Three Michigan Turfgrass Scholar Winners

By Kelsey Underwood

Payton Perkinson, a student at Michigan State University who is form Buffalo Grove, IL, is the winner of the Mendenhall Award of $6,000 in the 2021 Scholars Competition offered through the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA).

The GCSAA Scholars Competition is funded by the Robert Trent Jones Endowment and administered by the GCSAA Foundation. It was developed to recognize outstanding students working toward careers in golf course management or other related areas of the golf course industry. The scholarships range from $500 to $6,000.

She enrolled at Michigan State University (MSU) in the fall of 2018, pursing a bachelor’s degree in crop and soil sciences in the turfgrass management program, with a minor in horticulture. While at Michigan State, she helped plan a diversity and inclusion workshop for students in the plant, soil and microbial science department.

In May 2020, she began an internship at Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Pa. At the end of the summer, she was recognized as the Intern of the Year award. She returned to Oakmont Country Club for the summer 2021 season and was fortunate to be able to help the club prepare for the 2021 U.S. Amateur – where fellow MSU student James Piot won the national title.

Other award winners are:

Spencer Cole, Grant, Mich., Michigan State University, Scholars Award, $3,000

Brendan Stuchell, Union City, Mich., Michigan State University, Scholars Award, $2,500

Girls High School State Finals

October 15-16, 2021

Div. 1 at The Meadows, Grand Valley State

Div. 2 at Bedford Valley, Battle Creek

Div. 3 at Forest Akers West, MSU

Div. 4 at Forest Akers East, MSU

In 2020 the finals were shortened to one round to minimize Covid.

Winners were:

Div. 1: Kate Brody, 70, Grand Blanc (medalist) and Northville (team)

Div. 2:  Allison Cui, 70, Okemos (medalist) and South Lyon (team)

Div. 3: Shannon Kennedy, 70, (medalist, playoff) and Bloomfield Hills Marian (team)

Div. 4: Kamryn Shannon, 74, Michigan Center (medalist) and Montague (team)