White Lake’s McCoy Biagioli, 18 years old and a sophomore on Ferris State University Men’s Golf Team, won the 113th Michigan Amateur Championship on The Heather course at The Highlands at Harbor Springs, by besting 23-year-old Jimmy Dales, of Northville, 3 and 1 in the championship match.
As the Michigan Amateur Champion, Biagioli’s name will be added to the historic Staghorn Trophy, plus he will receive an exemption into the U.S. Amateur Championship at Hazeltine Golf Club, August 12-18.
“I think it shows I can compete with the best,” Biagioli said. “Actually, I had no idea about the U.S. Amateur (exemption) until two weeks ago either. I guess winning was the goal this week, and then (the U.S. Amateur) is kind of a bonus with it.”
Dales has come close to winning having lost in the semifinals last year to eventual champion August Meekhof. He said,
“My dad (Jim) played in the Kircher Cup (Boyne invitational tournament) for a bunch of years, and we have a lot of good memories here. He (McCoy) is a nice player. He hit some nice shots and made some good par saves.”
