News archives from 2011
Thom Bales
wins Runny Nose by 6
November 20,
2011
Thom Bales shot a 4-under
par 68 to claim the 2011 Runny Nose Open
and bring the curtain down on the Tour's
13th season. Bales posted 7
birdies and an eagle during 2 loops of the
Harbor Club course in Belleville - home to
the Runny Nose Open since
2002. The 6-stroke victory was
worth $40 in unofficial prize
money. Bales, co-winner of the
West Skins Game in early October, won
twice as much money in the silly season
($66.00) as he did during the regular
season ($29.17).
Ray Collins (37-37 - 74)
finished 2nd, 1-stroke ahead of Tom Moran
(36-39 - 75). A four-way tie
for 4th place included Charlie Roy (42-37
- 79), Erik Meland (38-41 - 79), Tim
Jakubowski (45-34 - 79) and Julie Gardner
(46-33 - 79).
![](http://www.themulligantour.com/Images/thombales2011runnynoseforweb.jpg)
Thom
Bales - 2011 Runny Nose Open champ
Team Central
wins 2011 Commissioner's Cup
September 27,
2011
Team Central broke open a
close Commissioner's Cup with a Sunday
thrashing to keep the Cup in Central hands
for another year. Commissioner
Greg Kline remained perfect in singles
(7-0-0) and his troops won 7 of the 8
singles matches to take a 16 to 8 win
after only leading 8½ to 7½ after the
Saturday team matches.
Team East's first try for
the Commissioner's Cup was abruptly halted
when close matches kept falling red for
the Central. Six of the 8
singles matches went to at least the 17th
hole but the East could only garner a half
point when Kelly Arnold halved his match
with Team Central's Tim Markel.
The Mulligan Tour's Central
Division has now won the Commissioner's
Cup 4 consecutive years.
![](http://www.themulligantour.com/Images/2011teamcentralcommcupforweb.jpg)
2011
Commissioner's Cup Champs - Team CENTRAL
(Mike
Prieskorn, Tom Sachs, Klaus Juska, Greg
Kline, Jason Rectenwald, Rich Dunmore,
Tim Markel and Jeff Klipa)
Kelly Arnold
brings curtain down on 2011 tournament
schedule
September 19,
2011
Just 3 weeks after taking
the EASTERN Championship, Kelly Arnold
finished the 2011 Mulligan Tour season by
claiming the TOUR Championship and
finishing 2nd on the money
list. Arnold posted a 35-38 -
73 to beat David Martin by 1 and Joe Robar
and Lou Acosta by 2 in the final TOUR
Championship at the Ann Arbor Polo Fields
G&CC. Arnold finished 2011
with 2 major titles and $159.30 in prize
money. Mike Prieskorn finished
T-21 in the championship but won the 2011
Money Title with $206.80 in earnings for
the year.
Martin (35-39 - 74) bogied
the final 2 holes to fall back to 2-over
par for the championship. He
has finished 2nd at the TOUR Championship
4 times in 5 attempts since
2006. Robar (38-37 - 75) and
Acosta (40-35 - 75) shared 3rd place, each
making their 2nd top-4 finish at the Polo
Fields in the last 3 years.
After a 3-year run at the
exclusive Ann Arbor club, the TOUR
Championship is set to move to the Polo
Fields Washtenaw (formerly Washtenaw
Country Club) in 2012.
![](http://www.themulligantour.com/Images/kellyarnold2011tourchampforweb.jpg)
Kelly
Arnold - 2011 TOUR Champion
Regional Wrap
Up
August 30,
2011
It
was a good weekend for former Memorial
Tournament champs.
Joe
Robar shot a 1-over 72 at the Coyote
Preserve on Saturday to win the 2011
WESTERN Championship by 1-stroke over
Jeff Klipa and by 2-strokes over Lou
Acosta. Robar won a Memorial
Tournament in 2009, with partner John
Powell, and now has 2 major titles on
his Mulligan Tour resume. Added to
the Casino Classic win in July, Robar
became the 10th multiple tournament
winner in 2011. He has
earnings of $97.67 from 5 top-4's this
year.
Later
that afternoon, Young Tom Litzler fired
a 2-under 70 at the Golden Fox to claim
the 2011 PLAYERS
Championship. The
victory, a 6-stroke win over Greg Kline
and Terry Baar, was Young Tom's first
win since the 2007 Crazy Brit and 4th in
68 career starts. A winner
at the '05 Memorial with partner and
dad, Old Tom Litzler, Young Tom became
the 11th player in Tour history to
surpass $500 in career prize money.
Then
on Sunday, Kelly Arnold, winner of the
Green Towel in 2008 with partner Rick
Persichetti, shot a 3-over 75 at the
Orchards Golf Club taking the 2011
EASTERN Championship by 1-stroke over
Joe Brandenburg. Arnold is
the 6th player in Tour history to win 4
majors adding this EASTERN title to the
'06 PLAYERS, the '08 Memorial and the
'09 Match Play. One day
after Young Tom Litzler, Arnold joined
him in the career $500 club - now 12
members strong.
Mike
Prieskorn, one of only 3 players to
compete in all three 2011 division
championships, finished 4th in the
WESTERN ($12) and 3rd in the EASTERN
($24) to wrap-up the 2011 Money
Title. With $206.80 in
earnings from 9 top-4's this year, the
prolific Prieskorn - he made 23 starts
in 2011 - cannot be caught for the
overall Money Title with only the TOUR
Championship remaining.
Incidentally, Prieskorn also has a Green
Towel - from the 2010 Memorial
Tournament win with Thom Bales.
![](http://www.themulligantour.com/Images/kellyarnold2011eastchampforweb.jpg)
Joe
Robar
Kelly Arnold
2011 WESTERN
Champ
2011 EASTERN Champ
Mike
Prieskorn jumps to top of the money
standings with UPS title
August 22,
2011
Mike
Prieskorn made the 2011 UPS Store Golf
Classic his 2nd win of the year and
the 6th of his career by shooting a
1-under par 71 at Northville Hills on
Sunday. Prieskorn led the
field in greens in regulation (11/18)
and was the only player in red numbers
at day's end. The win was
worth $36 and moved Prieskorn to the top
of the money list with $170.80 in
earnings in 2011. Added to
the Big Dog Pro-Am win in June, he is
the 9th player to earn multiple wins in
2011.
Barb
Hoelzle (35-39 - 74) was trying to
conjure the spirits of the PLAYERS
Championship that she won here in 2008,
but a triple bogey at the finishing hole
derailed her efforts and left her
3-strokes out of
first. Lou Acosta
(38-37 - 75) finished another
stroke back in solo 3rd place while
Steve Prew (37-40 - 77) secured his 2nd
top-4 of the season.
![](http://www.themulligantour.com/Images/mikeprieskorn2011upsstorechampforweb.jpg)
Mike
Prieskorn - 2011 UPS Store Golf Classic
champ
Karl Carter
nets 1-stroke win at Downing Farms
August 22,
2011
Karl
Carter shot a 1-over par 72 and
took a 1-stroke victory in the 2011 Ugly
Pants Open at Downing Farms on
Saturday. The Dearborn
resident posted 2 eagles and 5 birdies
in the "up-and-down" round, epitomized
by the final 2 holes - a triple bogey at
17 and game winning birdie at
18. Carter collected a $28
first place check and stamped his ticket
to the WESTERN Championship in the
West's final regular season event.
Lou
Acosta (37-36 - 73) recorded his 5th
top-4 of the year and moved up to 6th on
the money list
($98.00). Phil Johnson
(39-36 - 75) and Don Morris (39-36 - 75)
tied for 4th place. Morris
slipped into the lead in the West
division ($86.50) and 4th overall
($110.75) in 2011 earnings.
![](http://www.themulligantour.com/Images/karkcarter2011upochampforweb.jpg)
Karl
Carter - 2011 Ugly Pants Open champ
Prez scores a
playoff win at the Caddyshack Classic
August 15,
2011
Erik
Meland needed overtime but prevailed at
the 2011 Caddyshack Classic on
Sunday. Meland shot a 34-35
- 69 to tie with Eric Morris at 3-under
par. A Morris 3-putt on the
first hole of the 4-hole aggregate
playoff was the difference and Meland
took home the gopher trophy for the
second time. He also won the
inaugural Caddyshack in 1999.
This
is the President's 2nd win of 2011 and
his 19th title in 13 years including 6
wins in 7 playoffs. Playing
in his 209th tournament, the Tour's
founder tied David Martin for the career
lead in top-4 finishes (71) and tied
Rick Persichetti for the career lead in
wins (19). He has earned
over $1,300 and ranks 4th on the career
money list.
Morris,
the defending champ at the Links at Lake
Erie, made birdie on 3 of his final
4 holes to force the
playoff. Hitting a
tournament best 13 greens in regulation,
Morris made an eagle and 7 birdies but
fell just short of repeating at the
Caddyshack. Still, 2
runner-up finishes in one weekend's not
all bad. Morris made $36.80
in official Tour prize money at
Carrington and Lake Erie.
Don
Morris (35-36 - 71) finished in 3rd
place - his 5th top-4 of the
year. He ranks 5th on the
overall money standings in 2011 with
$95.25 in earnings.
Thom Bales (36-36 - 72) and Bill Gordon
(31-41 - 72) tied for 4th.
Gordon was entertaining the notion of
sweeping the Tour's "southern swing"
(Carrington Classic and Caddyshack
Classic) until running out of steam on
the Links inward nine.
![](http://www.themulligantour.com/Images/erikmeland2011caddyshackclassicforweb.jpg)
Erik
Meland - 2011 Caddyshack Classic champ
Bill Gordon
claims Carrington title
August 15,
2011
Bill
Gordon won the 2011 Carrington Classic
on Saturday, becoming the 4th rookie to
find the winner's circle this
year. The Ann Arbor resident
shot a back nine 30 and overcame a 9
stroke deficit at the turn.
He made 2 eagles and 4 birdies to finish
at 2-under 70 - the only player to
finish in red numbers.
Gordon won $36 and stamped his ticket to
the PLAYERS Championship at the end of
the month.
A
five-way tie for 2nd place included the
last 3 Carrington champs.
Mike Prieskorn (2010), Eric Morris
(2009) and Kelly Arnold (2008) all
finished at even par 72 along with Tim
Markel and Kevin Morin. The
2nd place logjam yielded $12.80 for each
player and, with 1 Central tournament
remaining, a spot in the top-20 Central
money winners.
![](http://www.themulligantour.com/Images/billgordon2011carringtonchampforweb.jpg)
Bill
Gordon - 2011 Carrington Classic champ
Powell is
valiant victor at Go Blue
August 8,
2011
John
Powell won the Go Blue Classic on Sunday
at Hudson Mills Metropark shooting a
32-35 - 67 that has the Tour's
statisticians scrambling to see if this
is the first perfect round on
Tour. Powell recorded no net
bogies on his scorecard. He
led the field in greens in regulation
(8/18) and was 2nd in putting (26 putts)
and made 5 birdies and 13 pars.
The
win is Powell's 2nd of the season (Tin
Cup) and 5th top-4. He is
now ranked 2nd on the money list with
$133.50 in prize money, trailing Rich
Dunmore by just $5.25. The
2011 Go Blue Classic is Powell's 5th
career title. The 4th year pro
from Livonia has moved into the top-10
in career earnings ($561.40) on the
strength of 26 top-4's in 52 starts.
Jeff
Klipa (31-38 - 69) had his best finish
in 2011, and his 3rd top-4 of the
year. The $24 2nd place
check guarantees a top-20 ranking on the
west money list and qualification for
the WESTERN Championship on August
27th. Commissioner Phil
Abele (38-32 - 70) took 3rd place, his
first top-4 of the year. The
$16 should be enough to qualify for the
WESTERN but unfortunately, Abele will
miss the division Championship at the
Coyote Preserve. Joe Robar
(38-36 - 74) and Scott Belanger (35-39 -
74) tied for 4th. Robar is
19th on the west money list with one
tournament remaining (Ugly Pants Open).
![](http://www.themulligantour.com/Images/powell2011gobluechampforweb.jpg)
John
Powell - 2011 Go Blue Classic champ
T-Jake takes
Fifty Cent Classic
August 8,
2011
Tim
Jakubowski won his 2nd tournament
of the year, securing a 1-stroke victory
at the 2011 Fifty Cent Classic on
Saturday. "T-Jake" made
birdies at 13, 15 and 17 to overtake
Denny Ersig and finish at 7-under par
65. The winning stash of 65
fifty cent pieces moved Jakubowski to
the top of the East division money
standings ($60.50) and 7th overall
($80.50).
Ersig
(29-37 - 66) blistered the front side
but cooled off on the inward nine and
settled for 2nd place. He
certainly secured a spot in the EASTERN
Championship with the $24.50 in prize
money.
Costly
bogies at the 15th and 17th holes
relegated Dan Schwartz (31-36 - 67) to
3rd place, his 2nd top-4 finish of the
year. The $16.50 should be
enough to qualify for the
EASTERN. Charlie Roy (32-38
- 70) and Thom Bales (35-35 - 70) shared
4th place.
![](http://www.themulligantour.com/Images/timjakubowski2011fiftycentchampforweb.jpg)
Tim
Jakubowski - 2011 Fifty Cent Classic
champ
Morin is 2011
Match Play Master
August 1,
2011
Kevin
Morin, a rookie from White Lake, took
the 2011 Match Play Championship in
commanding fashion last
weekend. Entering the
tournament as the 15th seed, Morin swept
the 4 matches and became the first
player ever to win the Match Play title
without ever having played the final 3
holes competitively.
The
title run was impressive.
Morin beat the defending champ, Thom
Bales, on Friday by a 4&3
score. He returned Saturday to
face Scott Wyka, fresh off a Crazy Brit
win, and posted a 6&5 win while
shooting even par thru 13
holes. On Sunday, Morin
closed the deal with a semi final win
over Karl Carter 5&3 in the morning
and then duplicated the 5&3 line
over Mike Prieskorn in the
afternoon. In the 4 matches,
Morin was a gross 14-over par for 58
holes.
Morin
is the first player to make the Match
Play Championship his first win on
Tour. The $60 first place
check moves Morin up to 7th on the
current money standings and secures a
spot in the TOUR Championship in
September.
Kevin
Morin - 2011 Match Play Champion
Klaus Juska
takes inaugural East Side Charity
Classic
July 26, 2011
A
rookie from Lake Orion, Klaus Juska won
his 2nd tournament of the year - the
2011 East Side Charity Classic at
Rammler GC on Sunday. He
shot a 35-34 - 69 to finish at 2-under
par and one stroke ahead of Johanna
Lewis. Juska led the field
in driving accuracy (10 of 13 fairways)
and was tied for most greens in
regulation (8/18). He won
the Par-54 in June and is the leading
candidate for rookie-of-the-year with
earnings of $87.00, 4th overall on the
Money Standings.
Lewis
(36-34 - 70) posted her 2nd top-4 finish
in the month of July and earned another
$21.00 in official prize
money. She is 10th on the
East money standings and 35th
overall. Commissioner Tom
Hoelzle (34-38 - 72) took 3rd place with
Denny Ersig (33-40 - 73) and Joe
Brandenburg (38-35 - 73) sharing 4th
place.
The
Tour raised $240 for the Michigan
chapter of the Make-A-Wish
foundation. Tom Hoelzle was
closest to the pin on hole #8 winning
50% of the $60 prize pool.
He donated his half back to the charity.
![](http://www.themulligantour.com/Images/klausjuska2011esccchampforweb.jpg)
Klaus
Juska - 2011 East Side Charity Classic
champ
Crazy Brit is
Scott Wyka's 3rd title
July 24, 2011
Scott
Wyka beat Jon Heikkinen in a playoff for
the 2011 Crazy Brit title.
Wyka made a 3-point birdie on the last
hole of regulation play to get to 38
points total in the British Stableford
scoring tournament.
Heikkinen, playing in the group behind
Wyka, also finished with 38 points
thanks to an eagle and 5
birdies. Wyka took the early
advantage in the 4-hole aggregate
playoff with a par-2 to Heikkinen's
bogey-3, but he gave back the advantage
on the 2nd hole with a 3-putt of his
own. Both players made par on the
3rd hole but a second 3-putt by
Heikkinen on the 4th hole gave the win
to Wyka.
Wyka
adds the 2011 Crazy Brit crown to his
previous wins at the 2009 Harbour Pointe
Open and 2005 TOUR
Championship. Saturday's win
is his second top-4 in 2011 and he
currently ranks 20th on the current
money list.
Chris
Dunmore scored 37 points and finished in
3rd place, 1 point ahead of his brother
Rich Dunmore and 3 others that included
Barry Kirsch, Ned Loving and Don
Morris. Rich added another
$3.25 to his 2011 coffers and continues
to lead the Tour in prize money with
$138.75.
![](http://www.themulligantour.com/Images/wyka2011crazybritchampforweb.jpg)
Scott
Wyka - 2011 Crazy Brit champ
Ray
Collins is Senior champ
July 18, 2011
Ray
Collins edged Mike Harmon for the 2011
MT Senior Open title on a hot and muggy
Sunday at Kensington
Metropark. Collins birdied
the 413-yard par-4 18th, one of 7
birdies on his round, to finish at
1-under 70 and a 1-stroke
win. The victory is Collins'
4th Tour title in 61 starts over 8 years
on Tour and made him the 28th player to
earn $300 in prize money. As
the 2011 Senior Open champ, Collins is
exempt from qualifying for the TOUR
Championship at the Polo Fields in
September.
Harmon,
a rookie from Ypsilanti, posted his
first top-4 finish in his 8th start on
Tour. A birdie at the 17th tied
Harmon for the lead, but a bogey at the
finishing hole avoided a
playoff. Tom Moran (37-35 -
72) finished 1-over par and took 3rd
place while Tom Hoelzle (34-39 - 73)
finished in solo 4th as the field of 24
seniors all survived the 100 degree heat
index .
![](http://www.themulligantour.com/Images/raycollins2011senioropenforweb.jpg)
Ray
Collins - 2011 MT Senior Open champ
Kellstrom
nets 69 to take 2nd
Two Stick Classic
July 18, 2011
Jeff
Kellstrom shot a 2-under par 69 at the
Links at Whitmore Lake on Saturday to
win the 2011 Two-Stick Classic by 7
strokes. Kellstrom used his
4-hybrid and a wedge to set a new
scoring record at the
Two-Stick. The aggregate 69
is one stroke better than Gary Rose's
2-under 70 in 2004 at Sandy Creek and
matched the following year by
Kellstrom's wife Heather when she won at
Rustic Glen with a 2-under 70.
Kellstrom
hit 9 of 13 fairways (tied for 3rd in
the field), hit 9 of 18 greens in
regulation (T-1st) and made 6 birdies
(1st) to win the Two-Stick for a second
time. His first career win
came at the 2002 Two-Stick played at
Carrington GC. Kellstrom now has 7
career victories among 26 top-4's in 60
starts on Tour.
Eric
Morris (34-42 - 76) finished 2nd and
collected his 3rd top-4 of the
year. Young Tom Litzler
(39-38 - 77) edged out his dad for 3rd
place. Old Tom Litzler
(35-43 - 78) has 4 top-4's this season
and is currently ranked 11th on the
Money List
![](http://www.themulligantour.com/Images/jeffkellstrom2011twostickchampforweb.jpg)
Jeff
Kellstrom - 2011 Two-Stick Classic champ
Rich Dunmore
goes low and posts 3rd win at Doc's
Sports Retreat Quad-Tour Challenge
July 17, 2011
Shooting
the lowest score on Tour this year, Rich
Dunmore passed 3rd round leader Greg
Kline with a 31-33 - 64 at Whispering
Willows to finish at 14-under 271 and
win the 2011 Doc's Sports Retreat
Quad-Tour Challenge. Dunmore
leads the Tour in wins (3) and money
earned ($135.50) in 2011 and is a lock
to make the Central Commissioner's Cup
team in September.
Dunmore
was aided by PGA pro Zach Johnson (65),
Champions Tour pro Jeff Sluman (70) and
the LPGA's Ai Miyazato (72) in the
four-Tour combined scoring
event. Kline's professional
golfers included Johnson (65), John Cook
(67) and Christie Kerr (71).
Kline (36-40 - 76) finished at 6-under
279 and was a runner-up for the 4th time
in 8 appearances at this event.
Dave
Oliver (36-33 - 69) took 3rd place with
a total of 283 (-2) finishing in the
money for the first time in his 8th
career start on Tour. Steve
Villerot (36-41 - 77) secured his
first top-4 of the year with a 4-round
total of 284 on the Livonia course where
he won the Crazy Brit last year.
![](http://www.themulligantour.com/Images/richdunmore2011qtcforweb.jpg)
Rich Dunmore - 2011 Doc's
Sports Retreat Quad-Tour Challenge
champ
![](http://www.themulligantour.com/Images/stacybering2011qtcforweb.jpg)
Tour
President Erik Meland presents a check
for $155 to Stacy Bering of English
Springer Rescue America, Inc.
Samantha
Kellstrom is Lady Golfer of the
Year
July 11, 2011
The
Tour's youngest member just became the
Tour's youngest winner ever after
Samantha Kellstrom took the 2011 Indigo
Salon & Spa Ladies Open on Sunday at
Pheasant Run Golf Club. Samantha
shot a 31-34 - 65 from a career best
gross 87. The 65 sets a new
record low score at the Ladies Open
beating DeVonne Mowry's 5-under 66 at
Blackheath in 2007. A few
months shy of her 13th birthday,
Samantha is also the youngest winner on
Tour - 4 years younger than Young Tom
Litzler when he won the 2005 Memorial
Tournament at age 17.
Perennial
favorite Mowry (38-40 - 78) tied for 2nd
in what may be her final Ladies Open
appearance as her career path will take
her out of Michigan for a few
years. Mother-to-be Sharon
Prew (40-38 - 78) finished strong in the
95 degree heat and recorded her best
finish on Tour. Johanna
Lewis (43-39 - 82) also posted her first
ever top-4.
![](http://www.themulligantour.com/Images/samkellstrom2011ladiesopenforweb.jpg)
Samantha
Kellstrom - 2011 Indigo Salon &
Spa Ladies Open champ
Joe Robar
cashes in at Casino Classic
July 11, 2011
What
were the odds? The Casino
Classic is 2 for 2 in
playoffs. One year after Art
Wakeford won the inaugural Casino
Classic in overtime, Joe Robar won a
playoff with Ron Hiestand to take the
2011 Casino Classic at the Twin Lakes GC
last Saturday. This is
Robar's 2nd Tour win but the first solo
victory. He and John Powell
won the 2009 Memorial Tournament
together.
Robar
(37-34 - 71) finished the regulation 18
holes in even par and then waited for
Hiestand, playing in the final group, to
come in at level par as
well. Robar and Hiestand
traded 2-putt pars for the 4-hole
playoff, but Robar birdied the first
sudden death hole to claim the top
prize. The win puts Robar in
the top-5 in the East ($32) and 17th
overall ($44.67) in prize money.
Hiestand
(32-39 - 71) held the front nine lead,
and earned an extra $20 bill for 3
consecutive birdies, but a bogie on 18
created the tie. The 2nd
place check pushes Hiestand up to 3rd on
the East money standings.
Sam
Akunuri (36-37 - 73) finished alone in
3rd place while Klaus Juska (37-37 - 74)
and Joe Brandenburg (39-35 - 74) shared
4th. Brandenburg also
snagged a Jackson for making 3 birdies
in a row.
![](http://www.themulligantour.com/Images/joerobar2011casinoclassicforweb.jpg)
Joe Robar - 2011 Casino
Classic champ
Lou Acosta
defends Strokes on a Rope at Huntmore
July 10, 2011
Lou
Acosta earned the red ribbon for a 2nd
win at the Strokes on a Rope
tournament. He and David
Martin shot 5-over 77's at Huntmore GC
on Saturday and Acosta earned the
playoff win thanks to a 1-putt on the
2nd hole of the 4-hole
playoff. First time winners
of the SoaR get a white ribbon attached
to the trophy. Second time
wins get red ribbons and 3rd time wins
get blue ribbons.
Acosta
hit 9 of 14 fairways and 9 of 18 greens
in regulation while making 31 strokes
with the putter. He added
$36 to his season earnings and now ranks
5th on the West Money list ($41.00) and
9th overall ($59.00).
David
Martin led the field in greens in
regulation with 12. Martin
has had the low score at each SoaR
played at Huntmore GC - earning his red
ribbon in 2007 and losing a playoff in
2008. He earned his
white ribbon for winning the SoaR at
Lake Forest in 2005.
Mike
Prieskorn took 3rd place with a 78 and
Jon Heikkinen made the top-4 with an 81.
![](http://www.themulligantour.com/Images/louacosta2011soarforweb.jpg)
Lou
Acosta - 2011 Strokes on a Rope champ
The Mulligan Tour Chronicles
July 2011
Perch wins
2nd HP Open, 7th major triumph
June 27, 2011
Rick
Persichetti alternated pars and birdies
over the final 8 holes at the Majestic
at Lake Walden on Sunday to finish with
a 68 and 2 round total of 6-under par
138 to win the 2011 Commercial
Underwriters Harbour Pointe Open by 5
strokes. Perch was chasing
Sam Akunuri and Klaus Juska on the front
nine and finally overtook Akunuri for
the lead on the 14th hole. Akunuri
and Juska both shot final round 75's and
tied for 2nd at 1-under 143.
This
was Persichetti's 2nd HPO win, joining
Thom Bales and Erik Meland with multiple
HPO titles. Persichetti won
the HPO in 2004 at Eagle Crest GC in a
playoff. But no playoff was
needed in 2011, the 13th edition of the
Harbour Pointe Open, when Perch closed
the deal with a back nine 33 that
required only 11 putts.
Four
strokes behind to start the championship
round, John Powell (72-72 - 144) started
quickly with birdies on 3 of the first 4
holes and got to within 2 of the lead
after an eagle-2 on the 14th hole but
settled for 4th place alone at even
par. Tournament host Dan
Schwartz shared 5th place with Steve
Prew. Schwartz (72-73 - 145)
hit 12 of 14 fairways on Sunday and had
his best showing in the HPO since a 10th
place finish in 2008.
![](http://www.themulligantour.com/Images/perchandschwartz2011hpoforweb.jpg)
2011 Harbour Pointe Open champ
Rick Persichetti with Commercial
Underwriters' Dan Schwartz
Klaus Juska
and Sam Akunuri lead HP Open with first
round 68's
June 26, 2011
Rookie
Klaus Juska and Memorial champ Sam
Akunuri are tied for the lead after the
opening round of the 2011 Commercial
Underwriters Harbour Pointe
Open. Each posted a 4-under
par 68 and hold a 2-stroke lead over
2004 HPO champ Rick
Persichetti. Five others,
including tournament host Dan Schwartz,
are 4 strokes back.
Eighteen
players made the cut, established at
5-over par 77, and are continuing play
on Sunday afternoon in this 36-hole
major championship.
Hoelzle wins
Holy Grail playoff
June 25, 2011
Tom
Hoelzle captured the 2011 Holy Grail at
St.Johns Golf & Conference Center on
June 18th, outlasting the defending
champ, Phil Johnson, in a
playoff. Hoelzle took
the lead on the first playoff hole and
held on to secure his 2nd career
victory. He has 13
top-4's in 106 career starts.
Johnson
(34-38 - 72) birdied the 18th hole to
force the playoff. He has 2
career top-4's, both coming in this
event in the last 2 years.
Mike
Prieskorn (39-34 - 73) bogied the 18th
and missed joining the playoff by a
stroke. Prieskorn has 3
top-4's in 2011 and is currently 5th on
the Money List ($64).
Don Morris (36-38 - 74) finished 4th and
continues to lead the West Division
money standings with $76.00 in earnings
and is ranked 3rd on the overall
standings.
![](http://www.themulligantour.com/Images/tomhoelzle2011holygrailforweb.jpg)
Tom
Hoelzle - 2011 Holy Grail champ
Terry Baar
masters Farmington Hills again, defends
Real McCoy
June 20, 2011
Terry
Baar shot a 6-under 65 to reclaim the
Real McCoy Classic title on
Saturday. Even par through
her first 12 holes, Baar played the
final 6 holes in 6-under par including
an eagle-birdie-birdie finish that
sealed the deal. Baar was
36% in driving accuracy and hit 7 of 18
greens stroking 35 putts to win by 3.
In
6 appearances at Farmington Hills GC,
Baar has finished 1st or 2nd four times
in the Real McCoy while carrying a 66.7
net-stroke scoring average.
Baar now has 4 wins among 19 top-4's in
94 career starts.
Jon
Heikkinen (35-33 - 68) finished 2nd
needing only 28 putts - best in the
field. This was Heikkinen's
2nd top-4 of the year. Lou
Acosta, the 2009 Real McCoy champ,
secured 3rd place with a 2-under
69. Acosta led the field
with 13 greens in
regulation. Jeff Klipa
(34-36 - 70) took 4th place alone
staying ahead of a trio of players at
even par. Host Victor McCoy
was T-15 with a 3-over 75.
![](http://www.themulligantour.com/Images/victorpresentingtoterry2011rmcforweb.jpg)
2011
Real McCoy champ Terry
Baar
Victor McCoy and Terry Baar
Dunmore is
tops on Tour after Plymouth Open win
June 14, 2011
Rich
Dunmore, a 2nd year pro from Livonia,
birdied the 18th hole at Fox Hills GC to
win the 2011 Dudlee's Plymouth Open by a
stroke on Sunday. Dunmore
recorded 6 birdies and an eagle to post
a 2-under par 68 for his 2nd win of the
year and 4th top-4 in 8
starts. The first place
check of $28 catapulted Dunmore to the
top of the Money Standings with $99.00
in earnings this year.
Tom
W Litzler (33-36 - 69) and Mike Sikes
(34-35 - 69) tied for 2nd.
Litzler is leading the Central division
money list with $47.50 and is ranked 5th
overall. Sikes posted his
first top-4 finish in his 8th career
start. Han Kim (35-35 - 70)
and Eric Morris (36-34 - 70) shared 4th
place.
Host
Karl Carter finished T-12 with a 7-over
77. Carter's
designated charity for the 2011 Dudlee's
Plymouth Open was Leader Dogs for the
Blind. The tournament raised
$655 for Leader Dogs through the sale of
"back-nine mulligans", a blind-folded
putting contest and several raffles.
![](http://www.themulligantour.com/Images/richdunmore2011pochampforweb.jpg)
Host
Karl Carter and Rich Dunmore, 2011
Dudlee's Plymouth Open champ
Prieskorn is
Big Dog at Riverview
June 14, 2011
Mike
Prieskorn came from 3 strokes back to
win the 2011 Big Dog
Pro-Am. Tied for 6th
with PGA pro Rory McIlroy's 68 going
into play on Saturday, Prieskorn added
his own 68 at Riverview Highlands for a
2-round total of 8-under par 136 to beat
Rich Dunmore by a stroke.
Prieskorn has 8 top-4's in 32 career
starts, but 5 of those are victories.
Prieskorn
led the field hitting 9 of 18 greens in
regualtion and was T-1 in putting
(28). The $32 first place
check ranks 4th on the East Money
Standings.
Dunmore
(65-72 - 138) notched his 3rd top-4 of
the year and 2nd year pros Ron Hiestand
(68-72 - 140) and Joe Brandenburg (68-73
- 141) recorded their first career
top-4's.
![](http://www.themulligantour.com/Images/mikeprieskorn2011bigdogchampforweb.jpg)
Mike
Prieskorn - 2011 Big Dog Pro-Am champ
Martin bags
another Fox Hunt
June 14, 2011
David
Martin collected career win #18 by
successfully defending his Fox Hunt
title last
Friday. Martin recorded
51 points on the Strategic Fox layout -
the same score that won him the 2010 Fox
Hunt title. A veteran of 128
tournaments over 11 years, Martin has 70
top-4 finishes and over $1,400 in career
earnings.
Tim
Jakubowski finished 2nd with 49 points
with Mike Prieskorn taking 3rd (48
points) and Jeff Kellstrom (46) getting
his first top-4 since rejoining the
Tour.
![](http://www.themulligantour.com/Images/davidmartin2011foxhuntchampforweb.jpg)
David
Martin - 2011 Fox Hunt champ
Don Morris'
70 is good again
June 6, 2011
Don
Morris won the Animal House Classic for
the 2nd time in 3 years at Salem Hills
GC on Saturday. He posted a
37-33 - 70 to win the 2011 event by 3
strokes over Kelly Arnold and John
Powell. The aggregate 70 has
been the same winning score in the AHC
for 5 of the last 6 years - the only
exception being Morris' 5-over 77 in wet
& windy conditions in 2009.
The
victory is Morris' 2nd of the year,
after winning the Pine View Classic in
April. He is 3rd on the
overall Money Standings but leads the
West Division with $68 from the 2
wins. Morris has 5 career
titles and $282 in career earnings.
Arnold
(36-37 - 73) finished in the top-4
for the 2nd time and is 6th on the Money
List. The $22.50 for
T-2 has Powell (35-38 - 73) still
leading the Tour in earnings with $75.50
after his 4th top-4 of the
season. Thom Bales, Joe
Robar and Tom Sachs tied for 4th.
Sachs
prevailed in the Zoo putt-off for the 4
players with the lowest Zoo
ratios. He outlasted Leo Bechard
on the 3rd extra hole after Bales and
Morris bowed out after 4 holes.
![](http://www.themulligantour.com/Images/donmorris2011ahcchampforweb.jpg)
Don Morris
- 2011 Animal House Classic champ
Pressure
Cooker
June 6, 2011
Erik
Meland won the inaugural Cherry Creek
Classic last Saturday by outlasting Barb
Hoelzle in a 7 hole
playoff. This was the
Tour founder's 18th career Tour win but
his first since the 2008 Quad-Tour
Challenge. Meland and
Hoelzle finished the regulation 18 holes
at 1-under par 71 and then traded 2-putt
pars for the 4-hole playoff.
Meland secured the win on the 3rd extra
hole with his 7th consecutive 2-putt
while Hoelzle finally succumbed to a
tricky putt that rose nearly 2 feet and
then dropped back down 2 feet to a hole
15 feet away.
In
regulation,Meland played the final 6
holes in 6-under par with 4 birdies and
an eagle to force the
playoff. The win, worth $32,
sends Meland to the top of the East
Money List ($46) and almost certainly
secures a spot on the East
Commissioner's Cup team in
September. Hoelzle, the
Tour's all-time leader among female
members with 6 wins and $470 in career
earnings, is 0-3 in playoffs but she is
ranked 2nd on the East Money List
($33.60) and has most likely secured her
spot on the East Commisioner's Cup
team as well.
Charlie
Roy (36-36 - 72) recorded birdies on 4
of the last 5 holes but a double-bogey
at 17 derailed the comeback and he
missed joining the playoff by 1
stroke. Steve Prew (39-36 -
75) and Rick Persichetti (38-37 - 75)
shared 4th place.
![](http://www.themulligantour.com/Images/erikmeland2011cherryforweb.jpg)
Erik
Meland - 2011 Cherry Creek Classic
champ
Akunuri and
Carter claim Green Towels at 2011
Memorial
May 22, 2011
Sam
Akunuri and Karl Carter are Mulligan
Tour major champions after beating
a veteran field of competitors at the
2011 Memorial Tournament.
Under sunny skies and warm temps that do
not always (OK, hardly ever) frame the
backdrop of Erik and Susan Meland's
Memorial Tournament, Akunuri and Carter
played steady scramble-golf netting 6
birdies to finish at 4-under
68. Bogies on the 2
back-nine par-3's were their only
setbacks.
Dan
Schwartz and Ned Loving (33-36 - 69)
birdied their final hole to finish solo
2nd at 3-under par. The pair
needed only 24 putts on the Gateway
greens - lowest in the
field. A 3-way tie for
3rd at 2-under 70 included the teams of
Rich and Chris Dunmore, Mike Pearcy and
Erik Johnson, and Bob and Terry
Baar.
This
is Carter's 2nd win (2010 Chelsea
Classic) and Akunuri's first, as
the pair get their first major victories
on Tour. The $40 first place
checks move both players up to 4th on
the Money List as the Tour breaks for
the Memorial Day weekend.
![](http://www.themulligantour.com/Images/akunuricarter2011memorialchampsforweb.jpg)
Sam
Akunuri and Karl Carter - 2011 Memorial
Tournament champs
Top-10
at the 2011 Memorial Tournament |
|
NET
|
Player
|
1
|
33-35 –
68
|
Karl Carter
– Sam Akunuri
$40
|
2
|
33-36 –
69
|
Dan
Schwartz – Ned Loving
$30
|
3
|
34-36 –
70
|
Rich
Dunmore – Chris Dunmore
$15
|
|
35-35 –
70
|
Mike Pearcy
– Erik Johnson $15
|
|
34-36 –
70
|
Bob Baar –
Terry Baar $15
|
6
|
35-36 –
71
|
Tom Moran –
Tim Markel
$5
|
7
|
36-36 –
72
|
Steve Prew
– Sharon Prew
|
|
34-38 –
72
|
Mike Sikes
– Han Kim
|
|
36-36 –
72
|
Jeff Klipa
– Victor McCoy
|
10
|
35-38 –
73
|
Don Morris
– Eric Morris
|
Click
here for complete final standings of
the 2011 Memorial Tournament
Martin is
2011 Chelsea Champ
May 16, 2011
David
Martin posted a 34-33 - 67 at Pierce
Lake GC to win the 2011 Chelsea Classic
by 4-strokes. The perennial
leader in accuracy, from the tee and
with the approach, hit 9 of 13 fairways
and 11 of 18 greens. Martin,
a 12 year veteran from Belleville with
nearly $1,400 in career earnings, needed
32 putts and converted an eagle and 4
birdies against a lone bogey to finish
5-under par for his 17th career title.
John
Powell (39-32 - 71) led the Chelsea
field in driving (11 fairways hit) and
greens in regulation (12) as well as
birdies made (6). The 2nd
place finish moves the #1 ranked player
on Tour to the top of the Money
Standings with $53 earned in 3 starts
this year. Tom Moran
(36-36 - 72) fell back to 3rd place with
a double-bogey on the finishing
hole. Lou Acosta (36-37 -
73), Ray Collins (34-39 - 73) and
Charlie Roy (37-36 - 73) shared 4th
place.
![](http://www.themulligantour.com/Images/davidmartin2011chelseachampforweb.jpg)
David
Martin - 2011 Chelsea Classic champ
Dunmore
Spartys On at Pine Trace
May 16, 2011
Rich
Dunmore shot a 37-35 - 72 to claim the
2011 Sparty Classic by
5-strokes. The Livonia
resident, starting his 2nd year on Tour,
made 5 birdies playing in the final
group and saved Commissioner Tom Hoelzle
from conducting a large playoff with
several players leading in the clubhouse
with 5-over 77's.
Dunmore recorded 6 greens in regulation
and needed 36 putts to earn his first
win, and 3rd top-4, in his 21st career
start.
The
group of 5 players that tied for 2nd
included Barb Hoelzle, Tom Sachs, Eric
Morris, Dick Spiers and rookie Kevin
Morin.
![](http://www.themulligantour.com/Images/richdunmore2011spartychampforweb.jpg)
Rich
Dunmore - 2011 Sparty Classic champ
Jakubowski
nets first win in a Sweet Sixteen
playoff
May 9, 2011
Tim
Jakubowski, a 2nd year pro from Lincoln
Park, overcame a 2 stroke deficit in a
playoff with Kelly Arnold to capture his
first Tour win at the 2011 Sweet Sixteen
at Blackheath Golf Club.
Arnold, after an eagle on the 18th
forced the playoff, took a
1-stroke lead on the first hole of the
4-hole playoff when Jakubowski
3-putted. Arnold then
extended the lead to 2 with a nice 18
footer on the 2nd hole. When
both players 3-putted the 3rd hole it
seemed a certainty that Arnold would
secure his 7th Tour victory.
But that's when things got interesting.
Jakubowski
cleaned up a 2-putt par on the 4th hole
and Arnold missed his 2nd and 3rd
strokes. He drained a 2
footer to force sudden death but the
gallery sensed Arnold's
dejection. On the 2nd extra
hole Arnold could not match Jakubowski's
2-putt par and the comeback was
complete. Jakubowski
collects a $28 first place check
Jakubowski
and Arnold had both finished 6-under par
after throwing out their 2 worst holes
in the Sweet Sixteen format.
Erik Meland (3 under) took 3rd place and
Charlie Roy (2 under) finished 4th.
![](http://www.themulligantour.com/Images/timjakubowski2011s16champforweb.jpg)
Tim
Jakubowski - 2011 Sweet Sixteen champ
Markel makes
Western Swing his first Tour victory
May 9, 2011
Tim
Markel shot a 33-37 - 70 to win the
2011 Western Swing by
5-strokes. A closing
double-bogey on 18 was of no consequence
after he recorded a double-eagle on the
16th to open a 7 shot
margin. Aided by 6 birdies,
an eagle and the double-eagle, Markel
tallied his first win on Tour in 38
career starts. The Ann Arbor
resident had 5 top-4's previously with
his closest chance coming in a playoff
loss to Thom Bales at the 2009 Quad-Tour
Challenge.
Young
Tom Litzler (38-37 - 75) finished in 2nd
place, 3 strokes ahead of his
dad. Old Tom (39-39 - 78)
has 2 top-4's in as many starts in 2011
as the father/son team prepare for the
Memorial Tournament in 2
weeks. Joe Robar (41-38 -
79) and Jon Heikkinen (37-42 - 79)
shared 4th place.
![](http://www.themulligantour.com/Images/timmarkel2011wschampforweb.jpg)
Tim
Markel - 2011 Western Swing champ
Tin Cup is
John Powell's 4th win
May 1, 2011
John
Powell beat Greg Kline in a playoff to
claim the 2011 Tin Cup - his 4th win in
his 4th year on Tour. Powell
and Kline both finished at 5-over par
77, the same score Kline had in winning
the Tin Cup in 2006. The
field averaged a net score of 84.6 at
Hickory Creek. Kline, 3
strokes behind Powell with 3 to play,
made a birdie at 14 and caught Powell
when John made a double-bogey at 16.
The
playoff was a reversal of
fortune. Powell took the
lead in the 4-hole playoff with par-2's
on the first 2 holes while Kline was
3-putting. Kline had not
3-putted at all during regulation
play. Both players 3-putted
the 3rd and Powell had a 2-stroke
cushion with one to play.
Kline finally got down in 2 while Powell
3-putted again but the win was
secured. The 3rd ranked
player on Tour, Powell's 4th title gives
him 22 top-4's in 43 career starts and
$459.90 in career earnings.
Tom
W Litzler (38-40 - 78) and Scott Wyka
(40-38 - 78) shared 3rd
place. Wyka finished his
round with a birdie-2 at the 17th and
Litzler completed his round at 18 with
an eagle-3 but both fell 1-stroke short
of joining the playoff. Young Tom
Litzler (43-37 - 80) and Steve Prew
(38-42 - 80) tied for 5th.
Young Tom also earned an invitation to
the Central Skins Game on October 2nd by
finishing closest-to-the-pin on hole
#11.
![](http://www.themulligantour.com/Images/powell2011tincupforweb.jpg)
John
Powell - 2011 Tin Cup Champ
Morris cuts
down Pine View field
May 1, 2011
Don
Morris shot a 37-36 - 73 to win the 2011
Pine View Classic by 1 over Erik
Meland. Morris hit 4 of
14 fairways and 3 of 18 greens, needing
31 putts to finish 1-over
par. His 4th win in 34
career starts (and 10th top-4) is his
first victory since August
2009. Morris showed concern
for the PVC trophy that had filled it's
12 years of champions around the base so
Meland, acting in official Tour
capacity, hand wrote the details on the
bottom of the trophy.
Meland,
a winner here in '04 and '05, was
3-under par thru 10 and trying to become
the first player in over 10 years to
score in the 60's at Pine
View. But playing the final
8 holes in 5-over par doomed the former
champ to 2nd place. Meland
has 7 top-4's at Pine View having
started in all 13 tournaments.
Barb
Hoelzle (43-38 - 81) and Rick
Persichetti (37-44 - 81) finished
8-strokes back of Morris but that was
good enough for a share of 3rd
place. Once again, Pine View
offered a tough start to the West
division schedule as the field averaged
nearly 14 strokes over par.
![](http://www.themulligantour.com/Images/donmorris2011pvcforweb.jpg)
Don
Morris - 2011 Pine View Classic champ
New Season
underway Saturday
April 26,
2011
The
2011 season is set to kick-off on
Saturday as the Tour's Central Division
opens at Hickory Creek for the 13th
edition of the Tin
Cup. The Tour's West
Division also starts on Saturday as the
Pine View Classic will be contested for
the 13th time. There are 24
players in the field at Pine View and
the Tin Cup has 28 entrants.
The weather looks good for Saturday and
hopefully the turf will dry out a little
by the weekend.
Q-School 1 is
lost to weather
April 22,
2011
The
April 22 make-up date for the first
Q-School was cancelled - again due to
wet and rainy conditions.
And the 2nd Q-School, set for April 23
at Whispering Willows, is in jeopardy as
well. A rain out there would
leave both Q-Schools cancelled for the
first time in Tour history.
School's Out
April 17,
2011
April
showers, bring... delayed
tournaments!!
It's
a rainy start to the 2011
season. The first Qualifying
School, scheduled for April 16 at Fox
Creek GC in Livonia, was rained
out. Though the day did not
bring a complete washout, the Tour opted
for a postponement of Q-School 1, rather
than subject the rookie class to cool,
windy and wet conditions.
Although, it would have made good
practice for the Memorial Tournament!
The
Tour may try to save the fate of
Q-School 1 by rescheduling for Friday,
April 22, the day before Q-School
2. All members are welcome
to re-register for the Good Friday
edition of Q-School.
Ladies Open
gains sponsor in Indigo Salon & Spa
April 8, 2011
In
the event's 5th year, the Mulligan
Tour's Ladies Open picks up a title
sponsor for 2011. Indigo
Salon, Spa and Boutique of Canton
has agreed to sponsor the Tour's ladies
championship. The "Rally for
a Cure" event, scheduled for July 10 at
Pheasant Run GC, will continue to
support the efforts of the Susan G Komen
foundation for breast cancer awareness.
Voted
the best Salon & Day Spa in Detroit,
Indigo will provide $25 gift
certificates as closest-to-the-pin
prizes (3 of 4 par-3's) and one longest
drive (ladies). There will
also be the traditional 50/50 putting
contest to raise money for
cause. There is also
speculation that Indigo massage
therapists may be on hand before the
tournament to give neck and shoulder
massages in return for a donation to the
Susan G Komen foundation.
Indigo
Salon, Spa & Boutique website
Doc's Sports
Retreat to sponsor Quad-Tour
Challenge
April 7, 2011
The
Quad-Tour Challenge picked up a title
sponsor for the 2011 season.
Doc's Sports Retreat in Livonia
has agreed to a 1-year deal to sponsor
the event, scheduled for July 16 at
Whispering Willows GC.
The
tournament will formally be called the
Doc's Sports Retreat Quad-Tour Challenge
and the format will continue to test the
players knowledge of professional
golfers. Each player will
add 3 pro scores to his/her net score at
Whispering Willows for a four round team
score. The 3 pro scores will
come from the better score of 2 draft
choices in each pro tour - the PGA Tour,
the Champions Tour and the LPGA
Tour. The pro scores
will come from their July 10th rounds.
The
tournament will feature $20 Doc's Sports
Retreat gift certificates as
closest-to-the-pin prizes on each of the
4 par-3 holes. The event
will also support English Springer
Rescue America, Inc. by donating $5 from
every player's entry fee and 50% of the
Springer Putting Challenge to the
organization.
Doc's
Sports Retreat website
Membership
dues hold for '11
February,
2011
The
Mulligan Tour continues to grow in 2011,
the Tour's 13th season.
Membership
rates will remain the same for the 4th
year in a row. A full membership
will cost $120 for the year, although
there is a $20 discount if the
membership is received by March
31. A limited membership (6
events max) is still available for
$80. Golfers can join
at any time of the year.
The
Tour will conduct more than 40 events in
2011 including 10 tournaments in the
West Division, 10 tournaments in the
Central Division and 9 tournaments in
the East Division. Add in
the major championships, and the Ladies
Open and the Senior Open, and the total
purse during the season is over
$3,800.00!!
Click
here for the tentative
2011 tournament schedule.
Once
again the Tour will host 2 Qualifying
Schools (April 16 and 23) to give new
members a head start on establishing a
Mulligan Tour Handicap Index. The
Q-Schools are not mandatory, but are
helpful for new members to get oriented
to Tour playing rules and procedures.
The
major championship sites for 2011
include Gateway GC (The Memorial), the
Majestic at Lake Walden (HP Open), and
the Woodlands of Van Buren (Match Play
Ch.). The division
championships scheduled for August 27
include a return to the Golden Fox for
the PLAYERS (Central) Championship, a
return to the Coyote Preserve for the
WESTERN Championship and, tentatively, a
first ever stop at the Orchards GC for
the EASTERN Championship.
The TOUR Championship will conclude its
3-year run at the Polo Fields G&CC
on September 17.
The
Mulligan Tour will again have a booth at
the 2011 Michigan Golf Show, scheduled
for March 4-6 at the Suburban Collection
Showplace (formerly Rock Financial
Showplace) in Novi. Visit http://michigangolfshow.com/
for details about show.
|