Brockie Wins Spring Thaw in Playoff

Brogan Brockie won the 2022 Spring Thaw at Cascades Golf Course on Sunday.  Photos by Jeff Steers, JTV Sports.

By Jeff Steers
JTV Sports

(May 1, 2022 8:17 AM) Father’s Day may be more than a month away, but it came early for Jackson area golfer Mike Brockie.

But the veteran golfer was the victim of a long-hitting player with the same last name at Cascades Golf Course on Sunday.

Brogan Brockie won a three-player playoff to win the 2022 Spring Thaw for his first major title in the adult division in Jackson County golf. 

Brogan Brockie, Mike Brockie and Brett Casto tied for the title scoring 146 – 2-over-par for 36 holes.

All three players had chances at birdie putts on the first playoff hole, but missed. Brogan Brockie hit a 320-yard drive on the second hole – a 530 -yard par 5. His iron landed just short and left of the green and he chipped within two feet for birdie. When his father, Mike, missed a par putt and Casto missed a birdie putt, Brogan Brockie had his opportunity for the win.

“At that point it looked about 25 feet,” Brogan Brockie said of the winning putt. “I wanted to use my length in the playoff.”

Brogan Brockie said he hit a “shorter iron” on the 210-yard shot on the second playoff hole to stay short of the traps. He just completed his first year at Trine University.

“It (his first year at Trine) was a lot of fun … I met a lot of golfers, had some good scores and bad scores, but glad I went to Trine,” Brogan Brockie said. 

Mike Brockie was happy to take a photo with the Spring Thaw champ and the winning trophy. 

Casto and Mike Brockie tied for second in the tournament. 

Cousin Jack Brockie and Andrew Tindall tied for fourth at 147, and Steve Maddalena and Bret Valkuchak tied for sixth place at 148. 

Chad Valkuchak won the first flight shooting 71 on Sunday for a total of 151, Matt Farhat was second at 157, and Trevor Raymond and Colin Norton tied for third at 159. 

Shane Clark and Andrea Clark finished one-two in the second flight both shooting 76s on Sunday, Ed McClafferty was third, and Xavier Hovinen was fourth. 

A complete scoreboard is below.

Championship flight

*Brogan Brockie 146

Brett Casto 146

Mike Brockie 146

Jack Brockie 147

Andrew Tindall 147

Steve Maddalena 148

Bret Valkuchak 148

Jacob Petersen 149

Zach Koerner 149

Zach DeFrain 150

Kyle Bowler 150

Mike Raymond 151

Colin O’Connell 151

Drew Gandy 151

Dave Crandall 152

George Roberts 152

Greg Zeller 152

Robert Longbrake 152

Pete Walz 153

Brian Carney 154

Cody Lysher 154

Justin Bunch 154

Paul Varner156

Scott Denig 156

Bentley Coon 157

Noah Abbey 157

Rich Horedecki 157

Trevor Kuzee 157

Mike Boldt 158

Brad McEldowney 159

Cannon Risner 159

Chris Chaney 160

Nick Henman 160

Ben Maino 163

First flight

Chad Valkuchak 151

Matt Farhat 157

Trevor Raymond 159

Colin Norton 159

Mike Kulka 159

Larry Sexton 160

Ron O’Rourke 160

Isaac Anuszkiewicz 161

Louis Redovich 161

Ray Hill 161

Stephen Broghammer 162

Bryan Marvin 162

Dan Taylor 162

Ryan Wiedmeyer 162

Tim Pickering 165

Jordan Riske 165

Michael Rossi 165

Brian Tucker 166

Jim Coutu 168

Mark Adler 168

Malon Backinger 170

Michael Gilbert 172

Kurt Scott 172

Second flight

*Shane Clark 162

Andrew Clark 162

Ed McClafferty 164

Xavier Hovinen 169

Logan Baum 171

Roger Kuhl 172

Nick Bobich 173

Mike Zuchowski 173

Chad Bradley 176

Josh Kirchmeier 176

Tom Raymond 176

Zach Crandall 176

Aaron Davis 177

Rodney Hovinen 178

Jeff Brafford 178

Chris Vanderveen 179

Johnny Gaston 179

Matt Mentink 179

Bruce Crandall 182

Jack Brafford 183

Chris Scouten 183

Jason Keeton 183

Doug DeBruler 184

Chris Mullin 187

David Showerman 188

Michael Klintworth 189

Victor Cho 191

William Fex 195

Stuart Kelley 195

Curtis Siegrist 196

Daniel Zimolzak 232

*Won in playoff