Michigan Golf Journal December 2020

Michigan Golf Journal College Corner Tom Werkmeitser Joins Grand Valley Staff Tom Werkmeister, widely regarded as one of the top amateur golfers in the state, joins GVSU as an assistant coach. He earned GAM Player of the Decade (2010-2019) and was a five-time GAM Player of the Year. He won two Michigan Amateurs (2009, 2017) and won the Michigan Open in 2013. He is a 10- time West Michigan Amateur champion who turned pro in late 2017 and made a handful of PGA Tour Champions’ starts, including U.S. Senior Opens in 2018 and ‘19. Western Michigan Names New Head Coach Kim Moore becomes the fourth head coach in the WMU women’s program history, after coaching seven years at Saint Mary’s College (Notre Dame, Ind.). Saint Mary’s won three Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Assoc. championships in 2017-19 – and broke the school and league scoring record in 2018. MSU Men Sign Two New Players Other coaching changes at GVSU and WMU Ashton McCulloch | Kingston, Ontario Coach Casey Lubahn comments: “Ashton has been the top player in Ontario in his class for a number of years and he continues to improve significantly. He is a quiet, determined young man who lets his clubs do the talking but he is a fierce competitor evidenced by his elite finishes.  From the moment we had his family on campus, Coach Ellis and I felt like they were exactly what we look for - people of great character, values, and humility.” McCulloch posted eight wins and three runner- up finishes in his last 15 junior tournaments. He won the 2019 Provincial Ontario Junior (U19) Boys Championship and captured the Golf Canada Future Links Fall Series that year. He then took 4 th place in the Provincial Ontario Men’s Amateur championship in 2020. Satchel Pierce | Edwardsburg, Mich. Coach Casey Lubahn comments: “Satchel has been the top player in 2021 class in Michigan for a number of years due to his maturity and consistency. He has been battling an injury over the past year and like any great athlete, he has used it as an opportunity to get better with his mechanics and preparation. He is a self-starter who loves to learn – two vital traits in college golf.” Pierce placed 5 th at the 2019 Michigan Boys Junior PGA Championship at 1-under-par 143. Prior to his injury, was ranked the No. 1 boys golfer in Michigan in the class of 2021 by Junior Golf Scoreboard. He earned first-team Division 2 All-State honors as a sophomore in 2019. In 2015, competed at Augusta National in the Drive, Chip, Putt and Drive competition, ages 10-11.