October 2025PGA_Section_News

15600 Chandler Road, Bath, MI 48808Website: michigan@pgahq.com / Office: (517) 641-PGA1 (7421)Executive Director:
Kevin Helm
(517) 580-5281
khelm@michiganpga.com

Click here to view Michigan PGA Section's Staff ListingClick here to view Michigan PGA Section's Board of Directors••••••

Patrick Wilkes-Krier Wins Michigan PGA Professional Championship

Patrick Wilkes-Krier, the proprietor of Kendall Golf Academy in Ypsilanti, birdied the par 5 final hole with a 76-yard pitch shot approach and two-foot tap-in to win the 104th Michigan PGA Professional Championship at Walnut Creek Country Club. It was the first individual professional win for Wilkes-Krier, an Ann Arbor native and resident, since 2012 during his eight years of mini-tour golf following college golf at Ball State University in Indiana.

Wilkes-Krier started the final round with a three-shot lead and maintained it until a double-bogey at No. 10, followed by a bogey at 11. That opened the door for other players, but he birdied four of his final seven holes.

He took home the $7,500 first-place check and will have his name added to the historic Gilbert A. Currie Trophy. In addition, he will be awarded an exemption into the PGA Tour’s Rocket Classic next summer at Detroit Golf Club, and he secured a spot in the PGA Professional National Championship at Bandon Dunes Resort in Oregon next spring.

“There’s so many levels to this,” he said in reaction to his win. “I’m so excited to play at Bandon Dunes – that’s the main goal when you come here, just to get a shot. I want to play in that PGA Professional Championship so badly and that venue is going to be so awesome.”

Those joining Wilkes-Krier at Branon Dunes are Scott Hebert from Traverse City Golf & Country Club, Jeff Roth from BOYNE Golf Academy, Ryan Lenahan from Walnut Creek Country Club, Adam Schumacher from Point O’Woods Golf & Country Club, Tim Pearce from Birmingham Country Club, Matt Thompson from Hillsdale College, Brian Cairns from Fox Hills Learning Center, Kyle Martin from Lochmoor Club, Josh Fyer from Franklin Hills Country Club, Kosta Ramierz from Kosta Ramirez Golf Academy, and Scott Brotebeck from Walnut Creek Country Club.

We would like to thank Walnut Creek Country Club for hosting this year’s major, our presenting sponsors: Club Car, Corebridge Financial, and Rolex, our supporting partners: Gallagher, the Golf Channel and PGA TOUR, and our supporting sponsors: Titleist/Footjoy, Callaway Golf, Nike and TaylorMade.

••••••Cameron Ruge Wins Michigan PGA Section Match PlayAs a winner from Michigan’s Northern Chapter Match Play, Cameron Ruge earned his spot in the final 16 of the Section Championship at Eagle Eye Golf Club.His putter and ball-striking combined for four match wins over the two days and his first individual tournament win since his senior year on the Trine University golf team in Angola, Indiana.After winning his semifinal match with a 4 and 2 over Western Chapter finalist, Micheal Prior, he took on Jim Deiters from Michigan PGA’s Senior Organization for the final match. Ruge had an early 2-up lead after a birdie at the par 5 fourth hole, but Deiters tied the match with back-to-back birdies at No. 6 and 7. It remained that way until No. 11 when Ruge hit his approach shot to inside three feet for a birdie to go 1-up. He went 2-up at No. 12, the long par 3, with a par as Deiters made bogey. Then he birdied No. 13 with a shot to about five feet to go 3-up and wrapped up the match with a par at No.16.Ruge has been at Bay Meadows Family Golf Course since his Golf Management counselor at Trine found him the job opportunity four years ago. He said teaching has helped him become a better player than he was in college.“My game was just in the right place,” said Ruge who won five collegiate tournaments and played in a NCAA Division III national championship. “I just kept the ball in play for the most part all week.”••••••Competition Meets Camaraderie at Michigan PGA HOPE Graduate Events17 Michigan PGA HOPE programs came together in September at the second annual Michigan PGA HOPE Cup! Team Mount Pleasant took home the win, and the players enjoyed spending time with special guest, Darren McCarty, 4x Stanley Cup Champion.Thank you to The Fortress, Zehnder’s of Frankenmuth, Towel Tag, Titleist, and Rocket for their amazing support.Just a couple of weeks later, Michigan PGA HOPE graduates came together once again for the third annual Operation: Hero Challenge where 40 teams of two PGA HOPE graduates competed in an 18-hole scramble with a skills challenge mixed in. The challenge highlighted the three core elements of golf: driving, chipping, and putting.What really made the day special was the way everyone rallied behind this event, collectively raising over $20,000 for PGA HOPE Michigan!Thank you to Bedford Valley Golf Club for their support in hosting this event.Cover 2Antigua Digital ADAntigua Digital Lookbook 1Antigua Digital Lookbook 2Antigua Digital Lookbook 3Antigua Digital Lookbook 4GOLF PRIDE AD SPREADPINEHURST RESORT AD SPREADPREMIER GOLF AD SPREADSUMMIT BRANDS AD SPREAD #1 [B.Draddy]UNEEKOR AD SPREADPUKKA AD SPREADTOPTRACER ADGOLF GENIUS SOFTWARE ADPresident’s MessageRED LEDGES ADMOTOCADDY AD SPREADPGA EXPO/REED AD SPREADCOASTAL NETTING/TEX-NET ADContents 1PRESTWICK GOLF GROUP ADContents 2THE SEA PINES RESORT ADContents 3WITTEK ADContents 4E-Z-GO ADCERTIFRESH CIGAR ADBIOESQUE SOLUTIONS ADThe BuzzTRAVELING THE FAIRWAYS ADSUMMIT BRANDS AD SPREAD #2Short Game 1YRI CUSTOMSGOLF RANGE NETTING ADShort Game 2INFRAWAY ADSHADE HEADWEAR ADShort Game 3STROKES GAINED ADSTERLING CUT GLASS ADShort Game 4TRUE TEMPER ADNEMACOLIN ADBy The Numbers 1UST/MAMIYA ADBy The Numbers 2SENTRY WORLD ADPro to Pro 1SYNTHETIC TURF ADFAIRWAY IQ ADCAP PATROL ADPro to Pro 2GOLF TOURISM SOLUTIONS ADRAPSODO ADPERFECT GOLF EVENT ADPro to Pro 3GHURKA ADSALAMANDER COLLECTION AD #1 {Half Moon]Media WatchBAUER INTERNATIONAL ADRecommended ReadingCOVER SHOTS ADTAMARACK RESORT ADTECHNOGYM AD 1TECHNOGYM AD 2PGA Memb Survey ResultsAnnual Meeting PreviewNETTING BUILDERS ADNYC MarathonCASA DE CAMPO ADHealth & WellnessBELYN KEY ADCover Story 1Cover Story 2PUNTA CANA RESORT & CLUB ADFLAG D ADCover Story 3GHOST GOLF ADSTREAMSONG RESORT ADCover Story 4SELECT PI ADPGA PSA AD #1 [PGA GRP]Cover Story 5SALAMANDER COLLECTION AD #2 [PGA National]SWING CONTROL ADCover Story 6DISMAL RIVER ADGENEVA NATIONAL AD SPREADCover Story: Travel CS2 1SEQUOYAH NATIONAL ADCover Story: Travel CS2 2THE GLENEAGLES HOTEL ADGOLFZON ADCover Story: Travel CS2 3REUNION RESORT ADPGA.com AD (Value Guide)HARBOUR RIDGE YACHT & CC ADCover Story: Travel CS2 4SUMMIT BRANDS AD [ZR]DUNDONALD LINKS AD SPREAD2 HEMISPHERES AD SPREADSr. PGA Pro. 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