Michigan PGA Women's Open
June 22, 2018
THOMPSONVILLE – Defending champion Lindsey McPherson of Flushing has stopped playing tour golf, but she is returning to play in the 25th Michigan Women’s Open Championship starting Monday on the Mountain Ridge Course at Crystal Mountain Resort.
“I decided to stop playing full-time and start a career away from golf,” said McPherson, who will be playing in the championship for the ninth time since age 16.
“I will be at the Women’s Open to defend though. Being the defending champion means a lot to me. That tournament has always been my favorite tournament for a lot of reasons.”
Crystal Mountain is hosting the championship for the 16th consecutive time, and McPherson is one of four former champions in the field.
Suzy Green-Roebuck of Ann Arbor, the three-time champion who last year was inducted into the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame, is returning, as are two-time champion and Hall of Fame member Elaine Crosby and 2011 champion Laura Kueny, who announced at last year’s tournament that she was leaving tour golf.
The 25th edition of the championship, which does not require Michigan residency, will feature an international field of 98 golfers, including professionals and amateurs representing multiple states and countries.
The field will play 54 holes of stroke play over three days to determine the champion with a cut after the first two rounds to the low 70 scorers and ties. The professionals will play for a share of a $40,000 purse.
The championship is administered by the Michigan Section of the PGA of America, and the field typically includes the top professionals and amateurs with Michigan ties as well as LPGA Symetra Tour players and mini-tour professionals from around the world.
In addition to the former champions, many of Michigan’s top golfers are also lined up to play, including 2014 Michigan Amateur champion Jennifer Elsholz of Grand Rapids, who is now a professional, and last summer’s Golf Association of Michigan champion, Kerrigan Parks of Flushing.
Liz Nagel of DeWitt, Flint’s Shasta Averyhardt, who now lives in Florida, Saline’s Sarah Hoffman and Rochester’s Christine Meier, who are making the rounds on the professional circuit, are entered, as are the Shipley sisters from Hastings -- Gabrielle, who is a professional, and Sarah, an amateur who plays at the University of Kentucky.
Michigan State women’s golf coach Stacy Slobodnik, another recent inductee into the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame, is also in the field as are 15 of her current, former or incoming Spartan golfers.
McPherson, one of the former Spartans, made a 12-foot birdie putt on No. 18 to win the title a year ago. She shot a closing 3-under 69 for 8-under 208 and a one-shot win over Honolulu professional Marissa Chow.
Crystal Mountain was established in 1956, and is a family-owned, four-season resort that is nationally recognized for its skiing, golf and award-winning spa.
Located in northwest-lower-Michigan, a short drive from Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, the resort features downhill and cross-country skiing, Michigan Legacy Art Park, 36 holes of championship golf, Michigan’s only alpine slide, an outdoor water playground, a variety of lodging and dining options, countless year-round activities and kids programs, a conference center, weddings, real estate and Crystal Spa. See www.crystalmountain.com .
As always, the Michigan Women’s Open offers free parking and admission. Spectators are welcome and can be shuttled to various spots on the course.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Brian Lawson, 231.378.2057