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News archives from 2006

Tom Litzler wins Runny Nose

November 2006

With the mercury reaching for 60º, "Old Tom" Litzler won the 2006 Runny Nose Open on Saturday, November 25th at Harbor Club GC in Belleville.  It was easily the warmest Runny Nose tournament to date.  Litzler was comfortably able to continue his unique streak of wearing shorts to every Mulligan Tour event that he has ever participated in.  He converted 5 birdies against just 4 bogies and was the only player in the field of 11 members to break par.  The key to his 1-stroke win over Russ Butler may have been the natural birdies made each time he played hole #3.

2006 Runny Nose Open FINAL RESULTS

Team West wins 2nd Commissioner's Cup

October 2006

The 2nd Commissioner's Cup matches were held at the Legacy Golf Club on October 6 and 7.  The defending Central team had 7 returning members from a squad that took the first Cup 16 to 8.  But the West team, with 5 new members, jumped out to a 7 to 1 lead after the Friday afternoon matches and then held on to win 14 ½ to 9 ½ on Saturday.

Team West was led by 3 Tour rookies.  Thom Bales (4-0-1), Bob Bruning (3-1-1), and Tom Moran (3-1-1) had just completed their first seasons on Tour.  Bales had earned the spot on the team by ranking 3rd on the Western division Money List.  Bruning and Moran were Captains picks - and they validated Captain Persichetti's choice.  The 3 players were involved in 11 ½ of the 14 ½ points won.  And, remarkably, each won his singles match to secure the Cup on Saturday afternoon.

Team West  -  2006 Commissioner's Cup winners

(back row from left: Bob Baar, Thom Bales, Erik Meland, Bob Bruning, and Dan Schwartz.                                               Front row: Tom Moran, Rick Persichetti, and Carol Koch)

Ersig takes TOUR Championship

Dennis Ersig beats the Tour's best at Inkster Valley

September 2006

In a war of attrition, 2nd year pro Dennis Ersig carded 5 net birdies to offset some of the bogies and double bogies that were so plenty at Inkster Valley Golf Club.  Ersig finished at 5-over par 77 to win the 2006 TOUR Championship by a stroke over David Martin.

The elite field of 10 players took on the longest course layout in Tour history as Inkster Valley played to 6,709 yards.  The average net score among the 10 was 83.9 strokes.

Ersig finished his sophomore season with 8 top-4's in 12 starts and pocketed $130.20 in prize money ranking 5th on the final 2006 Money List.  Captain Greg Kline is hoping that Ersig continues to play well in October as Team Central prepares to defend the Commissioner's Cup at the Legacy.

Dennis Ersig  -  2006 TOUR Champion

Persichetti and Arnold win division titles

September 2006

Rick Persichetti won the WESTERN Championship on Saturday, September 2nd, at the Grande Golf Club in Jackson.  The West division commissioner was the only player in the elite field of top-20 money winners to finish under par.  He sprinkled 7 birdies around the 6,443 yard layout of the Grande and survived the slick greens to win by 5-strokes over Thom Bales.  Double bogies at the 14th and 16th holes kept Bales from closing in on Persichetti.  Jeff Kellstrom and Erik Meland finished tied for 3rd.

Kelly Arnold just qualified for his first PLAYERS Championship, ranked 20th on the Central money list, but made the most of his opportunity.  The rookie from Southgate led the field with 6 birdies at Whispering Pines GC and kept division commissioner Greg Kline from winning his 5th straight major title.  Arnold jumped up to 3rd on the Central money list and qualified for the TOUR Championship and the Commissioner's Cup.

Kline and Bruning win Skins Games

August 2006

Greg Kline, the Central division Commissioner, needed 4 extra holes to eliminate Ray Collins from the $32 carry-over skin and win the 2006 Central Skins Game.  Kline won 4 skins in all worth $44.  Erik Meland finished 2nd with 3 skins worth $16.  Collins and Dave Randall tied for 3rd, each winning 3 skins totaling $10.

Playing in his first Skins Game, Bob Bruning won 3 skins, including a $12 skin on the 8th hole and a $24 skin on the 14th hole, to finish with $38 and the 2006 West Skins Game title.  Thom Bales finished 2nd after winning the final skin - a $32 jackpot setup on the 18th hole after 3 carry-overs.  He totaled $34 from 2 skins.  Rick Persichetti finished 3rd after winning 2 skins for $8.  Tom W. Litzler was shut out.

Bob Baar wins Big Dog

August 2006

Bob Baar rallied on Willow Metropark's back nine to claim the 2006 Big Dog Pro-Am - his 3rd title this year.  An eagle on the finishing hole completed a 5-under par 30 on the inward nine that sent Baar to a 3-under 68 and a 2 round total of 136.  Hi pro-am partner, like many in the field, was Tiger Woods who shot a 68 in the 2nd round of the PGA Championship.

The win gives Baar, a 4th year pro from Livonia, his best season on Tour.  He ranks 3rd overall ($125.50) and 3rd on the west division money list ($85.50).

Dennis Ersig grabs the gopher

August 2006

Dennis Ersig won the 2006 Anchor Conveyor Caddyshack Classic at the Links at Lake Erie with a record setting performance.  A personal best gross 79 netted a 10-under 62 and a 4-stroke win over former Caddyshack champs Chris Drake ('05) and Erik Meland ('99).

Ersig birdied 7 of the first 9 holes going out in 29.  He added an eagle at 11 and 2 more birdies at 16 and 17 to tie the low net score in 2006.  The win was his 2nd official victory on Tour, after the 2005 Central Skins Game, but the first in a full field event.

It's Deja Vu all over again!

Greg Kline wins 3rd consecutive Match Play Championship at the Links at Whitmore Lake

Greg Kline continues to reign supreme in the match play format.  He ran his winning streak up to 10 straight matches in claiming his 3rd Match Play title.  The #1 ranked player on the Mulligan Tour had a first round bye but then took care of Thom Bales (2&1), David Martin (6&4), and Dan Schwartz (3&2) to secure his 5th major title.

Kline has all but wrapped up the 2006 Money Title.  The $60 first place check pushed his season earnings to $256.70.  He will break the record for money won in a season if he can claim another $16 in prize money in his last 3 tournaments - the Caddyshack Classic, the PLAYERS Championship, and the TOUR Championship.

Bruning takes Two-Stick

August 2006

Bob Bruning eagled the 18th hole to force a playoff with his old neighbor - "Old Tom" Litzler at the 2006 Two-Stick Classic held at Hickory Sticks GC in Ann Arbor on August 6th.  Bruning then holed a long putt on the 4th hole of the 4-hole aggregate score playoff to secure his first Tour victory.

Armed only with a 4-hybrid and a 9-iron (and a putter), Bruning worked his way around Hickory Stick's 5,558 yard layout in 7-over 77.  He hit 8 of 13 fairways (61.5%) and 6 of 18 greens (33.3%) with the limited arsenal - both stats better than his season average.

"Old Tom" Litzler finished in the top-4 for the 5th time in 2006 and ranks 3rd on the Mulligan Tour Money List with $104.50 earned.  Barb Randle finished 3rd, 2-strokes back at 80.  She ranks 10th on the money List after her 4th top-4 this year.

Baar wins inaugural Carrington Classic

July 2006

Bob Baar collected his 2nd win of the season after finishing 35-32 - 67 at the inaugural Carrington Classic on July 29th.  Baar recorded 8 birdies against only 3 bogies on the 6,408 yard layout at Carrington Golf Club and became the 5th Tour player this year to post multiple wins.  He is ranked 5th on the Money Standings with $93.50 earned in 11 starts this season.

Baar finished 1-stroke ahead of the Tour's leading Money winner, Greg Kline.  Leading the field in putting (29) at Carrington, Kline posted his 9th top-4 finish of the year and has collected $196.70 in prize money in 2006.  Rick Persichetti finished solo 3rd and ranks 2nd on the Money standings ($134.00).  Kelly Arnold netted his 3rd top-4 in his rookie campaign. 

Thom Bales picks up first win

July 2006

Rookie Thom Bales used 2 eagles and 3 birdies to shoot 39-35 - 74 and win the 2006 Ugly Pants Open by a stroke over 4 others.  With heat and humidity playing a role at Downing Farms GC in South Lyon, scoring was elevated and Bales won the tournament with highest winning score in UPO history at 3-over par.  His birdie at the 406-yard par-4 18th was the difference and avoided what would have been a very crowded 5-way playoff.

Thom Bales, winner of the 2006 Ugly Pants Open

Loescher makes grand exit

July 2006

Preparing for relocation to New Mexico, and retirement from the Mulligan Tour, Ed and Cindy Loescher made their final event a memorable one.  Cindy, the 2005 PLAYERS Champ, netted an even par 72 to win the 2006 Commercial Underwriters Harbour Pointe Open by 3-strokes.  She finishes her career with 4 top-4's in 16 starts - with 2 wins in major championships.  As the 3rd lady member to win a grand slam event, after Sue Cwikla (2000 Memorial) and Sue Meland (2000 PLAYERS), she has now become the first women to register multiple majors.

Carol Koch finished 2nd after posting a 3-over par 75.  Koch has had back-to-back top-4's - finishing T2 at the Holy Grail last month.  She played Majestic's 9th thru 14th holes in 7-under par to get back to even par for the round.  Defending champ Joe Castmore tied for 3rd.

Cindy Loescher accepts the Lighthouse trophy from Commercial Underwriter's Dan Schwartz

Martin and Litzler win Strategic Fox events

June 2006

David Martin collected his 11th Tour win after outlasting Barb Randle in a playoff for the 2006 Par-54 Classic title on June 30th at the Strategic Fox.  Martin and Randle, the defending champion, finished the regulation 18 holes tied at 1-over 55.  In the playoff, Randle opened the door for Martin by 3-putting the first hole.  But clutch 2-putts on the 2nd and 3rd holes allowed Randle to pull even with Martin when he 3-putted the 3rd.  Martin was able to claim victory with a 2-putt on the 4th hole after Randle missed her 2nd putt.

Tom W. Litzler won the 2006 Fox Hunt title at the Strategic Fox, played simultaneously with the Par-54 Classic.  Litzler collected 60 points from hitting 11 greens, including the first 5, and from 10 2-putts, 5 1-putts, and a chip-in at the 17th worth 3 points.  The point total was 15 more than the next best score and 9 more than the winning total in the inaugural 2005 event.  Its Litzler's first solo win, complimenting his 2005 Memorial victory while teamed with his son Tom R. Litzler.

White strokes again

June 2006

Pastor Bob White won the 2006 Strokes on a Rope title on June 24th at Lake Erie Metropark.  His 6th career win was his 2nd of the 2006 season and the 2nd time he has won the Strokes on a Rope.  He also won the event in 2004, the last time it was played at Lake Erie Metropark.

White ranks 3rd on the 2006 Money List ($94) and 3rd on the Central Division Money Standings ($58).  He also ranks 2nd on the Western Division Money Standings ($76) and will certainly qualify for either Commissioner's Cup team in October.  White was a member of the winning Central division team in 2005. 

Happy Father (in-law's) Day

June 2006

When you're "on", you're "on" and Dave Randall was ON at the 2006 Real McCoy Classic last Saturday, June 17th, at Farmington Hills Golf Club.  Randall recorded his 2nd best gross score ever, a 75, and netted a 10-under par 61 to win the Real McCoy by 2 shots.  With 9 birdies and an eagle, Randall needed only 29 putts (1st in the field), hitting 12 fairways (1st) and 9 greens in regulation (T-2).  Tournament host Victor McCoy couldn't have been happier unless he had won himself.  Randall is his father-in-law and so the newly commissioned trophy will spend its first year in the family.

Dave Randall, left, accepting the Real McCoy Classic trophy and first place check from tournament host Victor McCoy

Commissioner's Day

June 2006

June 10th was "Commissioner's Day" on the Mulligan Tour.  Greg Kline, Central division Commissioner, won the Crazy Brit at Whispering Willows GC in the morning and then Rick "Perch" Persichetti, West division Commissioner, won the Holy Grail at St.Johns GC in the afternoon.  Each took a $32 paycheck as they secured their 9th career wins on the same day.  Kline has now won 4 of 6 events this year and 6 of 8 tournaments since last season.  Perch became the 2nd multiple winner in 2006 adding the Holy Grail to his Animal House Classic title.

Kline is the leading money winner in 2006 with $144.20 earned from 5 top-4 finishes.  Persichetti is 2nd with an even $100 earned from 4 top-4's.

McCoy wins Go Blue Classic

June 2006

Victor McCoy earned his first Tour win Saturday (June 3) at the 2006 Go Blue Classic.  McCoy returned to the site of his previous close call with victory - Lake Forest GC in Ann Arbor - where he lost the 2004 Western Swing in a playoff.  McCoy eagled the first hole and birdied the 2nd on his way to a front side 31.  He was 6-under par thru 10 but alternated bogies and pars on the last 8 holes to finish at 2-under 70.

It was enough to avoid a playoff, however, as Jeff Kellstrom birdied his final 3 holes but came up a stroke short finishing at 1-under 71.  Dennis Ersig finished 3rd at 73 and Bob Baar and Tom Hoelzle tied for 4th at 74.

The Coming of Sasquatch

June 2006

Tony Viviano became the first player from the 2006 rookie class to find the winner's circle.   Playing in only his 3rd tournament, he claimed the 2006 Plymouth Open title after finishing at 2-over par 72 with David Randall.  When Randall was not available for a playoff, Viviano became the first player ever to win a playoff without striking a putt.

Wielding a Nike Sasquatch driver, Viviano has instantly become one of the Tour's longest off the tee.  He hit 6 of 13 fairways and 11 of 18 greens at Hilltop GC while surviving the slick greens.  He needed only 15 putts on the back nine, lowest in the field, as he played the final 9 holes in 1-under par 34.

Greg Kline and Bob White win Green Towels, beat 2 other teams in playoff

May 2006

Greg Kline continues his impressive run on the Mulligan Tour.  Teaming with Bob White to win the 2006 Memorial Tournament, Kline has now won 5 of the last 6 Tour events in which he has participated.  He has solidified his spot as the #1 ranked player on Tour by winning the last 3 major tournaments.  It was Kline's 8th Tour victory (4 majors) and White's 5th (first major).

With Gateway GC in Romulus serving as a substitute host course, the Kline-White team finished at 1-under par 71 with the Jeff Kellstrom - Rick Persichetti and Tom Hoelzle - Barb Randle teams.  The Memorial would need a playoff to determine a winner, only the 3rd playoff in the event's history but the first involving 3 teams.  The playoff easily could have had more teams involved.  Four other teams finished 1-stroke back at even par 72.  

Kline and White have partnered 4 times in 2-player scramble events.  They first teamed up at the 2004 Memorial finishing in 4th place.  In 2005, they finished 2nd at the Memorial and then won the inaugural U&B Golf Classic 2 months later.

Greg Kline, with partner Bob White, showing how many majors in a row he has won.

Meland favors moving Memorial Tournament over postponement

May 2006

Memorial Tournament host Erik Meland moved the event to a substitute site after Willow Metropark closed for flooding.  For the first time in the tournament's 11 year history, the 2-man scramble will be played at a course other than Willow MP.  In 2004, flooding forced a 2 month postponement of the tournament, but it remained at Willow.

The 2006 tournament will be hosted by Gateway GC in Romulus.  Gateway previously hosted the 2001 Harbour Pointe Open golf championship.  Ironically, that major title was won by Meland in a playoff over Ron Stuart.

Martin takes 10th career title in a playoff

May 2006

David Martin won the 2006 Sweet Sixteen on Saturday, May 13th, in less than perfect conditions.  Rain soaked Salem Hills GC became the site of Martin's 10th career win, after he outlasted Tom W Litzler in a playoff.  Both men signed for net even par scores after eliminating their 2 worst holes.  They needed a record 10 playoff holes to settle the score.  Martin is the Mulligan Tour's career money leader, with earnings of $783.50 from 42 top-4 finishes in 74 tournaments played.

Litzler finished runner-up for the 2nd year in a row.  In last year's inaugural Sweet Sixteen, Litzler finished 2nd to his son, as Tom Jr scorched the Salem Hills track for a net 59 for 18 holes and a net 49 for his best 16.

Zoo Keeper

May 2006

Rick Persichetti won the 2006 Animal House Classic at Salem Hills on May 13th.  The western division Commissioner shot 35-35 - 70 to win by 8-strokes.  It was his 2nd AHC title in 3 years and his 3rd win on the Salem Hills course, having also won the 2003 Strokes on a Rope at SHGC.  The win was worth $36 pushing his career winnings to within $3 of the $600 plateau.

Persichetti also won the 4-player putt-off for the $25 Carl's Golfland giftcard.  A 2-putt par on the 2nd hole was the difference in beating Bob Baar, Tom Moran, and Russ Butler in the 4-hole contest featuring the 4 lowest Zoo ratios from the tournament.

Jeff Kellstrom, Bob Baar, and Russ Butler tied for 2nd with net 78's.  Baar is the leading money winner in the western division ($50) with a win and a T2 in 2 starts this year.

Congratulations to Thom Bales, finishing closest-to-the-pin on hole #17 and earning the first invitation to the western division Skins Game scheduled for August 27th.

Make that 4 in a row

May 2006

Greg Kline has now won the last 4 tournaments that he has entered.  Finishing 2005 with wins at the Match Play Championship and TOUR Championship, Kline starts the 2006 season with wins at the Tin Cup and the Western Swing.  Kline eagled both par-5's on Calderone Farms' back-nine and held off a late charge by the 2000 Western Swing winner Chris Drake.  The 2006 Western Swing is Kline's 2nd Western Swing title.  He won the 2003 event at Huron Meadows Metropark.

Rookie Mike Thompson completed his Q-school requirements by finishing T-4 with a gross 1-under 71.  It was only the 2nd time in Tour history that a player shot a gross score under par.  The first was Craig MacBeth's 1-under 70 at the 2003 Animal House Classic that he won in a playoff.  Thompson graduates from Q-school with the lowest MTHI ever recorded (0.1).

Meland at home in Chelsea

May 2006

Erik Meland won the 2006 Chelsea Classic at Calderone Farms.  Meland won the 2nd year event with a 4-under par 68 carding 8 net birdies during the round.  The founding member of the Mulligan Tour has 12 wins in 93 career starts.

Jeff Klipa netted his 2nd top-4 finish in 2 starts this year.  Klipa had 3 eagles during the round and posted a 2-under 70 for 2nd place, 1-stroke ahead of Tom Litzler.

Mr. and Mrs. GoodBaar

April 2006

Bob Baar, a 3-year Tour veteran, played the back-nine in 2-under par 34 to capture his first full field win by finishing at 2-over par 74 at the Pine View Classic.  He finished  2-strokes ahead of his spouse and was 3 shots clear of the defending champ.  Baar was making his 33rd career start at the western division season opener.  The win was worth $32 in official Tour earnings but he added to his small fortune by winning the "Drive for Dough" challenge on hole #4 to collect another $18.

Baar's wife, Terry, made it a 1-2 finish by carding a 4-over 76.  She also finished closest-to-the-pin on hole #17 and was awarded a dozen Callaway golf balls.

The 2-time defending champ, Erik Meland, was derailed from a 3-peat when he scored a triple bogey at #9 and a double bogey at #10.

Kline wins Tin Cup

April 2006

Central division Commissioner Greg Kline was the only player to hit the peninsula green at Hickory Creek's 17th hole completing the comeback and winning the 2006 Tin Cup on Saturday.  He shot 40-37 - 77 and beat the '04 Tin Cup champ David Martin by a stroke.  Martin maxed out on the 17th taking a quadruple bogey 7 and a finishing birdie at 18 was not enough to force a playoff.

Kline hit 8 of 18 greens, most in the field, and putted just well enough on Hickory Creek's slippery slopes to finish with the lowest net score.  The 5-over 77 was the highest winning score in Tour history, not counting the Strokes on a Rope tournament.  

Viviano, Thompson medal at Q-school; Young guns lead '06 rookie crop

April 2006

Tony Viviano and Mike Thompson took medalist honors at the 2006 Qualifying schools held recently in Livonia.  It was the first time in 4 years that the Tour completed both stages in one season.  Bad weather had forced the cancellation of 1 of the 2 events in each of the last 3 years.

Tony Viviano shot a gross 5-over par 76 at the Fox Creek GC on April 15th while 5 others shot in the 80's.  Mike Thompson shot a 13-over 84 and then came out a week later at Whispering Willows GC and and shot an 8-over 78.

All 12 of the Tour's new members attended at least 1 of the Q-schools and 9 of the rookies will make their tournament debuts this weekend at Pine View or Hickory Creek.

 Q-School I (April 15, 2006 at Fox Creek GC)

 Q-School II (April 22, 2006 at Whispering Willows GC)

Bob White takes Runny Nose for 2nd time

March 2006

Bob White, Pastor at Grace Baptist Church in Belleville, won the 2005 Runny Nose Open on March 4th at Harbor Club GC.  The rescheduled event - snow in late November 2005 forced the postponement - was played in sunny skies with temperatures ranging through the 30's during the round.

White netted a 31-39 - 70, 2 strokes under par, to win by 4 strokes over John Stepek.  The win was worth $12 in unofficial earnings for White who also won the 2002 Runny Nose Open.  Stepek finished 33-41 - 74 and took home $9 for 2nd place.

David Martin, the 2003 Runny Nose Open champ, finished 3rd with a 37-41 - 78, winning $6.  Greg Kline rounded out the top-4 with a 39-41 - 80 worth $3.

Links at Whitmore Lake awarded 2006 Match Play Championship

March 2006

The Tour finalized a deal with the Links at Whitmore Lake to begin hosting the Match Play Championship starting in 2006.  The Links course will hold the first round on Friday, August 4th, and the 2nd round on Saturday, August 5th.  The semi-finals and final will be held on the following weekend.  The matches are scheduled to begin each day at 3:30 pm.

The switch to Whitmore Lake also allowed a reduction to the entry fee.  As high as $140 when the event was played at Inkster Valley or the Woodlands, the expected entry fee for the Match Play at Whitmore Lake is $100.  As before, players dispatched after the first or 2nd round will get refunds - $75 (1st round loss) or $50 (2nd round loss).

Tour announces changes, schedule for 2006 season

February 2006

Among the few changes approved for the 2006 Tour season at the Board of Directors meeting was the exciting possibility to earn a 2-year exemption from membership dues with a hole-in-one during Mulligan Tour competition.  The decision comes after 2 players made aces in the 2005 season.  DeVonne Mowry carded the Tour's first hole-in-one at the 2005 U&B Golf Classic in July.  Greg Kline made a hole-in-one on his way to winning the TOUR Championship in September.

Also new in 2006 is a World ranking system that will allow a relative comparison of Tour members across all regional divisions.  Players earn 100 points divided by their placement in every tournament (250 points for majors).  So, a player earns 100 points for a win, 50 points for 2nd place, 33.3 points for 3rd place, etc.  Then, the points are averaged over the number of tournaments played over the last 2 years.

The Mulligan Tour Chronicles will now be published monthly.  The Tour's newsletter will concentrate on previewing upcoming events and introducing individual players to the membership.  As a consequence, players will need to refer to the Tour's website to find their tee times if they are playing in the coming weekend's tournaments.

The 2006 Tour schedule is nearly solidified.  The Tin Cup (Hickory Creek GC) and Pine View Classic (Pine View GC) have their traditional season starts for the Central and West divisions on April 29.  Then the Tour visits Calderone Farms GC for the first time as the Western Swing and Chelsea Classic share the course on May 6.  Popular Salem Hills GC hosts the Sweet Sixteen and Animal House Classic on May 13 before the season's first major takes the Tour's best twosomes down to Willow Metropark GC for the Memorial tournament on May 20th.

Other tournaments that are set on the schedule include the Go Blue Classic at Lake Forest GC (June 3), the Crazy Brit at Whispering Willows GC (June 10), the Holy Grail at St.Johns GC (June 10), and the Quad-Tour Challenge at Fox Creek GC (July 22).

The most noticeable change in the schedule is the Match Play Championship moving from September into early August.  The move spreads the Tour's majors out more evenly over the season.  The tournament has been alternately hosted by The Woodlands of Van Buren (odd years) and Inkster Valley GC (even years) but the Tour is considering a move to Links at Whitmore Lake, the venue that was put into emergency use last year after a scheduling snafu at the Woodlands.