THOMPSONVILLE — Buck has always been there for Jessica Welch.
That was no different on Wednesday.
On the 18th hole, Welch reached into his bag and pulled out his 3-wood, protected by a dog head cover in honor of his beloved Labrador retriever, Buck, who died in 2021 at age 15.
Welch birdied the par-5 18th hole and, despite an eight-stroke lead going into the final hole being reduced to just one, won the 31st Michigan PGA Women’s Open Championship by two strokes.
“He’s always there for me,” she said. “Even after three years, he still cares about me.”
Taylor Kehoe, a Canadian amateur and recent Michigan State University transfer, came on hard on the back nine, birdieing the 11th, 12th and 15th holes and chipping in for eagle on the 18th to cut Welch’s lead to one stroke. Then the 30-year-old Georgia native sank a birdie putt to finish at 12-under 204 and win by two strokes.
Welch birdied three of the first four holes in Monday’s tournament to lead from start to finish with a 9-under 63. She won $7,500 for her performance.
The 2021 tournament was emotional for her after she lost her beloved dog, and Crystal Mountain instantly became special to her, she said.
“When I was getting ready to leave on my last day, I saw that it said ‘Buck’ up there,” Welch said, pointing out the name of the Crystal Mountain ski lift closest to the golf pro shop, “and I was kind of blown away.”
She had been runner-up at the Michigan Women’s Open the past two years, and finally put it on the bag to win.
“My driver was a little bit to the right today, and I don’t want to be too far to the right on this hole,” Welch said. “So I thought, ‘I don’t have to aim for that all the time.’ I can just put the ball on solid ground, even in the rough, and hit it a good distance with my wedge. My wedges have been good this week.”
Welch said winning the Open after such close matches the past two years was special and comparable to qualifying for the U.S. Open in 2017.
“My hands were definitely shaking at the end,” Welch said. “I wasn’t in a comfortable position on 16 and 17, and then when Taylor chipped in for eagle, it was amazing to watch. I was just glad I got my third shot in before she made it.”
Welch, who had said he would return to defend his title next year, three-putted on the 16th and 17th holes (even though the first was on the edge) and then bogeyed each with Kehoe closing in.
Sandra Angulo Minaro of Mexico, who shares Welch’s annual host house with Pam and Steve Perry, was one of three players who finished tied for sixth at 1-under 215.
Minaro carried the Epson Tour tradition of dousing the winner with water at the Michigan Open, lightly dousing Welch on the 18th hole.
“We’ve been friends for years and we’ve played together for years,” Welch said. “She’s a very sweet person. This is the first time I’ve had water splashed on me, so it feels good.”
Kehoe was second at 10 under par, and Julia Stevenson, an assistant pro at Birmingham Country Club, finished third with a final score of 70 and 213.
“That was fun to watch,” Welch said of Kehoe as she held up the Crystal Women’s Open trophy. “She doesn’t make mistakes. She’s going to be around for a long time. I’d bet against her owning this trophy one day.”
Another Michigan State golfer, Shannon Kennedy, and Mexico’s Alejandra Llaneza tied for fourth at 2-under.
Traverse City West High School graduate Ancy Dye was one of two golfers tied at 13 strokes, 2-over, in the three-day tournament, held for the 22nd consecutive year by Crystal Mountain.
“It’s always fun to come here,” Dye said. “I feel so at home here. When I come to play Mountain Ridge, I feel like I’m at home. This is where I learned how to play golf with a lot of the people on the course. Just coming here and seeing my friends and seeing the people who came to volunteer and watch really makes me feel like I’m at home. Even if the golf isn’t going well, I feel really comfortable and at home. It reminds me to have fun and know where I belong.”
Her sister, Annika, drove up from the University of Michigan to caddie for the day.
Ansi won the Division II national championship this season at the University of Indianapolis and earned All-American honors.
“Being a first-team All-American was a big goal of mine, and then, of course, our team’s goal is to win a national championship,” Dye said. “To be able to do that in the same year was really special. … It was really awesome to win with that girls team and end it on a high. It’s definitely a feeling I’ll never forget.”
But she entered the transfer portal after Indianapolis head coach Brent Nicoson transferred to Grand Canyon University after the season.
She said she is considering several offers, including Grand Canyon, but noted that her academics will play a big role in her decision and she may remain at Indy. She is majoring in business and supply chain management and has already begun working toward her master’s degree.
Dee said it’s always interesting to see the name Taylor Kehoe at the Michigan Women’s Open because she has a TC West teammate with the same name who has played in the tournament many times in the past.
“When I see that name, I know she doesn’t play tournament golf anymore,” Dye said, “but their family and our family are really close, so it’s always fun to see that name and be reminded that the Kehoe family is nearby.”
In the Michigan PGA Senior Women’s Open, held as the new age division (50 and over) tournament within the tournament, Michigan Golf Hall of Famer and former LPGA Tour player Suzie Greene Roebuck made history.
She has three career wins, having won the inaugural Michigan Women’s Open in 1994. The Ann Arbor native also won the inaugural Michigan Senior Women’s Open, shooting a 4-under 68 to finish the final round at 7-under 209.
Slocum reaches finals in state amateur championship
EAST LANSING — Stroke play medalists Macie Elzinga of Byron Center, Grace Slocum of Traverse City, Mia Melendez of Ann Arbor and Alena Lee of Okemos won second-round matches Wednesday to advance to the final four of the 46th Michigan Junior Girls Amateur Championship.
Elzinga and Melendez will face Slocum and Lee in the semifinals Thursday morning at Michigan State University’s Forest Acres West Golf Course, with the winners advancing to the finals in the afternoon.
Slocum, the No. 2 seed in match play, defeated Sophia Skoog 6&4 and Lillian O’Grady 4&2 in match play on Wednesday.
Slocum, the 2022 champion in the 15-and-under division, said his game was a little rough.
“In the end, I won both matches so I can’t blame myself too much,” she said. “My short game definitely paid off.”
