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State golf notes: Michigan a hot bed for women pros; Meijer tops $2M for charity

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State golf notes: Michigan a hot bed for women pros; Meijer tops M for charity

It’s time to catch up on some other news and notes in the world of Michigan golf, now that the sixth-annual Rocket Mortgage Classic is in the books.

Epson Tour events

Our state is becoming quite a hotbed for women’s professional golf, with two LPGA tournaments — the Meijer LPGA Classic outside Grand Rapids and Midland’s Dow Championship (which, bizarrely, was played concurrently with the Rocket, and let’s hope that never happens again) — and a whole bunch of events on the Epson Tour, essentially the LPGA’s version of the Korn Ferry Tour.

In June, the Epson Tour announced it is bringing a tournament to Boyne’s Highlands course in Harbor Springs. The tournament is scheduled for June 12-15, 2025.

“The Petoskey Area is well known as a tremendous golf market, and I know our athletes will be excited to visit the community and take on the challenges that The Heather at The Highlands will offer,” Jody Brothers, the Epson Tour’s COO, said in a statement. “We’re confident that this event will instantly become an athlete favorite and help prepare them for their ultimate goal of playing on the LPGA Tour.”

The tournament, to be known as The Great Lakes Championship, will have a $250,000 purse, including $37,500 to the winner.

This will mark the third Epson Tour tournament in Michigan, along with the long-running Firekeepers Casino Hotel Championship in Battle Creek and the Island Resort Championship in Harris. Also, in 2025, the prestigious Women’s Western Amateur will be played at Red Run Golf Club in Royal Oak, and Oakland Hills Country Club will host the U.S. Women’s Open in 2031 and 2042.

Ann Arbor’s Travis Pointe hosted an Epson Tour tournament in 2022, and that was supposed to be a two-year commitment. But the tournament lasted just the one year.

“We are excited and honored to host the Epson Tour’s Great Lakes Championship at The Highlands,” Mike Chumbler, president and general manager of The Highlands, said in a statement  “Hosting this prominent event underscores our commitment to golf and further highlights northern Michigan as a premier destination for exceptional golf.

“The beauty of northern Michigan, coupled with the high level of competition the Epson Tour offers, will make this a memorable event for players and spectators alike.”

The Highlands recently hosted the Michigan Amateur.

Meijer LPGA Classic

The Meijer LPGA Classic isn’t just a hit with the players. It continues to be a hit in the community.

West Michigan’s LPGA stop reached its lofty goal of raising $2 million from this year’s tournament, held last month and won by Lilia Vu in a playoff. That brings the tournament’s total charity haul to more than $12 million. This was the 10th playing of the Meijer, which wasn’t held in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The money all goes for Meijer’s Simply Give foundation, which stocks hundreds of food pantries in Michigan and throughout the Midwest.

“Reflecting on the past 10 years, it’s been wonderful to see the Meijer LPGA Classic truly flourish into one of the biggest events on the LPGA Tour, and we’re grateful to all who’ve made it a spectacular tournament year after year,” Rick Keyes, Meijer president & CEO, said in a statement. “This tournament goes beyond the golf course, making a substantial impact on hunger relief through our Simply Give program and helping to keep our local food pantry shelves stocked for families in need.

“From the players to our spectators, community partners, and volunteers, the impact of this event continues to make a difference for our neighbors in need.”

In addition to the $2 million for Simply Give, Meijer is donating $25,000 to a hunger-relief charity of Vu’s choice.

Chips & divots

▶ The Michigan Golf Hall of Fame’s Class of 2024 will include Greg Johnson, a longtime golf writer with the Grand Rapids Press and MLive; Stephen Kircher, president and CEO of Boyne Resorts; and Kevin VandenBerg, ranked the top senior player of the year in the country in 2023. The induction ceremony is Oct. 27 at Ferris State’s Katke Golf Club, which is home to the Ken Jahnke Sr. Golf Learning Center and the Michigan Golf Club of Fame.

▶ Short courses are becoming all the rage in golf these days, appealing to millennials and kids who don’t want to spend four or five hours playing a traditional round of golf. Arcadia Bluffs is getting in on the action, breaking ground this week on The Dozen, a 12-hole course of par 3s and par 4s set to open in 2025. It will be the resort’s third course, along with the nationally acclaimed Bluffs and the newer South.

▶ Boyne also is set to unveil its new short course, Doon Brae, this summer. It’s a par-3 course that is located on the backside of the main lodge at The Highlands. It’s the 11th golf course at Boyne.

▶ Speaking of openings, The Cardinal at Saint Johns Resort in Plymouth is officially open to the public. The resort scrapped its old 27 holes, and esteemed designer Ray Hearn built an 18-hole championship course.

▶ In case you missed it, registration is now open for the annual Detroit News/Golf Association of Michigan Hole-In-One Contest, set for Sept. 9 at Whispering Willows in Livonia. It’s free to anyone who’s had an ace.

▶ The 2025 Rocket Mortgage Classic is scheduled for June 26-29.

tpaul@detroitnews.com

@tonypaul1984

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