Nagy uses playoff to earn national spot
By Dennis Grall - dgrall@dailypress.netArticle Photos
MANISTIQUE - Mike Nagy took matters into his own hands to land a spot in a national golf tournament next month.
The 14-year-old Manistique golfer won a playoff in Big Rapids last week to earn a berth in the Trusted Choice Big "I" Junior Golf Classic in Pinehurst, N.C. Aug. 3-7.
Nagy, who turns 15 July 25, had a two-putt par on the first playoff hole at Katke Golf Course at the Michigan qualifier. He shot 77-73 and was one of three players who landed a playoff spot for the final two slots to Pinehurst.
"I told myself, 'just do whatever you can to make par and get through this playoff,'" Nagy said Tuesday in a telephone interview.
Admitting he was nervous entering his first playoff, Nagy said "I just tried to stay in the moment and keep going."
He hit third off the tee in the playoff, after his opponents found trouble on their drives. "I hit a perfect drive to the left-center of the fairway and hit a 9-iron 20 feet past the pin," he said, then stopped his lag put about 18 inches from the hole.
Nagy will fly out of Detroit and get a practice round Aug. 3. A field of 167 players, many of them age 17-18, will play two rounds before it is trimmed for the final two days.
All of his expenses, except for the $150 entry fee, are paid by the tournament. He will stay at a host home in Pinehurst.
Nagy was the youngest player at the state tourney. "Most of the kids were like (high school) seniors," he said, adding he was not intimidated. "Most of the guys I play with are older than me."
Indian Lake Golf Club manager Scott Bellville said Nagy "plays golf whenever he can and plays with anybody, kids his own age up to senior members."
Nagy has a best round of 68, from the blue tees, at challenging Indian Lake, where he was runner-up to Rob Ryan in the club tourney last year. He said playing his home course "is a really big plus" when he plays elsewhere.
"Driving the ball on that course is the biggest premium. You have to keep it in play, otherwise you have no chance," he said, noting he drove the ball well at the state meet but had difficulty putting (six 3-putt greens in his 77).
"He has improved by leaps and bounds since last year," said Bellville, noting he wore out two plastic swing mats in his garage over the winter.
"He has a great all-around game. He is not a big guy but he can hit it with just about anybody here," said Bellville. "He has added about 30 yards off the tee this year. He will be out here two-three hours at a time practicing his short game."
Nagy plans to work on his putting before leaving for Pinehurst, one of the country's premier golf destinations.
He has taken lessons from Casey VanDamme, who once worked for noted instructor Jim McLean. "He worked on my impact position and staying a lot more still on the ball and keeping my head still," Nagy said. "He got everything more quieted down. He said to make everything as simple as possible."
Two-time U.P. men's champion Steve Larson of Manistique, who is working for VanDamme this summer at a Grand Traverse Resort course, has also been helpful. "He is a good influence," said Nagy, noting U.P. golfers are usually overlooked downstate.
"Steve did it, why can't I do it," Nagy said of the former Grand Valley State standout.
Nagy, who uses Mizuno MP 60 irons and Titleist driver and fairway woods, said the top 10 in the tournament receive an invitation to the 2009 event and exemptions into American Junior Golf Association events.
"I just want to learn as much as I can," he said. "I just want to see what the other players have and see what it takes. I'd like to make the cut."
Carley Saint Onge of Marquette finished fifth at the state meet. The top two girls advanced to the nationals.
Nagy is the second Upper Peninsula golfer in the past two years to reach a national tournament. Dave Ellis of Negaunee played in the U.S. Amateur Junior Golf Championship in Augusta, Mo. in 2007.
