BOYNE FALLS — It’s a logjam of champions at the top in the 34th Tournament of Champions at Boyne Mountain Resort.
Five golfers, including Barrett Kelpin, a two-time Tournament of Champions winner from Kalamazoo who is now a golf instructor in Wisconsin, Jay Jurecic, the defending champion and a senior professional from Crystal Falls, Baker Stevenson of Novi, an assistant professional at Meadowbrook Country Club, Eric Lilleboe of Lansing, a former mini-tour now working in commercial real-estate, and Grant Haefner of Bloomfield Hills, a mini-tour golfer who is traveling the world, each shot 5-under 67 on the Alpine course Monday.
On a day that also offered an assortment of weather, including heat, wind and rain late in the afternoon, 43 golfers in the field of 122 shot par or better, and 34 were under-par.
In addition to the fivesome at 5-under, six golfers were at 4-under and six more were at 3-under.
The half-dozen one shot off the lead included another two-time Tournament of Champions winner in Andy Ruthkoski of Muskegon, the 2017 Tournament of Champions winner Michael Nagy from Manistique, who is now a teaching pro in Wisconsin, junior golf instructor and former college coach Matt Thompson of Jonesville, mini-tour player Tyler Copp of Ann Arbor, first-year professional and former Grand Valley State University standout Bryce Wheeler of Augusta, and Wayne State University golfer Jack Julian of South Lyon.
Joe Jusczcyk, teaching this summer at Whole Golf in Bloomfield Hills, and the 2024 Tournament of Champions winner, was among the group at 3-under 69.
Kamryn Shannon of Jackson, an NCAA Division II All-American for Ferris State University this year, was also at 3-under and best among the women in the field.
Two more women, Michigan Golf Hall of Famer Suzy Green-Roebuck of Ann Arbor, and Elayna Bowser of Dearborn, shot 2-under 70, and the brother-sister competitors from Dearborn, Evan and Elayna Bowser, were in the group tied at 70.
More golfers than usual were very happy with their rounds.
“I felt pretty good off the tee and into the green all day, but the short game was pretty tight when I missed the green, so it was good,” said Kelpin, who had a long mini-tour career and now works at Bishops Bay Golf Club near Madison, WI.
“All in all, 5-under felt pretty good, and it’s a good start to the tournament.”
Kelpin, 37 and the champion at Boyne in 2015 and 2023, said the Alpine Course was in great condition for the tournament.
“You know I like the Alpine Course,” he said. “It’s always great to come here for this tournament, to be in Northern Michigan and to play a great golf course. I’m looking forward to the next two days.”
Shannon, 22 and planning soon to enter the PGA of America apprentice program while working at a golf course in Jupiter, Fla., said she had been having a poor summer since college season ended, but she found something last week competing in the Michigan’s Women Amateur Championship.
“I’m swinging better and I played really well today,” she said after her first time playing in the championship that brings together men, women, professionals and amateurs, seniors and juniors – all who have won significant Michigan championships – playing from different tees for the same championship honors.
“It was fun, and I think playing in groups with men or boys growing up helped,” she said. “It’s always pushed me a little bit more because I don’t want to hit bad shots and hold them back, so it motivates me even more to play well.”
The field plays another 18 holes Tuesday followed by a 36-hole cut to the low 70 scorers and ties. The final round in the 54-hole, $75,000 championship is Wednesday.