TC’s Hebert among final 16 in Michigan PGA Match Play Championship
LANSING — The Michigan PGA Section Match Play Championship will be decided Tuesday and Wednesday at Eagle Eye Golf Club with Traverse City’s Scott Hebert among the final field of 16 golfers.
The competitors have advanced from chapter or senior organization match play rounds to battle at Eagle Eye Golf Club for the Jim Picard Trophy and the $3,000 first-place prize out of a $15,000 purse.
Two Michigan Golf Hall of Fame Members, both of whom are two-time past champions, will lead the field in this year’s final 16. Hebert from Traverse City Golf & CC (2017, 2019) advanced through the Northern Chapter, and Tom Harding from Carl’s Golfland (2001, 2002) advanced through the Senior Organization.
The round of 16 matches and the quarterfinal round will be played on Tuesday, with the semifinals and championship match on Wednesday. A complete bracket and more tournament information can be found at michiganpga.com.
The Michigan PGA Match Play Championship is considered one of the four major Michigan PGA championships along with the Michigan Open, Michigan PGA Professional Championship and Tournament of Champions.
Mclain Ward, First Lady fly in Storm Ridge Capital CSI5* Speed
TRAVERSE CITY — Five-time Olympic medalist Mclain Ward (USA) opened a five-star competition during the penultimate week of the Tournament of Champions at Traverse City Horse Shows, setting the stage for the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Traverse City.
On the back of First Lady, Ward packed a punch to win the $32,000 Storm Ridge Capital CSI5* Speed from a 65-horse field. Fresh off a successful tour at the Olympic Games in Paris where he was part of the silver-medal-winning U.S. team, Ward took to Alan Wade’s (IRL) one-round track and once again proved that First Lady is always one to beat.
Ward took to the ring aboard three different horses: First Lady, Callas and Quimi del Maset. Owned by Robin Parsky, First Lady was the one who rose to the top. The 11-year-old Oldenburg mare (Don Diarado x Lordanos) put forward the well-fastest time to stop the clock in 56.32 seconds and dethrone previous class leader Conor Swail (IRL), who led for 26 rounds before Ward entered the ring.
Grayling’s Jordan Peters earns MHSAA recognition
GRAYLING — The Grayling Vikings are off to a white-hot start with an 8-0 record and not allowing a goal, and now the Vikings’ Jordan Peters has been recognized with the MHSAA’s Performance of the Week honor.
Peters is anchoring a record-setting defensive effort as Grayling is off to an 8-0 start for the first time and has put together a streak of eight straight shutouts also for the first time in program history. The most recent win, 1-0 over Elk Rapids on Monday, was the Vikings’ first over the Elks since 2009. Grayling is unranked, but Elk Rapids entered this week No. 14 in Division 3.
A varsity keeper since freshman year, Peters has played a major role as Grayling has improved from 9-12-1 in 2022 to 17-6-1 last season to building high expectations with its start this fall. Peters has been in net for the entirety of every game this year, and the eight straight shutouts are tied for the 14th-longest individual scoreless game streak by a keeper in state history.