HARBOR SPRINGS — Northern Michigan in the summer transforms into a golfer’s paradise.
Well, summer feels like it’s arrived and come this Friday to Sunday, June 13-15, some of the best women’s golfers in the world will hope to turn The Highlands of Harbor Springs Heather Course into paradise.
The inaugural Great Lakes Championship at The Highlands presented by Johnnie Walker and part of the Epson Tour will tee off this weekend on The Heather Course.
The Epson Tour, once know as the LPGA Futures Tour, is the official qualifying tour for the LPGA Tour, much like the Korn Ferry Tour for the PGA.
Events are taking place throughout the week by BOYNE Golf and The Great Lakes Sports Commission, including a pair of Pro-Am events on Wednesday and Thursday, June 11-12.
“The Highlands and BOYNE Golf are honored and excited that the Great Lakes Sports Commission and the Epson Tour have selected The Heather golf course at The Highlands to host the Great Lakes Championship,” said Josh Richter, Boyne Resorts SVP of golf. “The Heather was the first BOYNE Golf course and is widely credited as the spark that started the golf boom in northern Michigan.
“The Heather launched the region as America’s summer golf capital and has hosted many prestigious championships, including five Michigan Amateur Championships since it opened in 1966. We look forward to the test it will provide the outstanding golfers on the Epson Tour on their journey to the LPGA.”
Play will take place from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. both Friday and Saturday, and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
The Great Lakes Championship will feature a field of 144 golfers competing for Epson points of course, though also a $250,000 purse and $37,500 to the winner.
The field will be cut from 144 to 60 on Sunday, with a 5 p.m. awards ceremony and trophy presentation taking place.
General admission is free to attend the 72-hole tournament, though there is a VIP ticket package available at $100 per day or $250 for the full weekend. Slots for the Pro-Am event are full.
Original Post:
The Petoskey News-Review
