FSU Golfer Leads After First Round at Spring Thaw

Cannon Risner, among five players tied for second after one round of the Spring Thaw.  Photos by Jeff Steers, JTV Sports.

By Jeff Steers
JTV Sports

(April 30, 2022 9:06 PM)  Par was the big winner Saturday in the first round of the Spring Thaw Golf Tournament at Cascades Golf Course.

Only one player – Zach Koerner – matched par of 72 on a cold and blustery day in Jackson.

Koerner’s par round at Cascades gives him a one-stroke lead heading into the second round on Sunday.

He is from Laingsburg and a freshman at Ferris State University. The golfer is a friend of fellow FSU golfer Cannon Risner of Leslie. 

Brett Casto, Pete Walz, Brogan Brockie, Risner, and Mike Brockie are one stroke behind following 73s.

Brockie is a five-time winner of the event. If he wins on Sunday, Brockie will tie Shane Clark for the most wins in the tournament.

Zach DeFrain and Bret Valkuchak are two strokes behind, and eight golfers are three strokes behind Koerner heading into round two.

Four-time winner Steve Maddalena is in the group of players shooting 75 on Saturday. The other seven are Kyle Bowler, defending champion Andrew Tindall, Nick Henman, Jacob Petersen, Drew Gandy, Jack Brockie, and George Roberts.

Greg Zeller shot a 76 and is four shots out of the lead.

Drive, Chip, and Putt 10-11-year-old national champion Bentley Coon made the cut for the championship flight with a 79. 

There are three flights in the tournament with the first flight lead being held by eight golfers with 80s.

Husband and wife Shane and Andrea Clark share the lead with Mike Zuchowski, Ed McFlafferty, and Nathan Siegrist with 86s heading into the second round in the second flight. 

Championship matches kick off Sunday at 8:28 a.m. with Coon and Chris Chaney teeing off. 

Nearly 100 golfers competed in the first major tournament of the year in Jackson County. 

Championship Flight

Zach Koerner 72

Brett Casto 73

Mike Brockie 73

Pete Walz 73

Brogan Brockie 73

Cannon Risner 73

Zach DeFrain 74

Bret Valkuchak 74

Kyle Bowler 75

Steve Maddalena 75

Andrew Tindall 75

Nick Henman 75

Jacob Petersen 75

Drew Gandy 75

Jack Brockie 75

George Roberts 75

Greg Zeller 76

Rob Longbrake 77

Justin Bunch 77

Cody Lysher 77

Collin O’Connell 77

Trevor Kuzee 77

Ben Maino 77

Mike Boldt 78

Brian Carney 78

Scott Denig 78

Dave Crandall 78

Noah Abbey 78

Rich Hordecki 78

Mike Raymond 79

Paul Varner 79

Brad McEldowney 79

Bentley Coon 79

Chris Chaney 80

First Flight

Ray Hill 80

Mike Kulka 80

Matt Farhat 80

Dan Taylor 80

Bryan Marvin 80

Ron O’Rourke 80

Chad Valkuchak 80

Michael Rossi 80

Kurt Scott 81

Trevor Raymond 81

Colin Norton 81

Rusty Whisman 81

Larry Sexton 82

Malon Backinger 82

Jordan Riske 82

Mark Adler 82

Kris Bradshaw 83

Louis Redovich 83

Isaac Anuszkiewicz 83

Michael Gilbert 83

Cody Hermann 83

Jim Coutu 84

Ryan Wiedmeyer 84

Tim Pickering 85

Brian Tucker 85

Nathan LaZebnik 85

Stephen Broghamer 85

Second Flight

Andrea Clark 86

Shane Clark 86

Mike Zuchowski 86

Ed McClafferty 86

Nathan Siegrist 86

Nick Bobich 87

Josh Kirchmeier 87

Tom Raymond 88

Zach Crandall 89

Roger Kuhl 89

Matt Mentink 89

Logan Baum 89

Johnny Gaston 90

Bruce Crandall 90

Xavier Hovinen 90

Rodney Hovinen 91

Chad Bradley 91

Jeff Brafford 92

Jason Keeton 93

Chris Vanderveen 93

Adam Chippeawa 93

Doug DuBruler 94

Victor Cho 94

David Showerman 95

Chris Scouten 96

Chris Cullin 96

Curtis Siegrist 96

Jake Brafford 97

Aaron Davis 97

Stuart Kelley 99

Michael Klintworth 102

William Fex 103

Daniel Zimolzak 114