Jimmy Chestnut wins playoff at Horton Smith Invitational
Horton Smith winner Jimmy Chestnut
(Detroit Golf Club Photo)
DETROIT, MI (May 13, 2017) - Former Michigan State golfer Jimmy Chestnut needed to go to overtime but in the end he was able to claim the 2017 playing of the Horton Smith Invitational hosted by Detroit Golf Club.
Chestnut carried a one shot lead into the final round but after a closing 70 that put him at 277 following 72-holes he found himself in a three-way tie for the lead. So to a playoff the proceedings went and it wasn't until the fourth hole did Chestnut finally capture the title.
Brad Bastion (75 67-73-62--277) ended up in second place after tearing apart the course during regulation with a final round 62 to reach the playoff while the third member of the playoff, Connor Jones (76-65-68-68--277) finished third.
In fourth place it was Joe Montpas (72-67-75-66--280) and in fifth it was Alexander Dombrowski (72-67-73-69--281); James Piot (75-68-72-66--281).
36-HOLE RECAP
Jimmy Chestnut will carry a one-stroke lead into the final round of the Horton Smith Invitational hosted by Detroit Golf Club.
Thus far Chestnut, the 1999 Michigan Mr. Golf winner, has combined rounds of 70-66-71 and he will carry a 207 tally into Saturday's final round.
Connor Jones (76-65-68--209) will begin the final round one shot behind in second place, Alexander Dombrowski (72-67-73--212) is in third place, Joe Montpas (72-67-75--214) sits in fourth while Brad Bastion (75-67-73--215), James Piot (75-68-72--215) and Tom Werkmeister (74-67-74--215) are sharing fifth.
ABOUT THE
Michigan Medal Play
Formerly known as the Horton Smith Invitational, this 72-hole stroke play event, founded in 1964 by Bill Michaels, began as an 18-hole invitational to honor the long-time Detroit Golf Club Head Professional who had a rich playing career (he was the first Masters champion and the last person to defeat Bobby Jones in competition before Jones' retirement in 1930). However, in 2020, Smith's name was removed from the state's most prestigious event due to his staunch support of whites-only membership while serving as PGA president in the 1950s. This coincided with the PGA of America's removal of his name from their annual award given to a PGA member for outstanding contributions to professional education. In 2020, the PGA renamed it as the PGA Professional Development Award. The organization had a whites-only clause from 1934 through 1961.
The invitational is held each spring and has taken place at Detroit Golf Club every year since 1964, the year after Smith died.
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