Lochmoor Club's Kyle Martin Wins Michigan PGA, Again
By Greg Johnson
It took a second consecutive win in the Michigan PGA Professional Championship, but Kyle Martin finally and humbly admitted he is somebody to be reckoned with in Michigan golf.
“To get one was the first goal, now to have two, even better,” he said after shooting a final round 7-under 65 and pulling away to win the 102nd Michigan PGA Professional Championship at Flint Golf Club.
The 39-year-old head golf professional at Lochmoor Club in Grosse Pointe Woods finished with a 14-under 202 total, four shots ahead of five-time champion Jeff Roth of BOYNE Golf Academy, who shot a closing 69 for 206.
Martin, a Grand Rapids native who has also claimed two Michigan PGA Match Play titles, took home the $7,500 first place check, will receive an exemption into the Rocket Mortgage Classic for the second consecutive year. He missed the 36-hole cut in the PGA Tour’s visit to Detroit Golf Club in July by two shots.
“I’m super excited to go back – I wanted another shot at it and now I get it,” he said. “I’m looking forward to that.”
He’s also looking forward to another trip to the PGA Professional National Championship (PNC) next April at Fields Ranch in Frisco, Texas, home of the new PGA of America headquarters.
Martin was one of nine golfers who earned spots in the national championship from Michigan’s championship joining Roth and Scott Hebert of Traverse City Golf & Country Club, who are exempt as past national champs. The lowest-scoring 20 golfers in the PNC earn spots in the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky.
Dan Urban of Gull Lake Country Club, the 2015 Michigan PGA champion, and Tim Pearce of Birmingham Country Club, tied for third at 208 and punched their tickets to the PNC as well.
Chad Kurmel, the assistant men’s golf coach at Michigan State, Matt Thompson, the head men’s coach at Hillsdale College, and Payne Gniewek of Thousand Oaks Golf Club in Grand Rapids. They are headed to the PNC, with three others who emerged from a five-golfer playoff at 212. Scott Brotebeck of Walnut Creek Country Club, Cody Haughton of Red Run Golf Club and Adam Schumacher emerged from the playoff with spots in the PNC.
