ALLYSON GEER ENJOYS HER TIME AT TULLYMORE CLASSIC
It’s back to amateur golf for Allyson Geer of Brighton, but she learned some things playing in the Epson Tour’s Tullymore Classic at Tullymore Golf Resort via a sponsor’s exemption this weekend.

“Even though I’m shorter, smaller person, I hit my drives and my irons as far as most of them, and that shows me I can hit the ball with anyone,” she said after shooting a closing 75 for a tie for 50th. “I can compete with these girls.”

She tried to reach the par 5 No. 18 green in two shots at the end figuring she had nothing to lose, but her hybrid shot hit a protecting tree and the ball found water. She made a double-bogey 7, but smiled and waved to the large crowd around the green.

“It’s been an all-around amazing experience,” said the former American Junior Golf Association All-American and reigning Michigan Women’s Amateur Champion who is 17. “No regrets. It was awesome to be out here. They definitely showed me some things I need to work on, and what I need to compete.”

LOCAL PLAYERS SCORES AND FINAL RESULTS

Allyson Geer – 217 (+1)/T50
Gabrielle Shipley – 148 (+4)/MC
Laura Kueny – WD prior to opening round
Samantha Troyanovich – 220 (+4)/61
Caroline Powers – 214 (-2)/T31
Christine Meier – 153 (+9)/MC
Alyssa Ferrell – 140 (-4)/12:00 p.m.

EPSON TOUR PLAYERS GIVE TULLYMORE CLASSIC RAVE REVIEWS
Moments after Epson Tour golfer Samantha Troyanovich of Grosse Pointe Shores finished the final round of the Tullymore Classic at Tullymore Golf Resort Sunday, a rules official rolled by on a cart and commented on her selection of American Flag shorts she wore in honor of the Fourth of July holiday.

“Samantha, instead of Uncle Sam, we’re going to call you Auntie Sam,” official Jane Reynolds said and rolled off.

Troyanovich smiled and said she thought it was a good idea to dress the part.

“I can’t always play well, but I can dress the right way,” she said and laughed on her way to the scoring tent.

Her score, a closing 77 for 220 and 61st place, was not what she wanted, but friends and family were waiting because the tour she plays on was in her home state. The second-year Epson Tour player was happy to be home, which for the weekend was Tullymore, a place she described as fantastic.

“It’s so nice to be out here, the crowds are great, wonderful, and it’s just great to play in Michigan and have my family here,” she said. “Everybody (on tour) loves coming here. The host families are great. The volunteers are great. Everyone is super happy, especially in the summer. It’s perfect for golf that it stays light until 9:30 (p.m.). We had fireworks. The course is in great shape. It’s really hard to beat.”

Another tour player with Michigan ties, Caroline Powers, the former Michigan State standout, looked around the 18th hole and was wowed by the crowd on hand.

“The (crowd around) 18 is pretty awesome,” she said. “We don’t get this anywhere else we play. It makes it cool to be here.”

Powers just last week accepted the assistant women’s golf coaching position at Michigan State under her former coach Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll. She said she still plans to play some professional golf.

“This will take a back seat, like a side gig, but coach (Slobodnik-Stoll) still competes, so I will try to do that, too.”

Powers shot a closing 70 for a tie for 31st, said the weekend was perfect at Tullymore.

“Everybody her is so friendly, the course is perfect, the weather is perfect, it’s perfect,” she said.

Powers said Tullymore in its second year of the Classic managed to be a tremendous host.

“It’s great being back here,” she said. “Last year, you never know what you are going to get with a first-year event, and it was awesome. This year is just as great, all the way around.”

Allyson Geer, a 17-year-old amateur, the reigning Michigan Women’s Amateur champion and playing via a sponsor’s exemption, shot a closing 75 in part because she gambled on the par 5 18th hole. Her second shot with a hybrid hit a protecting tree and found the pond and she made a 7. She tied for 50th place.

Despite not being especially happy with her last round, she said she loves Tullymore.

“Tullymore is beautiful,” she said. “All the people here are so nice, and the Michigan State fans I don’t even know, came out to watch. The club, the people, the club pros, the volunteers, everybody has been so nice to me. I’m honored to have been given the exemption to play.”

Meanwhile, Auntie Sam said she will look forward to a third Tullymore Classic, unless of course, she earns her ticket to the LPGA Tour. She took a year off from golf after earning her business management degree, stayed at Tulane and earned her Master’s in accounting.

“So this is really my second year out here, but my first full year,” she said. “I found out I got into this tournament last year on the Thursday before. This year I knew it was coming, and my family could come. Fortunately, I have both of my degrees paid for, and my parents have said live your dream. I don’t think I’ve scratched my potential as a golfer, so I’m going to keep working at it.”

Champion Paola Moreno of Cali, Colombia, who shot 66 for a 12-under 204 and two-shot win over Megan McChrystal of Stuart, Fla., and Erynne of Silverdale, Wash., praised Tullymore for its tournament organization, the course condition and said her host family for the week, Bill and Carolyn Bengel, played a role in her win.

“They treated me so well, and I had a great week at Tullymore,” she said.

Tullymore Classic Final Round News & Notes

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