(Ada, Michigan)—University of Louisville star Jenny Calkins made a three-foot par putt on the 17th hole to cap a late comeback and help the Private Club team to a 10-8 victory over the Public Course team at the Founders Challenge just outside Grand Rapids. Calkins’ putt clinched a half-point in her match with Mary Vajgrt, and helped her to a 2-up victory at Egypt Valley Country Club in the second day singles matches. After falling behind earlier in the day in the Ryder Cup-style competition for Michigan’s best women amateur players, the Private Club team won the day’s last three matches to win the event for the first time.
In addition to Calkins’ triumph, the victors got wins in the late going from MId-American Conference stars Laura Bavaird of Western Michigan and Kim Kester of Toledo. Bavaird, the 2007 Michigan Amateur champion beat Stephanie Mory of the University of Illinois 5 & 3, while Kester eased past Kelly Boogaard of Eastern Michigan, 2-up.
The Public Course team started the day well with wins in the opening two matches by Rachel Meikle and Shannon Warner. Meikle, the current Big Ten individual champion from Michigan State, held off Shasta Averyhardt of Jackston State University, 1-up, while Warner, the two-time Michigan high school individual champion, defeated Ashley Bauer of the University of Michigan 2 & 1. After the Private team got victories from Caitlin Bennett (Grand Valley), Jennifer Domagalski (Michigan State) and Barb Schmid, the Public squad responded by taking 3-1/2 of the next four points. Playing captain Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll, the women’s golf coach at Michigan State, made an eagle and two birdies in the last six holes for a 1-up win over Heather Scholten of Northwestern University, while Missy Ward of Ferris State and veteran public course player Sue Campbell of Kalamazoo also recorded wins. Private club playing captain Joan Garety of Egypt Valley then halved with Grand Valley State University golfer Ashley Smith, setting the stage for the late rally by her team.
"It was a great day for our players," said Garety, a member of the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame. "After two years of being gracious losers, today it was our turn and I must say it’s a lot easier to be a gracious winner!
Though her team was victorious, Garety was upstaged slightly on Sunday by her opposite number, Slobodnik-Stoll, whose dramatic eagle-two on the 14th came after Heather Scholten had dropped her approach shot to within inches of the pin on the same hole. "It was certainly exciting to see that shot go in with Heather so close, but we’d trade that one for the victory. But Joan’s side was great coming down the stretch and her last three players weren’t to be denied."
The Founders Challenge is sponsored by Founders Bank & Trust with offices in Grand Rapids, Grandville and Traverse City, Michigan. Additional event sponsorship was provided by golf industry clothing supplier Fairway & Greene; direct-sales giant Alticor; Laser Link, the Madison, Wisconsin, yardage measuring device manufacturer; and Winners, Inc., the Grand Rapids-based trophy and corporate gift supplier.
"It was another great day for the Founders Challenge," said Laurie Beard, president and CEO of Founders Bank. "On a day when much of the rest of the Midwest was getting pelted by rain and storms, we were able to play under perfect conditions with a great group of players."
The first day of the Founders Challenge was held this past weekend at The Meadows Golf Club at Grand Valley State University in Allendale. On Saturday, Grand Valley golfer Caitlin Bennett made a fifteen-foot birdie putt on the last shot of the day during the better-ball matches to win the final match and lift the Private Club to a 3-1/2 to 2-1/2 point lead.
Founders Challenge Sunday Results
Rachel Meikle (Public) defeated Shasta Averyhardt (Private) 1-up Shannon Warner (Public) defeated Ashley Bauer (Private) 2 & 1 Caitlin Bennett (Private) defeated Becky Hoffman (Public) 3 & 2 Jennifer Domagalski (Private) defeated Michelle Boogaard (Public) 3 & 2 Barb Schmid (Private) defeated Kristina Langton (Public) 5 & 4 Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll (Public) defeated Heather Scholten (Private) 1-up Joan Garety (Private) halved with Ashley Smith (Public) Missy Ward (Public) defeated Susie Barbour (Private) 4 & 2 Sue Campbell (Public) defeated Allison Tyler (Private) 4 & 3 Kim Kester (Private) defeated Kelly Boogaard (Public) 2-up Jenny Calkins (Private) defeated Mary Vajgrt (Public) 2-up Laura Bavaird (Private) defeated Stephanie Mory (Public) 5 & 3
Day Two Results: Private Club 6-1/2, Public Course 5-1/2 Final Results: Private Club 10, Public Course 8
Contact:
Tom Cleary (616-915-4267, tjcleary@aol.com)
Terry Moore (616-247-1931, terry_moore@comcast.net)
