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BATTLE CREEK - One of the most decorated high school golfers in Battle Creek is coming back to his hometown to try and help the next generation possibly follow in his footsteps.
Matt Thompson, a former Lakeview High standout and University of Michigan star, has recently partnered up with Binder Park Golf Course to run the PGA Jr. League. The 'learn and play golf' skill development sessions will run from May-July and will be hosted by Thompson.
Thompson is taking over the program from Tony Evans, who is the current high school golf coach at Harper Creek and former coach at Lakeview.
MORE: Thompson plays on PGA Tour
"Tony Evans, my high school coach back in the day, has been doing a great job here and he asked me to take over," Thompson said. "Being from the area and being part of junior golf when I was young, I thought it was a great opportunity to come back to town and help some young golfers. Just trying to take over the reigns and build on what Tony has been dong."
In high school at Lakeview, Thompson was the winner of the Mr. Golf Award in 2008, the top award given in high school golf in Michigan. Thompson went on to play for the Wolverines from 2008-12, serving as University of Michigan team captain in his senior year. He was a three-time Big Ten Sportsmanship honoree and earned All-Big Ten honors in 2010 and 2012. He qualified for the NCAA Division I championships once as an individual and was part of two NCAA championship-qualifying U-M teams.
Thompson played on the eGolf Gateway Tour, a minor league tour for the PGA, and made his PGA Tour debut at the Wells Fargo Championships in 2015. Thompson was named as the head golf pro at Marshall Country Club in 2017 and since has been the head coach at Hillsdale College, before recently stepping down from that role.
The PGA Jr. League is intended for all skill levels and is broken up in two age divisions, including ages 5-13 and ages 14-17. Cost is $320 per player for the summer, which includes practices, matches, jerseys, T-shirt, bag tag and hat. For more information or to register, go to www.pgajrleague.com/register.
Thompson knows how an early introduction to golf can lead to a potentially promising future in the game.
"When I grew up there was group of us that played, it seemed like every Monday, in a junior program. It was a great way to get introduced to the game. Hopefully, I can help some young golfers here to go on that same path, play in high school, maybe play in college," Thompson said. "Back then, I didn't know where all of this would take me, playing golf with my friends. But we played a lot of golf and and it ended up leading to something for me. So, if there are some young golfers looking to take that next step, learn to compete, I want to be here to help them."
Contact Bill Broderick at [email protected]. Follow him on X/Twitter @billbroderick
This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Matt Thompson to run PGA Jr. League golf program at Binder Park
Continue reading...
Matt Thompson, a former Lakeview High standout and University of Michigan star, has recently partnered up with Binder Park Golf Course to run the PGA Jr. League. The 'learn and play golf' skill development sessions will run from May-July and will be hosted by Thompson.
Thompson is taking over the program from Tony Evans, who is the current high school golf coach at Harper Creek and former coach at Lakeview.
MORE: Thompson plays on PGA Tour
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"Tony Evans, my high school coach back in the day, has been doing a great job here and he asked me to take over," Thompson said. "Being from the area and being part of junior golf when I was young, I thought it was a great opportunity to come back to town and help some young golfers. Just trying to take over the reigns and build on what Tony has been dong."
In high school at Lakeview, Thompson was the winner of the Mr. Golf Award in 2008, the top award given in high school golf in Michigan. Thompson went on to play for the Wolverines from 2008-12, serving as University of Michigan team captain in his senior year. He was a three-time Big Ten Sportsmanship honoree and earned All-Big Ten honors in 2010 and 2012. He qualified for the NCAA Division I championships once as an individual and was part of two NCAA championship-qualifying U-M teams.
Thompson played on the eGolf Gateway Tour, a minor league tour for the PGA, and made his PGA Tour debut at the Wells Fargo Championships in 2015. Thompson was named as the head golf pro at Marshall Country Club in 2017 and since has been the head coach at Hillsdale College, before recently stepping down from that role.
The PGA Jr. League is intended for all skill levels and is broken up in two age divisions, including ages 5-13 and ages 14-17. Cost is $320 per player for the summer, which includes practices, matches, jerseys, T-shirt, bag tag and hat. For more information or to register, go to www.pgajrleague.com/register.
Thompson knows how an early introduction to golf can lead to a potentially promising future in the game.
"When I grew up there was group of us that played, it seemed like every Monday, in a junior program. It was a great way to get introduced to the game. Hopefully, I can help some young golfers here to go on that same path, play in high school, maybe play in college," Thompson said. "Back then, I didn't know where all of this would take me, playing golf with my friends. But we played a lot of golf and and it ended up leading to something for me. So, if there are some young golfers looking to take that next step, learn to compete, I want to be here to help them."
Contact Bill Broderick at [email protected]. Follow him on X/Twitter @billbroderick
This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Matt Thompson to run PGA Jr. League golf program at Binder Park
Continue reading...
