Beaufait edges Ferris teammate Bond in playoff, claims Northern Michigan Open title
CHEBOYGAN – Shayne Beaufait doesn’t run away from the pressure – he embraces it.
Playing the final round of the Northern Michigan Open, the Walled Lake native and current Ferris State University men’s golfer needed an up-and-down on 18 just to get into a playoff to face his Bulldog teammate, Caleb Bond.
He delivered – and he came up even bigger not too long after that.
After building momentum from his huge save on 18, Beaufait edged Bond by making par on a second playoff hole and claiming the Open title as the sun went down Sunday evening.
“It’s always fun when you’re under pressure – that's what you play for,” said Beaufait. “I loved that I had to get par on 18 to get in the playoff, and to find out it was with one of my teammates was pretty special.”
After Beaufait and Bond each parred 18, the first playoff hole, they went back to the ninth tee while a huge crowd of people watched the drama unfold. While Beaufait executed a solid tee shot onto the green, Bond found the bunker and went on to bogey. Beaufait sealed the title with a quality putt that came up just short.
The tap-in by Beaufait made it three straight Open titles for a Ferris State player.
“It was awesome that (Bond and I were) both able to be in that playoff,” Beaufait said. “To come out here and be with my team here, it’s pretty special. It’s my second (tournament here). A lot of these guys have been playing here for years, and we’re pretty excited to keep it going year after year, hopefully for a long time.”
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Beaufait kept the Ferris dominance going at the Open, joining teammates Nathan Kraynyk, who won in 2021, and Zach Koerner, last year’s winner, as champions of the Cheboygan Golf & Country Club's most prestigious event. Ferris players began competing in the tournament a few years ago because of the connection with former Cheboygan golf star Zach Gildner, a member of the FSU squad in recent years.
“I love just being around all the guys,” Beaufait said when asked what he enjoys the most about the Open. “We bring all our teammates up; we stay at the Gildners. They’re incredible hosts, great family, great people, and we’re super grateful to come up and spend time with the fellas.”
Beaufait, who finished with a 136 total over two rounds, held a one-shot lead after a four-under 66 on Saturday, while Michigan State University men’s golf coach Casey Lubahn stayed within striking distance with a 67 on Saturday. Cheboygan 18-year-old PJ Maybank III, a University of Oklahoma signee, posted a two-under 68 on Saturday. After shooting a 70 on Saturday, Bond made a Sunday charge by carding a 66 and earning himself a spot in the playoff.
Maybank would’ve joined Beaufait and Bond in the playoff, but a bogey on 18 dropped him to three-under, one stroke short. He shot a 69 and finished third.
The talented group of players, along with an impressive crowd who stayed until close to dark to watch the playoff, made it another exciting year for a tournament that keeps building in popularity.
“It’s very fun and we’re very fortunate to have these kids come up and play it,” said Cheboygan Golf & Country Club President Earl Parsons. “It’s really taken our tournament to another step. We’ve got great competition. You got a guy like PJ (Maybank). I mean, not many people are better than him, so hats off to him. We wish him luck (at Oklahoma). These kids at Ferris, we wish them well, and we wish Casey (Lubahn) and his team at Michigan State good luck.
“It’s a great event. What it brings into this town money-wise is phenomenal.”
Northern Michigan Open Flight Winners
CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT – Shayne Beaufait (66-70, 136 – Won on second playoff hole)
FIRST FLIGHT – Scott Kocienski (75-72; 147)
SECOND FLIGHT – Fred Stacks (78-71; 149)
THIRD FLIGHT – Bob Sweeney (84-77; 161)
FOURTH FLIGHT – Stephen Knoll (87-79; 166)
FIFTH FLIGHT – Sidney Shaw (90-83; 173)
SIXTH FLIGHT – Willie Josephine (96-89; 185)
SEVENTH FLIGHT – Aaron Vranish (104-96; 200)
SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT – Bob Taylor (77-75; 152)
SENIOR FIRST FLIGHT – Bob Farnham (87-80; 167)
This article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: Beaufait edges Ferris teammate Bond in playoff, claims Northern Michigan Open title
