Michigan Golf Journal May 2021

Michigan Golf Journal USGA Four-Ball Four Michigan players with intimate ties to both the University of Michigan and Michigan State have qualified as teams to play in the USGA’s Four-Ball National Championship, May 22-26. Grosse Pointe South graduate Patrick Sullivan and his current U-M teammate, Brent Ito, won the qualifier with a sizzling team score of 61 at Battle Creek Country Club on September 30 to advance to USGA host site Chamber’s Bay near Seattle. Also qualifying last fall were Dan Ellis of the U.P. and assistant head coach at Michigan State, and former MSU player and current Brighton HS coach, Jimmy Dewling. The pair traveled to Hartland, Wis. to compete the same day. “Dan wanted to sign up for the qualifier in Wisconsin because he just knew that he plays best when the conditions are bad,” Dewling said. “Being from the U.P. he’s just a better player than anyone else in the field when the conditions get so poor,” which Dewling described as 38 degrees and pouring rain. Unique for this pair is they are both coaching this spring season, and not playing much for that reason. Sullivan and Ito are playing daily as their U-M season has almost wound down. “It’s going to be fun being two coaches out there playing against some mid- Ams and college kids,” Dewling added. “I just hope to keep up with Dan. After his college playing days, Dan has continued to improve. He is arguably one of the smartest golfers in the state of Michigan. He hits the ball a long way and that’s a Michigan Has Four for the USGA Four-Ball By Tom Lang Patrick Sullivan