Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational: July 13-16

First Tee and Inclusion are Part of the Dow LPGA Experience

As outlined in other stories, the Dow GLBI will feature an exemption for the winner of THE JOHN SHIPPEN tournament in conjunction with the Meijer LPGA Classic and the PGA Tour’s Rocket Mortgage Classic—drawing much attention for the state of Michigan as an epicenter of inclusion in golf for people of color.

For fan activities, the LPGA tournament at Midland Country Club will be open both Monday and Tuesday free of charge for people wanting to watch practice or the Pro-Am. The tournament, a team format of best ball and alternate shot, will begin Wednesday and end Saturday. The break from a traditional Sunday finish is so players have more travel time to the next event – the Evian Championship in France, one of five majors on the season. The winning team earns an exemption into that major as well. The Jutanugarn sisters are the defending champions at Midland. Tickets go on sale the middle of May.

First Tee Eastern Michigan, the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational LPGA Tournament and Currie Golf Course are taking registrations for the 1st Annual Great Lakes Bay Junior Championship.  This 18-hole competitive event will be played at Currie Golf Courses West Course in Midland on June 15th and is open to juniors that reside or attend school in Bay, Isabella, Midland or Saginaw counties.

The tournament will feature boys’ and girls’ champions in three age divisions: age 13-15, 16-18 and special category of age 19-22.  Winners of each division will receive a trophy and recognition at the LPGA Tournament.  

“With the help of our partners at the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational and Currie Golf Course, this will become a premier junior tournament in the region,” said Joe Simpson, Program Director for First Tee Eastern Michigan. “We’re really excited about adding the 19-22 year-old division and hope to attract some of the great college golfers in the area.”

To register for the event, go to https://firstteeeasternmichigan.org/great-lakes-bay-jr-golf-championship/ or call Joe Simpson, First Tee Eastern Michigan’s Program Director at (810) 249-7071. There is also a junior clinic planned for Monday July 11 to be held at Currie Golf Course, which also doubles for a driving range/warm up location for the professional golfers all week.