SOUTH LYON — Patrick Wilkes-Krier, the proprietor of Kendall Golf Academy in Ypsilanti, birdied the par 5 final hole with a 76-yard pitch shot approach and two-foot tap-in Wednesday and won the 104th Michigan PGA Professional Championship at Walnut Creek Country Club.
It was the 41-year-old teaching professional’s first major state professional title after a series of near misses, and he edged past defending champion Ben Cook of Caledonia by one shot with a final even-par 72 and a 4-under 212 tournament total.
Cook, who has left the golf profession and opened up a financial planning business near Grand Rapids, shot a final 70 for 213.
Adam Schumacher of Point O’Woods Golf & Country Club in Benton Harbor, who shot 70, and Tim Pearce of Birmingham Country Club, who shot 72, tied at 214.
Ryan Lenehan, the director of instruction at Walnut Creek, who shot 68, and Matt Thompson, a Hillsdale teaching professional who shot 69, tied at 215, while eight-time champion Scott Hebert of Traverse City Golf & Country Club shot 71 for 216.
Aaron Caverley of Leland Country Club placed 16th, Dustin Darling of Arcadia Bluffs was 36th, Jeffrey Roth of Boyne Golf Academy and John Nowosatka of Traverse City Golf & Country Club tied for 38th and Avry Freel of Boyne Highlands Resort 48th in the field of over 100.