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Dry course expected to affect Ann Arbor men's amateur golf championship

Thanks to the unseasonably high temperatures this summer, golfers will have to rethink what they think they know about Leslie Park Golf Course, home of the 2012 City of Ann Arbor men’s amateur golf championship.

Because the heat has dried out the course, it's playing longer and providing golfers with longer rolls on their shots. Making the proper adjustments will be a major factor in separating the winner from the rest of the pack.

The 138 registered golfers will face course conditions that resemble another tournament happening this weekend.

“They’re going to see a British Open style lie,” said Doug Kelly, director of golf for the city of Ann Arbor. “The funny thing is, it’s going to make it more difficult because they’re going to have some shorter shots going into the holes.”

Sarah Hoffman claims 4th straight Ann Arbor city golf championship in record fashion

Saline resident Sarah Hoffman putts at the 18th hole Sunday afternoon during the City of Ann Arbor Women's Amateur Championship at the Leslie Park Golf Course. Hoffman won the event with a two-round total score of 145.

Jeffrey Smith | AnnArbor.com

Apparently a month-long break from golf was just what Saline’s Sarah Hoffman needed to capture her fourth consecutive City of Ann Arbor Women's Amateur Championship.

And shoot a tournament-record, two-round score of 145 in the process.

A senior All-American at Grand Valley State, Hoffman entered Sunday's final round at Leslie Park Golf Course with an eight shot lead after shooting a 2-under-par 70 on Saturday.

“I never really felt the pressure (Sunday), she said. "(Saturday), was the first 18 holes I’ve played since (NCAA Division II) nationals about a month ago. I didn’t really have any expectations, I just went out there and tried to have some fun.”

On the front nine of Sunday’s round, however, Hoffman had two double bogeys and was 5-over par after 10 holes.

Small field challenging three-time defending champion at Ann Arbor women's amateur golf championship

Bigger isn’t always better. At least that’s what officials with the City of Ann Arbor women’s amateur championship hope to prove this weekend.

The annual tournament begins Saturday morning at Leslie Park Golf Course in Ann Arbor.

“The field will be pretty competitive. It’s a very good, young field. It will be close I know that,” said Doug Kelly, the Director of Golf for the City of Ann Arbor.

Unlike years past, when upwards of 40 golfers entered the tournament, this year’s field includes just 21 players competing in two flights. Kelly attributed the decline to two other women’s tournaments taking place in Michigan this weekend.