Michigan Golf Journal February 2021

23 February 2021 www.michigangolfjournal.com 1,060 Meijer/Callaway Junior Tour events, and seen more than 16,000 youth come through their system. This year 38 tournaments are scheduled at locations like Warwick Hills, Barton Hills, Battle Creek CC, CC of Lansing, and Radrick Farms with the year-end awards at American Dunes. Full schedule (led by Tour Director Chris Tilbury): https://glfpb.bluegolf.com/ bluegolf/glfpb21/schedule/ index.htm Kids ranging age 7-23 years old compete in events from 9-holes to 36. Several Michigan “graduates” like Morgan Pressel, Ryan Brehm, Brian Stuard, Kris Tumulus and Liz Nagel today still play on their respective LPGA and PGA Tours – in addition to almost a dozen players who have won Michigan Opens and Michigan Women’s Opens. “Right from the beginning it was my mission to create quality competitions and facilities, and to give back funds as a non-profit corporation as much as we can – and 27 years later we hope to crack the half-million-dollar mark,” he said, adding that the ultimate goal is $1M which he hopes to witness. “I have always loved helping the junior golfers, I have always had a passion for that. It’s so fun to see these kids grow and learn the game.” Frisinger said Pressel was clearly an early shining star, who played at ages 11-12, as her maternal grandfather took her around the state each summer. “She was light years ahead of everyone else,” Frisinger said. “I remember getting the phone call from Dr. Krickstein saying to me, ‘now, my granddaughter is really good. She should be able to play up a few age divisions.’ I told him we don’t do that before seeing kids play a few times, Continues on page 25 >>