Joe Durant Crowned Winner of Ally Challenge
After 3 days of tournament play plagued by intense heat and some strong storms, the Ally Challenge presented by McLaren has a new champion.
Joe Durant has won the tournament out at Warwick Hills in Grand Blanc, and finished the day with a final round of 4-under 68 to finish at 17-under 199. He won for the fourth time on the PGA Tour Champions after winning four times on the PGA Tour. Bernhard Langer, who actually shot a 64 on his 64th birthday on the first day of tournament play, finished second with a final round score of 70.
The tournament, in its fourth year, faced a weather delay for the first day of play due to storms that made their way through the area with a vengeance on Friday morning. Things finally got underway at 3pm on Friday and finished up early on Saturday.
Saturday saw the fans and players dealing with intense temperatures and a heat index of 100 degrees on the course. Although hot, spectators came out in droves to catch the regular play as well as the Celebrity Shootout featuring PGA legends Jack Nickalus & Lee Trevino join Michigan sports figures, Tom Izzzo of Michigan State, and head coach of the Detroit Red Wings, Jeff Blashill.
Celebrities Tee is Up for Charity
The iconic foursome switched pairings for 3 consecutive matches, playing for individual charities. Trevino & Blashill took Match 1 winning $10,000 for Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan. Trevino & Izzo won Match 2 generating $10,000 for My Brother's Keeper of Genesee County. Match 3 resulted in a tie between Nicklaus & Trevino vs Blashill & Izzo, ( not to shabby there coaches). The team were able to split the $10,000 purse and give to both Genesee County Habitat for Humanity and YWCA Genesee County.
Showing the impact of what Ally Financial and the PGA bringing the tournament back to Genesee County means to the area, $30,000 was also presented to the United Way of Genesee County. Ally also surprised the four celebrity participants with $25,000 to each player's charity of choice.
Community Concert Rocked the Practice Tees
A major highlight for the tournament outside of the fabulous golf was the Community Concert featuring Grammy winning artist Maren Morris and opening act, local band Frame 42. Morris graciously, and a thrill to fans, stepped in a the last minute to take the place of Little Big Town who needed to cancel due to COVID at the last minute.
Another amazing year for the Ally Challenge presented by McLaren is in the books, and we are already looking forward to 2022!