Blake Springstead of Kewadin, a 15-year-old Elk Rapids High School golfer, outlasted Rodrigo Dugarte of Troy in 20 holes to win the title.
Springstead reached the finals with a 2 and 1 semifinal win over Wyatt Reid of South Lyon. Dugarte reached the final match with a win over Timothy Wagemann of Haslett in 21 holes. Springstead led for most of the championship match, but Rodrigo tied the match with a birdie at No. 18 to force extra holes.
The playoff was conducted on holes 1 and 17, and it was on 17 where Springstead made a bogey 4 while Rodrigo carded a 6.
“It means a lot,” Springstead said. “I haven’t played that great in a lot of tournaments, but I got it done this week.”
He said he would celebrate some by visiting with the other young players who play and practice at A-Ga-Ming Resort in Kewadin.
“This is a big win for me,” he said.
JP Levan of Grand Rapids held off past champion Max VanderMolen of Richland 1-up to win the 47th Michigan Junior Amateur Championship at Michigan State University’s Forest Akers West Golf Course Wednesday.
The 16-year-old East Grand Rapids High School golfer led most of the day before VanderMolen tied the match at hole No. 14. Levan responded by winning 15, however, and held on.
“It was a tough path, but I feel pretty good that I accomplished what I did this week,” Levan said. “I mean, this is easily the biggest win I’ve had. It definitely means a lot to beat a lot of good players.”
With the victory, Levan earned a USGA exemption in the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship later this summer.
“I’m very excited to play there,” he said. “It’s the biggest tournament in junior golf so obviously, it means a lot to me.”
Levan, who was 2-up through three holes and 2-up through nine, got a good read off a putt by VanderMolen on No. 15 that helped him take the final 1-up lead.
“I saw Max’s putt, and it broke a little more than I thought,” he said. “So, I just played it a little outside of the hole on the left and made a good stroke and knocked it in.”
VanderMolen, the 2022 champion at a record-setting age 14, said he didn’t have his best golf all week but was proud that he was able to grind all the way to the finals.
“JP played great today, and he’s a great player so I couldn’t be happier for him,” he said. “I was super excited to get back to the finals, but I just couldn’t get it done. I’ll be excited to be back next year and hopefully I’ll win it.”
Levan reached the final match with a 5 and 4 morning semifinal win over William Pennanen of Oxford, and VanderMolen made his way to the finals by topping Nicklaus Smith of Rochester 4 and 3.
At 15-and-under champion was also determined on Wednesday.
Blake Springstead of Kewadin, a 15-year-old Elk Rapids High School golfer, outlasted Rodrigo Dugarte of Troy in 20 holes to win the title.
Springstead reached the finals with a 2 and 1 semifinal win over Wyatt Reid of South Lyon. Dugarte reached the final match with a win over Timothy Wagemann of Haslett in 21 holes.
Springstead led for most of the championship match, but Rodrigo tied the match with a birdie at No. 18 to force extra holes.
The playoff was conducted on holes 1 and 17, and it was on 17 where Springstead made a bogey 4 while Rodrigo carded a 6.
“It means a lot,” Springstead said. “I haven’t played that great in a lot of tournaments, but I got it done this week.”
He said he would celebrate some by visiting with the other young players who play and practice at A-Ga-Ming Resort in Kewadin.
“This is a big win for me,” he said.