Through 15 of the final 18 holes at the Boyne Tournament of Champions Wednesday, Henry Do, a sophomore at Ann Arbor Greenhills School, built on the lead he carved out with a record-tying 10-under par round Tuesday.
The final three holes proved to be a tough lesson in tournament golf for the 15-year-old who just a day before was on top of the Michigan golfing world.
Do three-putted each of the final three holes and playing partner and Canadian Tour player Andy Matthews took advantage. On the par-5 18th, Do and Matthews both laid up and hit wedges for their third shots, landing well below the hole. Do putted first, narrowly missing while showing Matthews the line. Matthews made his 35-footer for birdie to get to 9-under. Do missed his par putt and a chance for a playoff.
The three-shot swing gave Matthews a final-round 70 and a two-stroke win over Do, 207-209. LPGA Tour player Allison Fouch shot 74 Wednesday and finished third, a shot behind Do.
“I was kind of nervous, “ Do said. “I told myself to be confident and just make pars until a birdie situation became available.”
Matthews played the final three holes at 2-under par, birdieing 16 and 18. Do, meanwhile, bogeyed 16 and 17 before his double-bogey on 18. It was an unlikely stretch of holes for Do, who to that point had only carded back-to-back bogeys once and had just six bogeys total against 16 holes of par or better.
“I was stunned when Henry missed,” Matthews said. “I got a great look from his putt. I feel for Henry. We’ve all been there and he will grow from the experience.”
Do, the top amateur by five strokes, played a masterful second round Tuesday. Starting on hole No. 10, he bogeyed his second hole before playing the final 16 to 11-under par including a stretch of four holes where he had three birdies and an eagle.
As a freshmen for the Gryphons, Do tied for third in the Division 4 state finals and was named Washtenaw County Boys Golf Player of the Year.
The Tournament of Champions pits men, women, juniors and seniors together. The men play from the back tees at 6,938 yards, the senior men and high schoolers play from 6,562 yards and the women play from 5,898 yards. This year’s field of 111 golfers featured some of the top players in the state, including many who qualified for by winning a Michigan PGA or GAM tournament earlier in the year.
Phil Lozen covers sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at phillozen@annarbor.com.
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