Conor Spencer won the Spring Thaw Golf Tournament Sunday at Cascades Golf Course. Photo by Jeff Steers, JTV Sports.
By Jeff Steers
JTV Sports
(April 30, 2023 8:22 PM ET) Sometimes in golf it is better to be lucky than good.
Jackson area golfer Conor Spencer was both on Sunday.
The Wayne State University golfer shot a 3-under-par 69 to win the Spring Thaw Golf Tournament at Cascades Golf Course by four shots. He finished the two-day tournament at 140.
Brian Cook finished at even par 144 for second place, Steve Maddalena shot 147 to claim third place, Andrew Tindall and Jacob Malcangi tied for fourth place shooting 148s, and Bret Valkuchak and Mike Brockie tied for sixth place at 149.
Spencer dominated the par 5s shooting 8-under-par on the four longest holes during the tournament.
Sunday he got a bit lucky on No. 6, earning an eagle with a punch shot from trouble. Spencer pushed his second shot on the par five hole and had to hit a 5-iron punch shot to get the ball to the green.
When it went into the hole for an eagle, it was game on.
The Lumen Christi Catholic School graduate shot 32 – 5 under par – on the front nine at Cascades.
“I have been close to winning before,” Spencer said. “With all of that experience, I hit some good shots when I needed to.
“Every time I bogeyed a hole, I just shook it off.”
Spencer finally broke into the lineup on Wayne State University’s golf team this spring.
“I played some good golf during the spring,” Spencer said.
Trevor Raymond won the first flight with the second best round of the day – a 1-under-par 71 – for a 151 total, and Luke Girodat and Noah Abbey tied for second place.
Ed McClafferty won the second flight with 167 and Sam Girodat and Nick Bobich tied for second with 168s.
Rich Horodecki recorded a hole-in-one on No. 4 earning a $54 skin for his effort.
Here are the results of all players at the two-day event.
Championship Flight
Conor Spencer 140
Brian Coon 144
Steve Maddalena 147
Andrew Tindall 148
Jacob Malcangi 148
Bret Valkuchak 149
Mike Brockie 149
Cannon Risner 150
Paul Varner 151
Nick Reynolds 152
Chris Chaney 152
Jack Brockie 153
Mike Kulka 153
Justin Bunch 153
Mark Laserra 154
Rob Longbrake 154
Brad McEldowney 154
Mike Raymond 155
Larry Sexton 155
Greg Zeller 155
Brogan Brockie 156
Malon Backinger 158
Mike Boldt 159
Trevor Kuzee 159
Colin O’Connell 159
Rich Horodecki 160
Zach Defrain 161
Nick Herman 162
Pete Walz 163
Logan Baum 164
Jameson Vinson 165
Zachary Fagan 167
First Flight
Trevor Raymond 151
Luke Girodat 152
Noah Abbey 152
Colin Norton 155
Rusty Whisman 157
Jim Coutu 158
Nick Boertman 158
Nick Dobbin 158
John Tarpley 159
Shane Clark 160
J.T. Pickering 160
Andy Horodecki 160
Chris Willbee 160
Bob Varner 160
Bryan Marvin 161
Tim Pickering 162
Matthew Farhat 162
Travis Leutz 163
Steve Broghamer 163
Thomas Morris 164
Andrea Clark 165
Cody Rowe 166
Tom Raymond 166
Aaron Davis 166
John Gaston 166
Mike Zuchowski 167
Colton Brennan 172
Ryder Pickering 173
Roger Kuhl 175
Zachary Crandall 177
Second Flight
Ed McClafferty 167
Sam Girodat 168
Nick Bobich 168
Alex Harris 170
David McDevitt 171
Ryan Wiedmeyer 171
Jacob England 176
Jerry Fitzpatrick 177
Mike Gilbert 181
Chad Bradley 181
Matthew Brown 181
Seth Dailey 182
Travis Ziebell 183
Rick Fernandez 184
Peter Redovich 184
James Moore 186
Cody Long 186
Adam Stevens 187
Mike Beck 190
Jesse Magda 191
Daniel Zimolzak 219