19 teams from across Michigan gathered to play at the third John Matthew Krutsch Invite
MARSHALL — Hillsdale Academy hosted the third annual John Matthew Krutsch Memorial Invitational. The event was initially organized by head coach Rolla Frisinger and Dr. Matt and Mrs. Karen Krutsch. Matt and Karen's son, John Matthew Krutsch, died in 2019.
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The invitational was named in his honor, and the event's benefits go toward the John Matthew Krutsch Endowed Scholarship fund at Hillsdale College. Matthew was an avid golfer who got introduced to the game by some of his teammates in middle school. He was a 2018 graduate of the Academy and was a part of two state qualifying golf teams, including the team that won the school's first regional championship in 2017.
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Matthew was also a member of the Final Four Academy basketball team in 2018. He was also a four-year varsity player on the soccer team. Matthew was attending Grand Valley State before his passing.
The invitational saw a total of 19 teams participate, up six teams from last year's total. Teams from all over the state came to the Medalist Golf Course in Marshall to compete, including the Hillsdale Hornet boys golf team. Grand Rapids Christian won the event with a final team score of 307. Vicksburg came in second with a 323 final score. Harper Creek took third with a 326 final score.
Hillsdale Academy took eighth place as a team with a final score of 334. Hillsdale High School took 18th with a final score of 459.
Individually, senior Luke Malocha of Vicksburg won the tiebreaker over Ian Masih of Okemos and Benny Miller of Paw Paw to take first overall. All three athletes shot 73.
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Local teams were led by Academy senior Rykert Frisinger, who placed fifth individually with a 75. Frisinger had one birdie on hole 16, a par-four.
Freshman Lincoln Knirk was second on the Colts team with 84. Junior Kahle Welden finished with an 86, while senior Ridley Fast ended his day at 89. Fast had three birdies and a par on his final four holes to finish off the back nine at the Medalist. The Colts' fifth golfer, junior Vincent Reagle, shot a 97.
Hillsdale senior Joseph Miller led the Hornets with an 82, finishing second amongst local athlete results, taking 22nd overall in the invitational. Miller's final score was a new personal best score for the senior.
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Sophomore Julian Harman was second for the Hornets as a team with a final score of 106. Harman was just one of many local athletes and families participating in the tournament who have a personal connection to the Memorial Invitational.
Julian's older brother, Jonah, went to school with Matthew Krutsch at Hillsdale Academy.
"They went to Hillsdale Academy together, and they were best friends together and played many sports together," Harmon said. "I was always the little bro, (but) I remember they were really happy together. Now, I'm playing golf at the invitational and I'm happy to be here with my team supporting the Krustch family."
Julian is looking forward to participating in the invitational with his team and family in the future.
Rounding out the scoring for the Hornets was sophomore Landon York with a 141 and Charles Macy with a 130.
If interested in a donation to the endowment fund or sponsoring the Memorial Invitational in 2025, people are asked to reach out to Hillsdale College.
This article originally appeared on Hillsdale Daily News: 19 teams competed at the 2024 Matthew Krutsch Memorial Invitational
