First-team, 2005 AJGA Junior All-American. Won the
2003 and 2005 Texas State High School championships.
Also in 2005, won the AJGA PING Junior and the AJGA
Thunderbird International.
Playing in his second Western Amateur.
18
Western Amateur
2007
Junior, UCLA.
Second team All-American in 2006. 2006
Pac-10 Freshman of the Year and first-team All Pac10. Six top five finishes in Collegiate tournaments in
his freshman year. Winner, 2005 California State Fair
Men's Amateur. Member of the winning U.S. team in
the 2005 Toyota World Junior Championship.
Playing in his second Western Amateur.
Advanced to the quarterfinals in match play in 2006.
Rickie Fowler, 18, Murrieta, California
Freshman, Oklahoma State University.
Won the 2007 Sunnehanna Amateur and the 2005
Western Junior. Also won the 2006 California State High
School Championship and 2006 AJGA HP.
Quarterfinalist, 2006 U.S. Amateur. 2005-2006 AJGA
All-American. Seventh in Golfweek Amateur rankings
through June.
Playing in his first Western Amateur.
Players to Watch
Philip Francis, 18, Scottsdale, Arizona
Freshman, UCLA.
Winner, 2006 U.S. Junior, Rolex Tournament of
Champions and the AJGA Thunderbird Invitational. Also
won the 2006 Heather Farr Classic. 2004, 2005 and 2006
first-team, AJGA Junior All-American. Runner up, 2004
Western Junior at Denver Country Club.
Shot a 5-under par 67 at Gainey Ranch Golf Club in
Scottsdale in 2004 FBR Open (Phoenix Open) local qualifying and missed the cut by one stroke. Low amateur in
Arizona Open at age 14. Won the Junior World Golf
Championships a record four consecutive times.
Playing in his fourth Western Amateur. Made the 2005
"Sweet 16" and advanced to the quarterfinals.
James Gill, 21, Hamilton, Waikato, New
Zealand
2006 graduate, Waikato University.
Medalist, 2007 New Zealand Amateur and reached the
semifinals in match play. Winner, individual New Zealand
under 23 Teams, 2007. Won the 2006 Bay of Plenty
Open, 2005-2006 Taieri Golf Classic and 2006 Waikato
Winter Strokeplay. Second, 2006 Singapore Open
Amateur. Third, 2006 New Zealand Amateur. Low amateur in the 2006 New Zealand Open.
Playing in his first Western Amateur.
Rob Grube, 22, Hinsdale, Illinois
Senior, Stanford.
Helped Stanford win the 2007 NCAA Championship,
placing third individually. Second team All-American and
first team Pac-10 in 2007. 2006 third team All-American.
Honorable mention All-American in 2005. 2006 Co-Pac10 Golfer of the Year. Named first-team Pac-10 AllAmerican in both 2005 and 2006. Pac-10 Freshman of the
Year in 2005. Won the 2006 Illinois State Amateur and
2006 Corde Valle Classic. In 12 tournaments in 20042005, posted five top 10 finishes, including a tie for second at the U.S. Intercollegiate and a fourth-place finish at
the Pac-10 Championship. 2002 FCWT All-American,
Player of the Year, Western Division.
Shot a course record 62 at Sea Island Golf Club, Sea
Island, Ga., in 2002 Western Junior; finished fifth.
Playing in his fifth Western Amateur.
Billy Horschel, 20, Grant, Florida
Junior, University of Florida.
First team All-American and All-SEC and SEC Player
Erik Flores
of the Year in 2007. Medalist, 2007 NCAA East Regional
and 2006 U.S. Amateur. Also, 2006 first-team NCAA AllAmerican, All-SEC and All-Freshman Team. Tied for
medalist, 2006 NCAA West Regional.
Won the 2006 Ping Preview. Finished in the top 10 in
both NCAA and SEC championships, and led Gators to
second-place finish in the 2006 NCAA Championship.
Played in the 2006 U.S. Open, shooting rounds of 75-77
and missing the cut by just two strokes. Was U.S. Open
Sectional Qualifying co-medalist and Local Qualifying
medalist. Second, 2007 Azalea Amateur. Sixth in
Golfweek Amateur rankings through June.
Playing in his second Western Amateur. Advanced to
the Sweet 16 in 2006.
2007
Western Amateur
19
Players to Watch
Northeast Amateur and Monroe Invitational. Won the
2006 Seminole Invitational. Fourth, 2006 Monroe
Invitational In 2005, won the Coca-Cola Duke Classic
and the Landfall Tradition. 2005 NCAA East Regional
medalist and third-team All-American. Second in
Golfweek Amateur rankings through June.
Playing in his third Western Amateur. Advanced to the
quarterfinals in match play in 2006.
Alexandre Kaleka, 20, Orleans, France
Third, 2007 St. Andrews Links Trophy. Tied for second in medal play, 2007 South African Amateur. Member
of the French Team in matches with England, Scotland
and South Africa.
Playing in his first Western Amateur.
Drew Kittleson, 18, Scottsdale, Arizona
Freshman, Florida State University.
2006 AJGA first team All-American. 2005 AJGA 2nd
Team All-American. Tied for second, 2007 Northeast
Amateur. Fifth, 2007 Southwestern Amateur. Won the
2005 AJGA Heather Farr. 2006 U.S. team, Honda Cup in
Japan.
Playing in his first Western Amateur.
Rick Kulacz, 22, Perth, Australia
Phillip Francis
Cole Isban, 22, South Bend, Indiana
2007 graduate, Notre Dame.
All-Big East honors in 2004, 2005 and 2007. Named
to 2007 NCAA All-Midwest Region team. Helped lead
Notre Dame to three straight Big East golf championships, 2004-2006. In 2007, set the school record for
single-season scoring average - 72.71. Tied for third, 2003
Western Junior and 2005 Dixie Amateur.
Playing in his fifth Western Amateur, advancing to the
Sweet 16 in 2005.
Dustin Johnson, 23, North Myrtle Beach,
South Carolina
2007 graduate, Coastal Carolina.
First team NCAA All-American in 2006-2007, the first
All-American in school history. Four-time All-Big South
and three-time Big South Player of the Year, 2005-2007.
Led Coastal Carolina to its fourth straight Big South title
and to sixth place in 2007 NCAA. Won the 2007
20
Western Amateur
2007
Won the 2007 SAGA Invitational (South Australia).
Won the 2006 New South Wales Open, the Federal Open
Amateur and the Dunes Medal, Australia. Second, 2007
Western Australia Amateur. Also claimed the 2006
Australian Foursome title with partner Steve Dartnall.
Runner-up, 2006 Riversdale Cup. In 2005, won the
South Australian Invitational, the Walkato Stroke Play
and the Bay of Plenty Amateur.
Winner, 2003 Western Australia Amateur. 2001
Australian and World Junior Champion.
Playing in his second Western Amateur.
Lucas Lee, 20, Torrance, California
Junior, UCLA.
2007 third team NCAA All-American and second
team All-PAC 10. Won the 2007 Southern Highlands
Invitational, and 2007 CSU - Bakersfield Invitational.
Second place, 2007 The Prestige and 2007 Husky
Invitational. Born in Sao Paulo, Brazil. 2006 honorable
mention All-PAC 10. Helped lead UCLA to 2006 PAC-10
Conference Championship. Winner, 2006 CSU San
Marcos and 2006 Battle at Monarch Bay. Two-time
AJGA All-American.
Playing in his second Western Amateur.
Players to Watch
Danny Lee, 17, Rotorua, Pukeahangi,
New Zealand
2006 and 2007 winner, New Zealand under 23 stroke
play. Winner, 2007 South Island Amateur and 2007 New
Zealand Amateur. Second, 2007 SBS Invitational in New
Zealand. Quarterfinalist, 2006 U.S. Junior.
Playing in his first Western Amateur.
Jamie Lovemark, 19, Rancho Sante Fe,
California
Sophomore, University of Southern California.
Won the 2007 NCAA Championship and 2007 PAC
10 title. 2007 first team All-American and All-PAC 10.
PAC 10 Co-Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year.
In 2005, won the Western Amateur, becoming youngest
champion ever.
His win earned him an exemption into the 2006
Western Open, where he made the cut and finished in a
tie for 54th. First-team, Rolex Junior All-American in
2004; second team in 2005.
In July 2004, won the Rolex Tournament of
Champions and the 2004 Western Junior in consecutive
weeks, tying the Denver Country Club competitive course
record of 65 in final round of the Western Junior.
Playing in his third Western Amateur. In addition to
winning in 2005, made Sweet 16 in 2006.
Jon McLean, 21, Weston, Florida
Junior, Texas Christian University.
Won the 2006 Inverness Intercollegiate and 2004
Dixie Amateur. Second, 2005-2006 Sahalee Players. Tie
for fifth, 2007 Jones Cup and sixth in 2006 Porter Cup.
First-team AJGA All-American in 2004. 2003 Texas
Oklahoma Junior Winner. Playing in his third Western
Amateur. Made the Sweet 16 in his first try in 2005.
Zack Miller, 23, San Rafael, California
2007 graduate, Stanford University.
2007 third-team All-American and first team All-PAC
10. Helped Stanford win the 2007 NCAA Championship
as squad's lone senior. Medalist in The Prestige at PGA
West in 2006. Co-medalist, 2006 Gopher Invitational and
2006 Corde Valle Classic.
Playing in his first Western Amateur.
Erik Olson, 23, Newcastle, Washington
2007 graduate, University of Washington.
2005 first-team, Pac-10 All Conference. 2006 honorable mention All-Pac 10 Winner, 2005 Pac-10
Championship, third in 2006. Second, 2006 Pacific
Northwest Amateur. Third, 2006 Northeast Amateur.
2004 NCAA honorable mention All-American. Helped
lead Washington to sixth place team finish in 2004
NCAA Championship. Winner, 2004 Seattle Amateur.
Playing in his fifth Western Amateur. Made Sweet 16
in 2004.
Garrett Osborn, 22, Birmingham,
Alabama
2007 graduate, University of Alabama-Birmingham.
Won the 2007 Conference USA Championship. 2007
first team All-Conference USA. Won the 2006 Labor Day
Invitational and Scenic City Invitational. Third team,
2006 NCAA All-American.
First team, All-Conference USA in 2006. Won the
2005 Jerry Pate Intercollegiate and the 2005 Western
Carolina Intercollegiate. Second, 2005 Southern Amateur.
Won the 2004 Alabama State Match Play.
Playing in his second Western Amateur.
Scott Pieri, 39, Fort Wayne, Indiana
1990 graduate, Ball State University.
Was an Academic All-American at Ball State
University in 1990. Won the 2006 Jim Kelley Classic, the
2003 Indiana CPC Championship, the 2003 Indiana State
Pro-Am and the 2001 Indiana PGA Northern. Played in
the 1997 Western Open, 1997 Buick Open and 1997
Greater Milwaukee Open on the PGA TOUR.
Playing in his second Western Amateur. Made the
Sweet 16 in 2006, advancing to the semifinals.
Aaron Pike, 21, Brisbane, Queensland,
Australia
Champion, 2007 Northern Territory Open Amateur,
2006 Victoria State Amateur, 2005 Queensland Amateur
and 2005-06 Indooroopilly Jug. 2007 Australian squad
member. Fourth, 2007 Lake Macquarie International.
Fifth, 2007 Queensland Medal and 2007 South
Australian Invitational. Champion, 2006 Indooroopilly
Club. Fourth, 2006 Australian Masters. 2006 New
Zealand Amateur quarter-finalist. 2005 Victoria Amateur
runner-up.
Playing in his first Western Amateur.
Alex Prugh, 22, Spokane, Washington
Senior, Washington.
First team All-PAC 10 in 2006. Second team, All-PAC
10 in 2005 and 2007. Won the 2007 Oregon Duck
Invitational, 2005 Pacific Coast Amateur and 2005
Washington State Amateur. Tied for second, 2006
Washington State Amateur. Helped lead Washington to
2005 Pac-10 Championship. 2004 NCAA All-American
honorable mention as a freshman. Second, 2004 Big 10-
2007
Western Amateur
21
Players to Watch
Daniel Summerhays, 22, Farmington,
Utah
Pac 10 Challenge.
Playing in his second Western Amateur
Kyle Stanley, 19, Gig Harbor,
Washington
Sophomore, Clemson University.
Finished second in the 2007 NCAA Championship,
two strokes behind Jamie Lovemark, to earn first team,
All-American honors. First team All-ACC as a freshman
in 2007, tying for third in the 2007 ACC Championship.
In 2006, won the Southern Amateur, the Sahalee Players,
the Aloha Purdue Intercollegiate and the AJGA Boys
Championship. Also won the 2005 MCI Junior Heritage.
2005-2006 AJGA All-American.
Playing in his first Western Amateur. Was No. 1 in
Golfweek Amateur rankings through June.
Tim Stewart, 22, Sydney, New South
Wales, Australia
Won the 2007 Riversdale Cup and the 2006
Australian Amateur. Second in the 2007 British Amateur,
the 2007 New South Wales Amateur, the 2006 Rice
Planters Amateur and the 2006 Eastern Amateur. 2005
Monash Masters champion. Semifinalist, 2006 New
Zealand Amateur.
Playing in his second Western Amateur. Made the
Sweet 16 in his first try in 2006.
Senior, Brigham Young University.
2007 first team All-American and 2006 honorable
mention All-American. Tied for fourth in 2007 NCAA
Championship. Won the 2007 Ping Cougar Classic.
Shot 60 (-10) in the final round of the 2006 Ping Preview
at the Golden Horseshoe Club, tying the NCAA scoring
record.
Won the 2006 Arizona Sectional Qualifier for the U.S.
Amateur. Three-time match play qualifier in U.S.
Amateur, reaching quarterfinals in 2001.
Playing in his second Western Amateur.
Michael Thompson, 22, Tuscaloosa,
Alabama
Senior, University of Alabama.
Tied for fourth in the 2007 NCAA Championship.
Named 2007 second team All-American and first team
All-SEC. Won the 2007 Greystone Invitational.
Also won the 2005 NOKIA Sugar Bowl Tulane
Invitational, the 2004 LSU Spring Invitational, the 2004
Raising Cane Classic and the 2004 Moe O'Brien
Memorial Invitational.
Playing in his first Western Amateur.
Kevin Tway, 19,
Edmond, Oklahoma
Freshman, Oklahoma
State University.
Won the 2005 U.S.
Junior and semifinalist in the
2006 U.S. Junior. Also won
the 2006 AJGA Osso Junior
and the 2005 AJGA Wichita
Classic Junior. Tied for fifth,
2007 Sunnehanna Amateur.
2006 Oklahoma Class 6-A
State High School medalist.
2005-2006 AJGA AllAmerican. Son of PGA TOUR
professional Bob Tway.
Playing in his first
Western Amateur.
22
Western Amateur
2007
Michigan Golfer Family of Publications
Archiving the History of Michigan Golf
Michigan Golfer Television - http://michigangolfer.tv
Michigan Golfer Online - http://michigangolfer.com
Michigan Golf News
Now Showing on Michigan Golfer Television http://michigangolfer.tv
Courses
Buck's Run
Harbor Point GC with Shaun Bezilla
Hawk's Eye
Red Hawk
Sundance
The Bull at Pinehurst Farms
Tournaments and Events
Arnold Palmer's Turning Point
Invitational
Jeff Daniels Comedy Golf Jam
Hickory Open
Interviews
Stan Aldridge
Stuart Bendelow
Elaine Crosby
Ben Davis
Brad Dean
Ken Devine
Jim Flick
Steve Forrest
The
The
The
The
The
The
Coyote Preserve
Heather at Boyne Highlands
Hemlock GC with John Kennedy
Loon GC
Majestic at Lake Walden
Natural
The Tribute GC with Gary Koch, Rick
Robbins and Keith Gornick
Timberstone GC
True North
Wild Bluff
Izzo-Marucci Classic
MGCOA League Championship
Michigan Open
Michigan Amateur
Native American Cup
Ryder Cup 2004
The Western Amateur
Treetops Pepsi Charity Fall Golf Classic
Joan Garety
Walter Hagen
Dave Hill
Arthur Hills
Tony Jacklin
Robert Trent Jones
Chuck Kocsis
Jerry Matthews
W. Bruce Matthews III
Jack Nicklaus
Arnold Palmer
Dave Peltz
Dan Pohl
Bill Paxton
Rick Smith
Mike Tirico
Gary Wiren
2007
Western Amateur
23
Past Western Amateur Competitors
in Top 75 on PGA TOUR’s FedEx Cup Standings
Thirty-one of the top 75 professionals on the PGA TOUR’s FedEx Cup standings through the Traveler’s
Championship, June 24, 2007, gained playing experience as competitors in the Western Amateur at Point O’Woods
Golf and Country Club. Six of the top ten in the FedExCup standings played in the Western Amateur. The top two –
Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson – are past Western Amateur Champions.
In the following listing of the TOUR’s 2007 FedEx Cup standings as of June 30, the Western Amateur competitors’ names appear in boldface.
Rank
through
June 30
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
24
Player
Tiger Woods*
Phil Mickelson*
Vijay Singh
Zach Johnson
Charles Howell III
Rory Sabbatini
Adam Scott
Jim Furyk
K.J. Choi
Aaron Baddeley
John Rollins
Scott Verplank*
Luke Donald
Mark Calcavecchia
David Toms
Boo Weekley
Sergio Garcia
Geoff Ogilvy
Hunter Mahan
Steve Stricker
Henrick Stenson
Robert Allenby
Bubba Watson
Jerry Kelly
Nick Watney
Stewart Cink
Angel Cabrera
Mark Wilson
Ken Duke
Heath Slocum
Ernie Els
Anthony Kim
Jeff Quinney
Woody Austin
Charley Hoffman
Justin Rose
Trevor Immelman
Western Amateur
Points
19,524
15,818
15,723
12,405
11,922
11,238
10,357
9,537
9,089
9,024
8,701
8,305
8,241
8,221
8,106
8,099
7,249
7,179
6,990
6,830
6,618
6,569
6,542
6468
6,235
5,920
5,789
5,718
5,688
5,681
5,669
5,664
5,541
5,526
5,288
5,220
5,199
2007
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
Paul Goydos
Brett Wetterich
Ryan Moore*
Ryuji Imada
Nick O’Hern
Brandt Snedeker
Bernhard Langer
Jose Coceres
Vaughn Taylor
Rod Pampling
Stuart Appleby
Camilo Villegas
Kevin Sutherland
Bo Van Pelt
John Senden
Fred Funk
Rocco Mediate
Sean O’Hair
Bart Bryant
Stephen Ames
Carl Pettersson
Ian Poulter
Dean Wilson
Steve Marino
Lucas Glover
Pat Perez
Will MacKenzie
John Mallinger
Matt Kuchar
Troy Matteson
Brian Davis
Stephen Leaney
Tom Lehman
Padraig Harrington
Peter Lonard
Davis Love III
Brian Gay
Billy Mayfair
* - Past Champion, Western Amateur
5,156
5,125
5,086
4,903
4,856
4,848
4,618
4,603
4,589
4,558
4,543
4,455
4,363
4,292
4,198
4,135
4,013
4,011
3,970
3,852
3,769
3,767
3,763
3,742
3,659
3,646
3,562
3,519
3,493
3,366
3,365
3,323
3,319
3,311
3,292
3,263
3,252
3,251
2007
Western Amateur
25
Conditions of the Course
Hole No. 9 Gets a New Look
By Kelly Hill
T
ens of thousands of years ago, when a glacier
receded from what now is southwest Michigan, it
left the ravine that now traverses the Point O’
Woods golf course. The soil left behind when that glacier
receded was tightly compacted.
Some of that soil eventually became the ninth green at
Point O’ Woods. The slope on that green began slipping a
few years ago, however, which prompted what became a
reconstruction of the entire ninth hole. That reconstruction project began November 28, 2006.
“We did a slope reconstruction on No. 9 because the
slope had been slipping for several years,” said Point O’
Woods superintendent Ron Fox. “The ravine that is here
26
Western Amateur
2007
was a receding glacier and the slopes were compacted
hard by the glacier.”
The original construction of the course by Robert
Trent Jones also contributed to the necessary reconstruction. “Jones put clay over the original slope and that
made it unstable,” Fox said.
The green on No. 9 was not all that was rebuilt over the
winter. “We decided to not only rebuild the slope but our
50-year-old wood bridge that was falling down,” Fox said.
“We had an engineer come out and he pronounced it dead.”
Fox and his staff, however, did not simply replace that
bridge, however. “Instead of just putting in another
bridge, we built an earth crossing, all the
way along the lake,” Fox noted.
The project at Point O’ Woods also was
directed by Roger Rulewich, who partnered
with Jones for approximately 35 years.
“We thought that if we were going to build
a bridge like that, we could put the white
tee out there on that structure,” Fox said.
While the primary features of the ninth
green had always faced the championship
tee, golfers playing from the white tee traditionally played those features from the
side. With the repositioning of the white
tee, those golfers also now play from the
same angle as those playing the championship tee.
The white tee on the par-3 ninth hole
now measures anywhere from 163-169
yards. The championship tee, which played
192 yards prior to the reconstruction, now
also plays 192 yards, although it now can
be moved as far back as 213 or 214 yards.
“The hole might play a yard greater
than it did before,” Fox said. “The elevation on that tee now, though, is three feet
higher than the old tee.”
Fox and his staff also integrated the cart
path into the area behind the white and
gold tees. “It is a great look now,” Fox
said. “We only changed the green very
slightly, but Roger (Rulewich) redesigned
the bunker slightly. There is not as much
face as there used to be.”
The reconstruction project was completed despite southwest Michigan enduring its
coldest winter in the last 45 years. “We had
many trials along the way,” Fox said. “We
had to shut work down for about six
weeks. Cold weather like we had does not
bode well for construction. We received
snowfall for 15 consecutive days.
“Most of the work was being done with
sand and normally you can work with sand
any time of the year,” Fox said, “but the
sand was freezing in the back of the trucks.”
The project was completed on May 24.
Kelly Hill is a freelance sportswriter
who lives in Grand Rapids.
Bye, bye bridge.
2007
Western Amateur
27
28
Western Amateur
2007
“One of the best conditioned
courses we play each year.”
– Justin Leonard
Western Amateur Champion 1992 & 1993
A HOLE BY HOLE TOUR OF THE
P O I N T O ’ WO O D S C O U R S E
32
Western Amateur
2007
2007
Western Amateur
33
34
Western Amateur
2007
2007
Western Amateur
35
36
Western Amateur
2007
2007
Western Amateur
37
38
Western Amateur
2007
2007
Western Amateur
39
40
Western Amateur
2007
2007
Western Amateur
41
We Love This Game
Dawie Van Der Walt and Bronson LaCassie enjoy the game during their seminfinal match.
42
Western Amateur
2007
Richard Scott
Tyler Leon
2007
Western Amateur
43
Caddie Shack
‘Dream House’ Is Reality for University of Michigan Evans Scholars
By Vartan Kupelian
The Shack has a
new, more dignified
name these days.
I
don’t know if we can call this place the Shack anymore,” said David Goltz, University of Michgian Class
of ‘85. “I don’t know if they’re going to want to leave
here.”
It’s true.
The glittering new Robert L. McMasters House on the
campus of the University of Michigan won’t be easy to
leave for the fortunate Evans Scholars who are living
here, and that’s altogether fitting, according to Goltz,
president of the Michigan Alumni Association of Evans
Scholars.
“You’re an Evans Scholar for life, not just the four,
five or six years that you are in college,” Goetz said.
Funny line, but it gets to the heart of the matter
because, after all, that’s what the Evans Scholarship is all
about. It’s about heart, about giving, about building and
about never forgetting.
Those are all the things Bob McMasters has experienced in his association with the Western Golf Association’s Evans Scholars Foundation that has spanned more
than 50 years.
The official unveiling in September 2005 of the new
$4 million house on the University of Michigan campus
included the surprise announcement that it would be
named in honor of McMasters, one of the most respected
men in golf and the long-time director of the Western
Golf Association (WGA) and Golf Association of
Michigan, who has always given back to his community,
the game and the Evans Schoalrs program. McMasters is
a 1956 Michigan Evans Scholar, past president of both
the WGA (the only person from Michigan ever to hold
the position) and the GAM, and an Evans Scholars
Foundation trustee. He was also honorary chairman of
the building campaign. Previously he had served as chairman of the Michigan State Scholarship House Building
Campaign in the late 1980s.
McMasters’ response was heartfelt and typically humble. “Totally honored, totally surprised,” he said.
McMasters discarded his prepared statements, and not
because he was too choked up to speak, although he was.
“It really set me back,” he would say a few days later.
“I don’t know how that many people kept a secret for so
long.”
One of the sources of McMasters’ emotion was the
fact that for the first time he saw his son, Bill, in his captain’s uniform. Bill McMasters is a Navy pilot and Top
Gun instructor who has been depolyed six times, three of
those deployments to the Persian Gulf, and has performed
952 carrier landings.
The Michigan Evans Schoalrship House Building
Campaign has been a massive undertaking. It was kicked
off in September 2003, with a goal of raising $2 million,
one-half of the estimated cost.
The Western Golf Association/Evans Scholars
Foundation committed to fund the remaining $2 million
for the project. The alumni were pivotal in the fundraising
effort and received significant support from Par Club members in Michigan ($350,000) and GAM member clubs.
Reprinted, with permission, from Michigan Links, Official Publication of the Golf Association of
Michigan, Winter 2005.
44
Western Amateur
2007
The Robert L. McMasters House, University of Michigan campus, Ann Arbor
Tom Carney, WGA director and Michigan House
benefactor, said the building campaign at one point
“seemed like an overwhelming task, but we knew we
would have a lot of help.”
impact on the lives of those who live here,” said E.
Royster Harper, vice president for student affairs at the
University of Michigan. “The quality of the residential
experience is significant.”
Nobody knows that better or personifies it more than
McMasters, a Red Run member who has worked tirelessly in the Evans Scholar program for 48 years.
Harper said her curiosity heightened for months as she
watched the Shack – Caddie Shack, get it? – come down,
and later was “awestruck” by the magnitude of the new
facility.
Help came from everywhere and it typifies the support
GAM member clubs and the membership have always
provided for caddies. Oakland Hills, Pine Lake,
Dearborn, Plum Hollow, Meadowbrook, Barton Hills,
Grosse Ile, Belvedere, and the Country Club of Jackson,
Orchard Lake, Country Club of Detroit, Red Run, Forest
Lake and Franklin Hills, along with the GAM, have
rooms or spaces in the house named for them.
“This new house is going to have a monumental
Harper said she was overhwelmed by the facility and
the commitment to it. Those are things that define Evans
Scholars.
“The program is rooted in golf, academics and social
relationahips,” said David Robinson, a campaign chairman.
Between them, the University of Michigan and
2007
Western Amateur
45
Michigan State have more than 1,300 alumni who are
Evans Scholars, but the support shown for the
McMasters house crossed all borders. Contributions
came from everywhere, including the Ohio State alumni.
Putting the
‘Scholar’ in
Scholarship
With all that going on, there was little doubt something special was happening.
“I expected something very special,”said Michael
Jabon, president of the University of Michigan Evans
Scholars who is a senior majoring in business. “I can tell
you we got it.
“But it’s more than a new structure. It’s a home, a
culture. We value the education we get and we value the
brotherhood.”
Ed James, president of the WGA 2004-2005, echoed
the sentiments.
The new Evans House
represents more than a
structure. It’s a culture.
“This house is a symbol of what we are and who we
are,” he said. “It’s magnificant, but it’s just brick and
mortar. It’s the people inside and the alumni; that’s what
we’re all about.”
The last word, fittingly, belongs to McMasters, who
said the substance of the program is the young people,
men and women, who are at the heart of the Evans
Scholar program.
“They are,” McMasters said, “the architects of our
future.”
Vartan Kupelian is the golf writer and
sports columnmist for The Detroit News.
46
Western Amateur
2007
T
he roots of the Evans Scholars program
are in golf, but its heart and soul are in
academics.
“All of our young people got their start as
caddies,” said Jim Moore, educational director
of the Evans Scholarship Foundation. “But in
order to qualify for the scholarship, you must
be not just a good student but an excellent student, and demonstrate financial need.”
The proof is in the numbers. The gradepoint average of the 40 scholars at U-M is an
impressive 3.21. At Michigan State University, it’s
3.19 for 61 scholars. The two schools aren’t an
exception. Last year, all 14 Evans houses finished
the academic year well above 3.0 And 93 percent
completed their degree in 4 1/2 to 5 years.
Being chosen to receive a scholarship isn’t
the end for the fortunate students. It’s a beginning. “From the moment they receive a scholarship to the moment they graduate, there is a
program in place that helps them to reach their
potential and achieve their goals and meet standards the foundation expects them to meet,”
said Moore.
The Evans Scholars program celebrated its
75th anniversary in 2005. More than 9,000
caddies have attended college through the program, with 836 enrolled in 2005-2006.
Michigan State has 678 Evans Scholar alumni,
Michigan 632.
“We are really all about education,” Ed
James, president of the Western Golf
Association 2004-2005, said at the ceremony
marking the anniversary. “Golf is a means to
that end. What we really do is offer the gift of
higher education.”
– Vartan Kupelian.
$10
off rack
rate with
this ad
Approved
Southwest Michigan’s Newest All Suite Hotel
• 65 Well Appointed Guest Suites
• Indoor Pool, Whirlpool, Sauna
& Sun Deck
• Heart Shaped Jacuzzi With
Fireplace Suites
• Fitness Center, Business Center,
Boardroom & Meeting Room
For Up To 50 People
• Free high Speed Internet Access
In All Suites
• On Site Guest Laundry
•
•
•
•
All-nonsmoking hotel
Platinum Award Winner
In Room Coffee Makers
Micro Fridge & Pull Out Sofa
In All Suites
• Minutes from Lake Michigan
Beaches & Wineries, U-Pick
Fruit Farms & Downtown
St. Joe.
• Complimentary Deluxe
Continential Breakfast
Loft Rooms
Kids Suites
Available
Located Right
Off I-94- Exit 23
(269) 428-4888
2633 W. Marquette Woods Rd., Stevensville, MI 49127
2007
Western Amateur
47
Friends of the
Western Amateur 2007
Terry & Diane Barella
David Barr
Ann Byrne
Rick & Louise Carey
Art & Carol Clark
James & Pamela Clever
Craig Conklin
Jeff Dorn
Boots & Doris Duesing
Jeff & Marcia Fettig
Todd & Sharese Franklin
Ginny Gladish
James & Sharon Gleeson
Bob Gottlieb
Jay Grinney
Jack & Vickie Hannigan
Frank & Diana Hoffman
Thomas Karaba
Dr. & Mrs. Ronald Karpanty
Anthony & Barbara Kesman
48
Western Amateur
2007
Adrian Kruse
Robert Leslie
Jim, Laura, David, Daniel, J.D.,
Bob & Billy McCormick
Larry & Meryle Merritt
Dennis & Nancy Mitchell
Tom & Jackie Morsch
George & Dimpy Morvis
Pat Neal
Lawrence Oberman
Joel Pelz
Bruce Pfaff
Glen & Margaret Poole
Mr. & Mrs. Michael Rooney
Jack & Jan Sperbeck
Jeanne Tosi
Joshua Weiner
Bob & Sally Weist
Chuck & Judy Willis
Fran Young
105th Western Amateur Tournament Committee
Tournament General Chairman - - - - - -Dan Pannozzo
Committee Chairpersons
Advertising - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Dennis Mitchell
Finance - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Ray Marks
Front Gate - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Fran Young
Housing - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Anna Abdelnour
Marshals - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Mike Piraino
Media - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Dale Bieri
2007
Western Amateur
49
Western Amateur, Since 1889
YEAR
1899
CHAMPION
David Forgan
6&5
Chicago, IL
1900
Wm.Waller
1 up
Chicago, IL
1901
Phelps Hoyt
6&5
Chicago, IL
RUNNERUP
Walter Egan
MEDALIST
David Forgan
Chicago, IL
Chicago, IL
Wm. Holabird, Jr.
Walter Smith
Chicago, IL
Chicago, IL
Bruce Smith
Fred Hamlin
Chicago, IL
Chicago, IL
SCORE
84
SITE
Glen View Club
Golf, IL
161
Onwentsia Club
Lake Forest, IL
176
Midlothian CC
Blue Island, IL
Walter Egan 176
Chicago, IL
1902
1903
H.C. Egan
1 up
Walter Egan
H.C. Egan
Chicago, IL
37 holes
Lake Geneva,WI
Chicago, IL
Walter Egan
1 up
H.C. Egan
(None)
Chicago, IL
1904
H.C. Egan
6&5
H.C. Egan
1906
1907
Euclid Club
Cleveland,OH
D. E. Sawyer
Wheaton. IL
3&2
Chicago, IL
H.C. Egan
144
Chicago, IL
Walter Egan
Guy Miller
Chicago, IL
Detroit, MI
D. E. Sawyer
1 up
Warren Wood
W.C. Fownes, Jr.
Wheaton, IL
37 holes
Homewood, IL
Pittsburgh, PA
H.C. Egan
5&4
Chicago, IL
Chicago GC
Wheaton, IL
Chicago, IL
Chicago, IL
1905
163
Herbert Jones
D. E. Sawyer
Wheaton, IL
Wheaton, IL
Exmoor CC
Highland Park, IL
157
Glen View Club
Golf, IL
153
Glen Echo CC
St. Louis,MO
160
Chicago GC
Wheaton, IL
K. P. Edwards 160
Chicago, IL
W. I. Howland, Jr. 160
Chicago, IL
1908
Mason Phelps
6&5
Chicago, IL
1909
Chas. Evans, Jr.
1 up
Chicago, IL
1910
Mason Phelps
2&1
Chicago, IL
1911
Albert Seckel
8&7
Chicago, IL
1912
Chas. Evans, Jr.
1 up
Chicago, IL
1913
Warren Wood
4&3
Homewood, IL
1914
Chas. Evans, Jr.
11 & 9
Chicago, IL
1915
1916
1917
Chas. Evans, Jr.
7&6
K. P. Edwards
St. Louis,MO
Chicago, IL
Albert Seckel
Warren Wood
Chicago, IL
Homewood, IL
Chas. Evans, Jr.
Harry Legg
Chicago, IL
Minneapolis,MN
Robert Gardner
Paul Hunter
Hinsdale, IL
Chicago, IL
Warren Wood
Warren Wood
Homewood, IL
Homewood, IL
E. P. Allis
Chas. Evans, Jr.
Milwaukee,WI
Chicago, IL
J.D. Standish, Jr.
Chas. Evans, Jr.
Detroit, MI
Chicago, IL
J.D. Standish, Jr.
Paul Hunter
Chicago, IL
Detroit, MI
Chicago, IL
Heinrich Schmidt7 & 6
Douglas Grant
Heinrich Schmidt
Claremont,CA
Burlingame,CA
Claremont,CA
Ken Edwards
Donald Edwards
Chicago, IL
Chicago, IL
Francis Ouimet
1 up
Boston,MA
1918 NO CHAMPIONSHIP
1919
Harry Legg
2&1
Minneapolis,MN
1920
H.W.Allen
Chas. Evans, Jr.
5&4
Chicago, IL
1921 Chas. Evans, Jr. 3 & 2
Chicago, IL
R. Bockenkamp
Clarence Wolff
St. Louis MO
St. Louis,MO
Clarence Wolff
R.T. Jones, Jr.
St. Louis,MO
Atlanta, GA
Rudy Knepper
Rudy Knepper
Sioux City, IA
Sioux City, IA
152
Arsenal GC
Rock Island, IL
146
Homewood CC
Flossmoor, IL
140
Minikahda Club
Minneapolis,MN
154
Detroit GC
Detroit, MI
69
Denver CC
Denver,CO
151
Homewood CC
Flossmoor, IL
147
Kent CC
Grand Rapids,MI
150
Mayfield CC
Cleveland,OH
145
Del Monte G&CC
Del Monte,CA
150
Midlothian CC
Blue Island, IL
146
Sunset Hill CC
St. Louis,MO
139
Memphis CC
Memphis,TN
144
Westmoreland CC
Wilmette, IL
H. R. Johnston 144
St. Paul,MN
1922
Chas. Evans, Jr.
5&4
Chicago, IL
1923
Chas. Evans, Jr.
6&4
Chicago, IL
1924
H. R. Johnston
St. Paul, MN
50
1 up
Goe.Von Elm
Chas. Evans, Jr.
Salt Lake City,UT
Chicago, IL
W.H. Gardner
Jess Sweetser
Buffalo,NY
Boston,MA
Albert Seckel
Arthur Sweet
Chicago, IL
Chicago, IL
Western Amateur
2007
143
Hillcrest CC
Kansas City,MO
143
Mayfield CC
Cleveland,OH
141
Hinsdale CC
Hinsdale, IL
2007
Western Amateur
51
YEAR
1925
CHAMPION
Keefe Carter
RUNNERUP
3&2
Oklahoma City, OK
1926
Frank Dolp
Chicago, IL
6&5
Portland,OR
1927
Bon Stein
2&1
Seattle,WA
1928
Frank Dolp
4&3
Portland,OR
1929
1930
Russell Martin
MEDALIST
SCORE
Dexter Cummings
138
Chicago, IL
Bon Stein
H. R. Johnston
Seattle,WA
St. Paul,MN
Eddie Held
Chas. Hunter
St. Louis,MO
Tacoma,WA
Gus Novotny
John Dawson
Chicago, IL
Chicago, IL
Don Moe
1 up
Gilbert Carter
Don Moe
Portland,OR
37 holes
Univ. of Missouri
Portland,OR
John Lehman
4&2
Chicago, IL
Ira Couch
John Lehman
Chicago, IL
Lochmoor Club
Detroit, MI
141
White Bear YC
St. Paul,MN
47
Seattle,GC
Seattle,WA
141
Bob O’Link GC
Highland Park, IL
144
Mission Hills CC
Kansas City,MO
147
Chicago, IL
Chas. Evans, Jr.
SITE
Beverly CC
Chicago, IL
147
Chicago, IL
1931
Don Moe
9&7
Portland,OR
1932
Gus Moreland
5&4
Dallas,TX
1933
Jack Westland
3&2
Chicago, IL
1934
Zell Eaton
4&3
Oklahoma City,OK
1935
Charles Yates
5&3
Atlanta, GA
1936
Paul Leslie
2&1
Jefferson City,MO
1937
Wilford Wehrle
1 up
Racine,WI
1938
Bob Babbish
1 up
Detroit, MI
1939
Harry Todd
2&1
Dallas,TX
1940
Marvin Ward
3&1
Spokane,WA
M. McNaughton
Eddie Hogan
Portland,OR
Portland,OR
Ira Couch
John Lehman
Chicago, IL
Chicago, IL
Rodney Bliss
Zell Eaton
Omaha, NE
Oklahoma City,OK
Spec Goldman
Zell Eaton
Dallas,TX
Oklahoma City,OK
Rodney Bliss
Rodney Bliss
Omaha, NE
Omaha, NE
Bob Frazer
Matt Zadalis
Omaha, NE
Omaha, NE
Charles Kocsis
Charles Yates
Detroit, MI
Atlanta, GA
M. McCarthy
Burleigh Jacobs, Jr.
Cincinnati,OH
Milwaukee,WI
Larry Moller
Spec Stewart
Quincy, IL
Albuquerque,NM
George Victor
Art Doering
Wilmette, IL
Medinah, IL
140
Portland GC
Portland,OR
137
Rockford CC
Rockford, IL
141
Memphis CC
Memphis,TN
144
Twin Hills GC
Oklahoma City,OK
142
Broadmoor GC
Colorado Springs,CO
138
Happy Hollow Club
Omaha, NE
137
Los Angeles CC
Los Angeles,CA
139
South Bend CC
South Bend, IN
137
Oklahoma City GC
Oklahoma, City,OK
142
Minneapolis GC
Minneapolis,MN
Jim Ferrier 142
Sydney, Australia
1941
Marvin Ward
3&2
Spokane,WA
1942
Pvt. Pat Abbott
7&6
Los Angeles,CA
1943-44-45 NO CHAMPIONSHIPS
1946
Frank Stranahan 1 up
Toledo,OH
Harry Todd
Harry Todd
Dallas,TX
Dallas,TX
B. McCormick
Marvin Ward
Los Angeles,CA
Spokane,WA
Marvin Ward
Frank Stranahan
Spokane,WA
Toledo, OH
Marvin Ward
141
Broadmoor GC
Colorado Springs,CO
141
Manito G&CC
Spokane,WA
141
Northland CC
Duluth,MN
141
Spokane, WA
Smiley Quick
141
Los Angeles, CA
1947
Marvin Ward
1 up
Spokane,WA
1948
Skee Reigel
3&1
Upper Darby, PA
1949
1950
F. Stranahan
Marvin Ward
Toledo,OH
Spokane, WA
James T. McHale
Laurence Glosser
Philadelphia, PA
Oklahoma City, OK
Frank Stranahan 5 & 4
Walter Cisco
John Wagner
Toledo, OH
Louisville, KY
Chicago, IL
Robert Goldwater
Jimmy McHale
Phoenix,AZ
Philadelphia, PA
Charles Coe
7&6
Admore,OK
Dale Morey
141
Wakonda CC
Des Moines, IA
139
Wichita CC
Wichita, KS
145
Bellerive CC
St. Louis,MO
143
Dallas CC
Dallas,TX
143
Dallas, TX
Leonard White
143
Dallas, TX
Morris Williams
143
Denton, TX
1951
1952
Frank Stranahan 7 & 6
James Blair, III
Frank Stranahan
Toledo, OH
Jefferson City,MO
Toledo, OH
Frank Stranahan 3 & 2
Harvie Ward, Jr.
John Coyle
Toledo, OH
Atlanta, GA
Dallas, TX
Don Cherry
New York, NY
52
Western Amateur
2007
139
South Bend CC
South Bend, IN
141
Exmoor CC
Highland Park, IL
141
SERVICE OIL COMPANY
604 Water Street
♦
Cassopolis, MI 49031
“Serving Southwestern
Michigan and Northern
Indiana for over 60 years”
1-800-424-3885
♦
(269) 445-2441
2007
Western Amateur
53
YEAR
1953
CHAMPION
Dale Morey
RUNNERUP
8&6
Martinsville, IN
1954
1955
1956
1957
MEDALIST
SCORE
Richard Norton
Frank Strafaci
140
Grand Rapids, MI
Long Island,NY
Bruce Cudd
1 up
Philip Getchell
Maj. H.Williams
Portland,OR
37 holes
Medford,OR
Seattle,WA
Eddie Merrins
1 up
Hillman Robbins, Jr.
Don Bisplinghoff
Meridian, MS
37 holes
Memphis,TN
Orlando, FL
Mason Rudolph 6 & 4
Jack Parnell
Don Bisplinghoff
Clarksville,TN
Nashville,TN
Orlando, FL
Dr. Updegraff
9&8
Tucson,AZ
Joe Campbell
Bob Pratt
Knoxville,TN
Renton,WA
Phil Rodgers
SITE
Blythefield CC
Grand Rapids, MI
142
Broadmoor GC
Seattle,WA
276
Rockford CC
Rockford, IL
273
Belle Meade CC
Nashville,TN
289
Old Warson CC
St. Louis,MO
289
La Jolla,CA
1958
James (Billy) Key 3 & 2
Mason Rudolph
James (Billy) Key
Columbus, GA
Clarksville,TN
Columbus, GA
Mason Rudolph
286
CC of Florida
Delray Beach, FL
286
Clarksville,TN
Edwin Hopkins, Jr.
286
Abilene,TX
1959
Dr. Updegraff
7&5
Tucson,AZ
1960
Tommy Aaron
default
Gainesville,GA
1961
Jack Nicklaus
Art Hudnutt
1 up
Elyria,OH
1963
Tom Weiskopf
5&4
Bedford,OH
1964
1965
1966
1969
1971
James (Billy) Key
Ron Weber
Columbus, GA
Bayside,CA
Melvin Stevens
Labron Harris, Jr.
Detroit, MI
Stillwater,OK
Labron Harris, Jr.
Don Voth
Stillwater,OK
Akron,OH
Dr. Updegraff
Dr. Updegraff
Tucson,AZ
Tucson,AZ
Bob Smith
1 up
George Boutell
Marty Fleckman
Sacramento,CA
19 holes
Phoenix,AZ
Port Arthur,TX
Jim Wiechers
1 up
Bob Smith
3&1
Ron Cerrudo
Marty Fleckman
San Rafael,CA
Port Arthur,TX
Marty Fleckman
Bob Smith
Port Arthur,TX
Sacramento,CA
Rik Massengale 3 & 1
Kemp Richardson
Bob Barbarossa
Jacksboro,TX
Palos Verdes,CA
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Steve Melnyk
3&1
Brunswick, GA
1970
Pfc. Phil Rodgers
San Diego,CA
Steve Oppermann 3 & 2
Sacramento,CA
1968
Bob Cochran
St. Louis,MO
San Francisco,CA
Atherton,CA
1967
Dr.Arthur Butler
Pasadena,CA
4&3
Columbus,OH
1962
Chas. Hunter, Jr.
Tacoma,WA
Howard Twitty
Pat Fitzsimons
Phoenix,AZ
Salem,OR
Lanny Wadkins 4 & 2
Charlie Borner
Tom Kite
Richmond,VA
North Platte,NE
Austin,TX
Andy North
1 up
Conroe,TX
Barney Thompson
Allen Miller
Barboursville,WV
Pensacola, FL
278
Waverley CC
Portland,OR
281
Northland CC
Duluth,MN
278
New Orleans CC
New Orleans, LA
281
Orchard Lake CC
Orchard Lake, MI
294
Point O’Woods G&CC
Benton Harbor, MI
277
Tucson CC
Tucson,AZ
290
Point O’Woods G&CC
Benton Harbor, MI
282
Pinehurst CC
Pinehurst,NC
280
Milburn G&CC
Overland Park, KS
280
Grosse Ile G&CC
Grosse Ile,MI
283
Rockford CC
Rockford, IL
273
Wichita CC
Wichita, KS
284
Point O’Woods G&CC
Benton Harbor, MI
Tom Watson 284
Kansas City,MO
1972
Gary Sanders
1 up
Anaheim,CA
1973
Ben Crenshaw
4&3
Austin,TX V
1974
1975
Curtis Strange
1 up
Dr. Gill Morgan
Ben Crenshaw
Wewoka,OK
Austin,TX
Jimmy Ellis
Ben Crenshaw
irginia Beach,VA
Austin,TX
Jay Haas
Curtis Strange
Virginia Beach,VA 20 holes
Belleville, IL
Virginia Beach,VA
Andy Bean
Randy Simmons
Robert Byman
Shreveport, LA
Raleigh,NC
1 up
Lakeland, FL
Keith Fergus
282
Point O’Woods G&CC
Benton Harbor, MI
286
Point O’Woods G&CC
Benton Harbor, MI
278
Point O’Woods G&CC
Benton Harbor, MI
289
Point O’Woods G&CC
Benton Harbor, MI
289
Houston,TX
Bill Mallon
289
Framingham, MS
Randy Simmons
289
Shreveport, LA
1976
John Stark
3&1
San Antonio,TX
1977
Jim Nelford
2&1
Burnaby, B.C., Canada
1978
Bob Clampett
2 up
Carmel, CA
1979
Hal Sutton
Shreveport, LA
54
1 up
Mick Soli
Bob Byman
DeKalb, IL
Raleigh,NC
Rafael Alarcon
Lee Mikles
Guadalajara, Mexico
Mark Wiebe
Vance Heafner
Cary, NC
Mike Gove
Joe Rassett
Seattle,WA
Turlock,CA
2007
Point O’Woods G&CC
Benton Harbor, MI
284
Camarillo,CA
Escondido,CA
Western Amateur
289
Point O’Woods G&CC
Benton Harbor, MI
283
Point O’Woods G&CC
Benton Harbor, MI
75
Point O’Woods G&CC
Benton Harbor, MI
YEAR
CHAMPION
1980
Hal Sutton
RUNNERUP
4&3
Shreveport, LA
1981
Frank Fuhrer
2&1
Pittsburgh, PA
MEDALIST
SCORE
David Ogrin
Mark O’Meara
280
Waukegan, IL
Laguna Niguel,CA
Curt Byrum
Willie Wood
Marco Island, FL
Stillwater,OK
SITE
Point O’Woods G&CC
Benton Harbor, MI
283
Point O’Woods G&CC
Benton Harbor, MI
Ed Luethke
283
Los Altos,CA
1982
Rick Fehr
5&3
Seattle,WA
1983
Billy Tuten
2 up
Palatka, FL
1984
John Inman
3&2
Greensboro,NC
1985
Scott Verplank
1 up
Dallas,TX
1986
Greg Parker
3&1
Old Fort,NC
1987
Hugh Royer
3&2
Aiken, SC
1988
Chris DiMarco
1 up
Heathrow, FL
1989
1990
1995
Scott Verplank
Dallas,TX
Dave Peege
Scott Verplank
Dallas,TX
Robert Huxtable
Jim Benepe
Sheridan,WY
Phil Mickelson
2&1
Justin Leonard
2 up
Justin Leonard
6&4
Tiger Woods
2&1
Point O’Woods G&CC
Benton Harbor, MI
270
Point O’Woods G&CC
278
Point O’Woods G&CC
Benton Harbor, MI
279
Point O’Woods G&CC
Benton Harbor, MI
Craig Perks
Len Mattiace
Point O’Woods G&CC
Van Buren,OH
Ponte Vedra, FL
Benton Harbor, MI
Bill Lundeen
Tom Carr
Findlay,OH
Columbus,OH
Doug Martin
4&2
282
Benton Harbor, MI
Louisville, KY
Norman,OK
Dallas,TX
1994
Rocco Mediate
Greensburg, PA
Tony Mollica
Dallas,TX
1993
Roy Biancalana
Franklin Park, IL
Cathedral City,CA
Point O’Woods G&CC
Benton Harbor, MI
Kent Kluba
Columbus,OH
Craig Kanada
272
Walnut Creek, GA
David Sutherland 2 & 1
San Diego,CA
1992
Rick Fehr
Seattle,WA
Sacramento,CA
Lake Oswego,OR
1991
Tommy Moore
New Orleans, LA
Greg Griffin
Scott Frisch
Sacramento,CA
Scottsdale,AZ
276
271
281
Phil Mickelson
San Diego,CA
John Harris
Edina,MN
Danny Green
Jason Gore
Jackson,TN
Valencia,CA
Point O’Woods G&CC
Benton Harbor, MI
Justin Leonard
David Howser
Point O’Woods G&CC
Benton Harbor, MI
Dallas,TX
Cordova,TN
Point O’Woods G&CC
Benton Harbor, MI
279
Point O’Woods G&CC
Benton Harbor, MI
280
Point O’Woods G&CC
Benton Harbor, MI
277
Point O’Woods G&CC
Benton Harbor, MI
Chris Riley
Bud Still
Cypress,CA
San Diego,CA
Diboll,TX
279
Patrick Lee 2 & 1
Robert Floyd
Mathew Goggin
Oxford, MS
Miami Beach, FL
Tasmania,Australia
Point O’Woods G&CC
Benton Harbor, MI
Justin Roof
274
Point O’Woods G&CC
Benton Harbor, MI
274
Conway, SC
1996
Joel Kribel
2&1
Pleasanton,CA
1997
Danny Green
1 up
Jackson,TN
1998
1999
19 holes
Pleasanton,CA
274
Andy Miller
Arron Oberholser
Napa,CA
San Jose,CA
Shawn Koch
Alberto Ocha
Edinburg,TX
2&1
Michael Kirk
2&1
Point O’Woods G&CC
277
Point O’Woods G&CC
Benton Harbor, MI
Andy Miller
Steve Scott
Napa,CA
Coral Springs, FL
Ben Curtis
271
Benton Harbor, MI
Howell, MI
Steve Scott
Point O’Woods G&CC
Benton Harbor, MI
Raleigh,NC
Johannesburg, South Africa
2001
Joel Kribel
Tasmania,AUS
Michael Henderson 1 up
Coral Springs, FL
2000
Brett Partridge
275
Kyle Thompson
Kent, OH
Columbia, SC
Bubba Dickerson 6 & 4
Trip Kuehne
Danny Green
Jackson, TN
Bubba Dickerson
Hilliard, FL
Dallas, TX
Hilliard, FL
Point O’Woods G&CC
Benton Harbor, MI
275
Point O’Woods G&CC
Benton Harbor, MI
277
270
Point O’Woods G&CC
Benton Harbor, MI
Matthew Abbott
270
Endwell,NY
2002
John Klauk
6&5
Ponte Verde Beach, FL
Adam Rubinson
Kevin Stadler
Fort Worth, TX
Englewood, CO
276
Camilo Villegas
Point O’Woods G&CC
Benton Harbor, MI
276
Medellin, Columbia
2003
Chris Botsford
3&2
Pasadina, CA
2004
Ryan Moore
19 holes
Puyallup, WA
2005
2006
J.J. Jakovac
Aron Price
Napa, CA
Sydney, Australia
275
James Nitties
Aron Price
NS Wales, Australia
Sydney, Australia
265
Jamie Lovemark 3 & 2
Chris Wilson
Andres Gonzales
Rancho Santa Fe, CA
Dublin, OH
Olympia, WA
Point O’Woods G&CC
Benton Harbor, MI
Point O’Woods G&CC
Benton Harbor, MI
277
Point O’Woods G&CC
Benton Harbor, MI
Bronson LaCassie 2 & 1
Pablo Martin
Won Joon Lee
200*
Point O’Woods G&CC
Brisbane, Australia
Malaga, Spain
NS Wales, Australia
*54 holes
Benton Harbor, MI
2007
Western Amateur
55
Medalist
Won Joon Lee,
New South
Wales,
Australia,
shot a third
round 61
to tie
Aron Price’s
course and
tournament
record.
56
Western Amateur
2007
2007
Western Amateur
57
Awa r d w i n n i n g Fo o d & P i z z a
(269) 428-3966
E l e g a n t B a n q u e t Fa c i l i t i e s
( 2 6 9 ) 4 2 9 - 115 8
2262 West Glenlord
Stevensville, Michigan
Good Luck to all!
105th Western Amateur
Golf Championship
100% of the time you’ll get 100% of mine
Karenlee Barnes
•
•
•
•
•
Realtor for over 15 years
Silver & Platinum production awards
GMAC Diamond Award
Multi-million dollar producer
Serving all of Southwest Michigan
Home
Mobile
Office
(269) 983-7717
(269) 921-5740
(269) 983-7721, ext. 317
EXECUTIVE INN
Restaurant • Lounge
Free High Speed Wireless Internet
Indoor Heated Pool & Spa
798 Ferguson Drive • Benton Harbor
www.executiveinnbentonharbor.com
(269) 927-1172
www.hojo.com
Go anywhere. Stay here.
58
Western Amateur
2007
Western Golf Association/
Evans Scholars Foundation
Championships since 1899
•
Scholarships since 1930
Western Golf Association/Evans Scholars Foundation Headquarters in Golf, Illinois
(GOLF, Illinois) - The Western Golf Association was
founded in 1899 by 11 Chicago-area golf clubs. Today,
more than 500 member clubs in states throughout the
nation support the WGA, sponsor of three national golf
championships and the Chick Evans Caddie Scholarships.
Headquarters for the WGA and the Evans Scholars
Foundation are in Golf, Illinois, which is also home to the
Glen View Club, host of the first Western Open (now the
BMW Championship) and Western Amateur champi-
onships in 1899. In 1914, the Western Junior championship, the first such national competition in the history
of American golf, was added to the WGA tournament
schedule.
Scholarships
Since 1930 the WGA also has sponsored the nationally-acclaimed Evans Scholars Foundation, which administers the nation's largest privately funded college scholar-
2007
Western Amateur
59
ship program. The
Foundation, established by
famed Chicago golfer Chick
Evans, has provided college
educations to more than
9,000 caddies while making
tuition scholarship payments
totaling more than $100
million.
Leonard, Phil Mickelson,
Curtis Strange, Hal Sutton,
Lanny Wadkins, Tom
Weiskopf and Scott
Verplank.
The Western Junior has
been a testing ground for
stars of the future, such as
Tiger Woods, Phil
Mickelson, Jim Furyk, Fred
Couples, Scott Hoch, Tom
Lehman, Craig Stadler,
Corey Pavin, Bobby
Clampett and Willie Wood.
Western Junior champions
are honored on the Milt
Woodard Trophy.
This year 820 caddies are
attending college on Evans
Scholarships. Most Evans
Scholars attend one of the 14
universities where the
Foundation owns and operates a Scholarship House. The
scholarships are funded
through contributions from
more than 100,000 golfers,
including 35,000 WGA Par
Club members. All proceeds
from the BMW Championship also benefit the program.
WGA Officials
The WGA is governed
by volunteer officers and
directors. Richard E.
Peterson, of Park Ridge,
Illinois, is WGA president.
Edward R. James, of
Winnetka, Illinois, is past
president and chairman of
the ESF Trustees. Donald D.
Johnson is WGA/ESF executive director, John M.
Kaczkowski is WGA
touranment director, and
James E. Moore is ESF educational director.
Since its founding in
1899, the Western Golf
Association has conducted
296 championships for professional and amateur
golfers from throughout the
United States and worldwide. The three WGA-sponsored tournaments have featured the nation's top professional, amateur and junior golfers.
In 2007, the WGA will
conduct the inaugural BMW
Championship on the PGA
TOUR. The championship
will continue the WGA's tradition of attracting the
world's top golfers. Past winners of the WGA's professional championships include
golf's greatest players, including Chick Evans, Walter
Hagen, Byron Nelson, Ben
Hogan, Arnold Palmer, Jack
Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Nick
Price and Tiger Woods.
Chick Evans
The Western Amateur's George R. Thorne championship trophy features the names of golf greats Chick
Evans, Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Ben Crenshaw, Justin
60
Western Amateur
2007
WGA officials and Evans
Scholars Foundation
trustees share a love for golf
and a willingness to serve
the best interests of the
game and of the programs
they serve. WGA board
members, who volunteer
without pay, assist in many
ways: fund-raising, caddie
matters, tournaments,
scholarships, legal matters
and administrative affairs.
For more information, write to: Western Golf
Association/ Evans Scholars Foundation at 1 Briar Road,
Golf, IL 60029, call (847) 724-4600, or visit www.westerngolfassociation.com.
Phone # (269) 926-7873
Fax # (269)926-7871
1251 Paw Paw Ave. Benton Harbor, MI 49022
24 Hour Emergency Service
IN # PC 88700426
MI # 81-08823
2007
Western Amateur
61
Point O’Woods Chairmen are Champions, Too
T
he Western Amateur Golf Championship is an event
that thousands of spectators enjoy annually. For
many, it is the premier event of the year. That is certainly true for the amateur golfers who play the “circuit” –
and it should be, as the Western Amateur continually draws
the largest number of spectators of any amateur tournament
in the world.
While the Western Amateur is enjoyable to watch, it
doesn’t just happen overnight. It takes countless hours of
work behind the scenes, starting almost as soon as the
trophy is presented to the winner.
62
It takes a lot of effort by volunteers, members of
Point O’Woods Golf & Country Club, club staff, WGA
officials, and someone to provide leadership and direction, coordinating all aspects of the tournament.
During the years that the Western Amateur has
been played at the Point, the tournament has had great
leaders, just as there have been great champions.
Perhaps you’ll recognize some of these people who’ve
played a part in making the Western Amateur such a
special tournament.
Chairman
Year
Warren Gast
Les Larsen
John Steimle
John Steimle
Paul Freudenburg
Merlin Hanson
Thomas Schick
Robert Gerbel
Robert Gerbel
G. Bruce Laing
G. Bruce Laing
David Peterson
Bill Dillingham
Pamela Clever
Pamela Clever
Pamela Clever
John E. Dewane
John E. Dewane
Dennis Woolley
Dennis Woolley
William Menser
William Menser
William Menser
William Menser
William Menser
Robert Brickman
Robert Brickman
Robert Brickman
Robert Brickman
James Laing
James Laing
J. Christopher Wyse
J. Christopher Wyse
Dennis Mitchell
Dennis Mitchell
Dennis Mitchell
Chuck McCallum
Chuck McCallum
Daniel Pannozzo
1963
1965
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
Western Amateur
2007
Great Food, Great View
Just Add Friends
501 Pleasant Street, Saint Joseph
(269) 983-7248 www.schus.com
On the bluff, overlooking Lake Michigan
2007
Western Amateur
63
History of the
Point O’ Woods
The Architect:
Robert Trent Jones
I
n 1954, five Twin Cities area residents met informally and
voiced the opinion that a new country club was needed for
the greater St. Joseph Benton Harbor area.Those initially
interested in the project were C.E. (Bud) Blake, Charles W.
Gore, Richard Merrill, Malcolm Ross and Frederick S. Upton.
About that time, approximately 350 acres of land, owned
by Donald H. Ross, became available for such a project.
Robert Trent Jones, one of the leading golf course architects of the country, was contacted and asked if he would
inspect the location to decide whether it had sufficient possibilities for development into a fine golf course. After careful study
of the terrain, he reported enthusiastically that it was an ideal
location for a championship 18-hole course.
The rolling terrain and trees provided interest and beauty
to the contemplated golf course, and the lake was an ideal
source of water supply for fairways and greens. Jones was then
instructed to prepare a tentative layout for the course.
The five “founders” devoted many hours of work to make
the new course a reality.After about a year of investigation and
planning, financing was obtained and Jones was instructed to
proceed with final plans for the golf course.
In the spring of 1957, the first bulldozer arrived on the
scene to start shaping the Point O’Woods golf course.
Building progress was rapid, and during the months that
followed, land was cleared, fairways were formed and in the
fall of 1957 seed was sown. On June 14, 1958, the course,
which only 14 months earlier had been rugged wooded land,
was opened for play.
It was recognized from the start that the course was a
great one. Golf legends such as touring professionals Arnold
Palmer and Jack Nicklaus have played the course. Comments
are the same: “One of the truly great courses in America.”
That reputation continues to grow. Golf Week magazine
consistently rates the Point O’Woods among the top 100 in the
nation, and is one of only a few courses in Michigan to make
the select list.
R
obert Trent Jones was born in
England in 1906 but came to
America with his parents when he
was five years old. Jones took up golf as
a youngster and became a fine player. At
the age of 16, he set a course record
while playing in the Rochester (NY) City
Golf championship. In 1927, he was the
low am teur in the Canadian Open.
While attending Cornell University,
Jones decided he wanted to be a golf
course designer.. Since the school did not
have a formal program in this field, Jones
was allowed to set up the curriculum for
a degree in landscape architecture.
Over the next five decades, Robert
Trent Jones created plans for over 450
golf courses in 42 states and 23 countries … from Arizona to Alaska, from
Germany to Japan. A great many other
golf courses were remodeled by Jones,
as well. Thanks to his successful
remodeling of Oakland Hills for the
’51 U.S. Open, Jones also was consistently called in to remodel the venues
for other major championships. His
two sons, Rees and Robert, Jr., are also
renowned golf course architects like
their father.
In Golf Week’s rankings of
America’s best golf courses, nearly
half of the Top 100 were designed by
Robert Trent Jones, Sr., including the
Point O’ Woods.
2007
Western Amateur
65
104th Western Amateur Championship
“Sweet 16” Match Play Results
Saturday Morning, August 5, 2006
First Round Match Play Results
Tyler Leon, Dallas, Texas, def. Won Joon Lee, NSW, Australia, 2 & 1
Scott Pieri, Fort Wayne, Ind,. def. Jonathan Moore, Portland, Ore., 2 & 1
Erik Flores, Grass Valley, Calif., def. Jamie Lovemark, Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., 5 & 4
Pablo Martin, Malaga, Spain, def. Billy Horschel, Grant, Fla., 2 & 1
Gary Woodland, Berryton, Kansas, def. Ashley Hall, Melbourne, Australia, 4 & 3
Dawie Van Der Walt, Cape Town S. Africa, def. Ryan Brehm, Mt. Pleasant, Mich, 5 & 4
Dustin Johnson, N. Myrtle Beach, S. Car., def. Richard Scott, Kingsville, Ont., Canada, 2 up
Bronson LaCassie, Brisbane, Australia, def. Tim Stewart, Sydney, NSW, Australia, 6 & 5
Saturday Afternoon, August 5, 2006
Quarterfinal Match Play Results
Scott Pieri, def. Tyler Leon
Pablo Martin def. Erik Flores
Dawie Van Der Walt def. Gary Woodland
Bronson LaCassie def. Dustin Johnson
2
5
1
6
&1
&4
up
&5
Sunday Morning, August 6, 2006
Semifinal Matches
Pablo Martin def. Scott Pieri
5&3
Bronson LaCassie def. Dawie Van Der Walt 3 & 1
Sunday Afternoon, August 6, 2006
Championship Match
Bronson LaCassie def. Pablo Martin
66
Western Amateur
2007
2&1
Advertiser Index
A.G. Edwards & Sons
ABC57 WBND South Bend
Barnes and Ross
Berrien Teachers Credit Union
Call the Mrs. LLC
Cardiology II, P.C.
Chemical Bank
City Plumbing & Heating
Comfort Suites
Conybeare Law Office, P.C.
D. A. Dodd, Inc.
Don Young Insurance Agency
Edgewater Bank
Electrical Workers Local 153
Executive Inn
Freedom Finishing
Galaxy Container
Genesis Web Design
Gerbel & Company, P.C. CPA’s
Green Bay Packaging
Ham “N” Egg on Golf
Hanson Logistics
Harbor Shores
Hardings Friendly Markets
Horizon Bank
HUB International - Insurance Services
Hull Lift Truck
51
10
61
23
11
23
53
57
47
17
61
28
61
17
58
57
49
61
41
04
25
25
02
08
63
28
17
IPC Print Services
Karenlee Barnes, Realtor
Kepner’s Precision Auto
Lake Michigan Golf Hills
Michigan Golfer Television
O.K. Distributors
Plante & Moran, LLP
Pri Mar Petroleum
Santaniello’s Restaurante
Schillings Auto Wash
Schroeder Furniture
Schroeder Motors
Schu’s Grill & Bar
Schultz Roofing Supply
Scope Services
Service Oil Company
Silver Beach Pizza
South Haven Packaging
Spruce Ridge Golf Club
Subway
Sun Appliance
TARA Florist
Trelleborg Automotive
US Jack Co.
Whirlpool
Whitcomb Retirement Residence
2007
11
58
41
47
23
inside back
53
57
58
61
51
inside front
63
63
58
53
22
57
63
28
back
57
47
51
01
41
Western Amateur
67
View from the Fairway
“Definitely winning a trophy Tiger’s won feels special
and is something I’ll never forget.”
– Bronson LaCassie, 2006 Western Amateur Champion
68
Western Amateur
2007