Lochmoor Golf Club Head Professional Kyle Martin landed a spot in the 2023 PGA Championship to be held at historic Oak Hill Golf Club in Rochester, New York, by winning the Michigan PGA Professional Championship held at Prestwick Village Golf Club.
“I did have some good fortune and I didn’t have my best stuff by any means, but when it counted I produced shots,” said the 38-year-old Grand Rapids native, who shot a final even-par 72 for an 8-under 208 total. “I hit it solid on the back nine and with the rain delay it was nice to just go back out and get it done.”
Kyle Dobbs of Oak Pointe Country Club grabbed the runner-up spot with Josh Fryer of Franklin Hills Country Club third followed by Tim Pearce of Birmingham Country Club and the recent Michigan PGA Senior Championship winner, Ron Beurmann of Country Club of Jackson rounding out the top five.
Runner-up Dobbs, who was battling through a sore left hand said,
“Kyle had some shots go in from across the green, and hit some close, and that’s tough to catch. I got in some trouble with a few shots where my hand wouldn’t close on the grip, but it was a good fight. Kyle is a good player. That was the first time I played with Kyle and I’m seeing there are a lot of good players out here.”
Martin won $7,000, will have his name inscribed on the historic Gilbert A. Currie Trophy, plus he earned a sponsor’s exemption into the 2023 Rocket Mortgage Classic at Detroit Golf Club.
The low nine golfers besides Scott Hebert of Traverse City and Jeff Roth of Boyne Golf Academy, who are already exempt, earned a spot in the 2023 PGA Professional National Championship next April at Twin Warriors & Santa Ana Pueblo Golf Clubs in New Mexico. They include; Dan Urban of Gull Lake Country Club, Josh Jeffords of Hills of Lenawee Golf Club in Adrian, George Bowman of Oakhurst Golf & Country Club in Clarkston and John Seltzer of Seltzer Golf School in Grand Rapids.
The low 20 finishers in the PGA Professional National Championship in New Mexico earn spots in the PGA Championship next May at Oak Hill Country Club in Pittsford, New York.
Martin had a four-shot lead on Dobbs and Fryer through 13 holes following birdies at No. 8 with a holed sand shot, at 11 with a 60-foot birdie putt and 13 with a one-foot birdie putt.
Martin has won two Michigan PGA Match Play titles, but said winning the section championship in stroke play meant a lot to him.
“It gets that monkey off my back that I can do more than match play. I can do both and then there’s the names on that trophy. There are some big names and to be in that same company is awesome.”
