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ESCANABA — A high-caliber discipline is primed and able to problem a highly-regarded and well-manicured golf course this week.

A discipline of 96 golfers are entered for the 107th annual Higher Peninsula Golf Affiliation males’s event, and the 106-year-old Escanaba Nation Membership is prepared for the battle, with eight former UPGA champions within the discipline.

Tourney play started at 8 a.m. at the moment and resumes at 7:45 a.m. Friday. The sphere will likely be cut up into flights for the ultimate two days and is predicted to finish about 5 p.m. Sunday. Spectators are inspired to attend. ECC director of golf Jeff Rae and former ECC golf administrators Jon Lancour and Gary Greis comprise the foundations committee.

5 former members who died previously 12 months will likely be honored, together with previous ECC president Don Wertz, six-time membership champion Tom Gregoire, Jack Manning, Ray Gollach and Carol Lancour.

A championship belt will likely be awarded to the winner for the primary time, together with a blazer. A workforce champion may also be determined after Sunday’s remaining spherical.

Rae has been taking part in at ECC since he was 9 years previous and stated, “That is the perfect form I’ve ever seen it. The greens are wholesome, they’re phenomenal. (Course superintendent) Tyler Finch and his crew and members have helped and gotten the course to the place for my part it’s championship prepared.”

The tough might be daunting, the greens are slick and easy. The ever-present wind — particularly within the afternoon — provides to the problem on a course that can play between 5,974 yards and 6,261 yards. Rae stated it won’t be tricked as much as improve the issue.

“Will probably be nothing loopy,” stated Rae. “We try to make the course scoreable, however I don’t assume you’ll see many sub-70 rounds.”

Nonetheless, Rae identified that two former UPGA champions and ECC members scored nicely Tuesday, with 2013 UPGA champion Scott Lancour taking pictures 65 and two-time former champion Brian Robinette (1995 and 1996) hit 67. Robinette was additionally runner-up in 2002.

Rae additionally famous the UPGA specifies programs ought to be arrange with out excessive issue within the equation, noting tempo of play slows significantly on more durable layouts. These situations helped result in extraordinarily lengthy rounds in 2004 and 2005.

That is the primary time ECC will host the event since 2008 when present Michigan State College assistant golf coach Dan Ellis of Negaunee gained the primary of his two titles.

ECC was deemed the host when Manistique Indian Lake Golf and Nation Membership determined to not host.

The one-course format returned in 2008 after two programs had been used from 1992-2007. The document turnout of 432 got here in 1998 at Norway Oak Crest and Iron Mountain Pine Grove, however participant numbers have dwindled lately, with solely 72 at Gladstone Terrace Bluff in 2019 and a document low 64 at Menominee Riverside in 2020.

Southpaw Matt Argall of Terrace Bluff is the reigning champion. He additionally gained in 2015 at Marinette Little River.

Different former champions this week embody Jon Ellis of Pine Grove, Matt Smith of ECC, Bryce Douglas of Terrace Bluff, Joe Quinn of Gladstone and two-time winner Mark Clements of Ishpeming Wawonwin.

Former UPGA Senior champions entered embody three-time winner Jim Wagner of Little River, southpaw Mark Ray of Highland Golf Membership and Paul Schrader of ECC.

Whereas former winners are among the many high contenders this week, additionally look ahead to 2020 runner-up Scott Prunick of Marquette, Dom Benetti of Escanaba, Dave Ellis of Negaunee and North Central Excessive Faculty incoming senior Bryson Mercier, who was the Wisconsin Junior Participant of the Yr in 2020. Mercier has been a gentle high-level participant on the Wisconsin junior tour.

“I believe 20-25 guys might realistically win,” stated Rae. “You’ve obtained to go low for 4 days. It’s a grind and a windy course weighs on you.”

Which means among the youthful gamers used to grinding for a number of days, like Mercier and Douglas, who performs at College of Detroit, might maintain an edge.