MICHIGAN JUNIOR STATE AMATEUR: Nicklaus Smith, Max VanderMolen, JP Levan, William Pennanen Make Final Four
EAST LANSING – Max VanderMolen of Richland is in the final four of the Michigan Junior Amateur Championship presented by Imperial Headwear for the first time since he was the youngest ever to claim the championship in 2022 at age 14.
He is 17 now, and joined by Nicklaus Smith of Rochester, JP Levan of Grand Rapids and William Pennanen of Oxford.
Each of the foursome won round of 16 matches and quarterfinal matches while dealing with two lightning delays Tuesday at Michigan State’s Forest Akers West Course.
VanderMolen, also the 15-and-under champion in 2021 at age 13, will take on Smith, and Levan will meet Pennanen in semifinal matches on Wednesday morning. The winners will advance to the championship match in the afternoon.
“It means a lot to get back in the final four,” VanderMolen said. “I struggled the last couple of years to get back. I got knocked out in the (quarterfinals) the last couple of years, so I’m really excited to get back again.”
VanderMolen beat Jack Klimek of Ada 3 and 1 in the quarterfinal round to earn his final four slot. He said his game has been trending in the right direction recently.
“I’ve been working really hard,” he said. “I had a little rough patch the last couple of months but just ended up getting it done today. It was tough with the delays, but I was able to grind it out.”
Smith, VanderMolen’s semifinal opponent, topped Julian Sinishtaj of Macomb 1-up in his quarterfinal match.
It was Sinishtaj, last year’s 15-and-under champion, who knocked out the defending champion and stroke play medalist Connor Fox of Lake Orion 2 and 1 in the morning’s round of 16.
Smith had a 4-up lead on Sinishtaj through 14 holes and then lost 15, 16 and 17. He punched from the trees on hole 18 to make a bogey 6 and tied Sinishtaj on the hole to secure the win.
He said he concentrated on his breathing when he was in trouble on the final hole.
“I just thought I’ve put a lot of work in and practice to hit these shots under pressure,” he said. “And you know, I hit a good shot under that tree, stayed away from the bunkers and it gave me a free shot to the green.”
This is Smith’s first year playing in the overall division and his first final four.
“Just to make this far after not playing too well in stroke play, but grinding it out in match play is huge,” he said. “Hopefully I can make a run at winning this thing tomorrow.”
Grind was the word of the day. Levan said he had to grind though the rain delays, and he had to go 21 holes in his morning match to knock off his good friend, Tommy Preston of Grand Rapids before then taking on Troy Nguyen of Macomb, who was the 15-and-under winner two years ago. Levan held him off 3 and 2.
“I played pretty well on the back nine and ultimately got it done at the end,” he said. “Tommy was a very tough match, and it was fun to go 21 holes, but then I had to keep food in me, stay hydrated, and just never give up. I kept grinding. I mean, it’s a long day for everyone.”
Levan said he has hit a lot of good shots and putts to make this far in the tournament.
“It’s a tough road, two matches each day,” he said. “The matches fell my way, and I was able to win them, but I have to keep grinding.”
Pennanen topped Sutton Schroeder of Gowen 3 and 2 in his quarterfinal match to earn his semifinal berth against Levan.
Pennanen, who plans to play college golf at Northwood University, is playing in his third Junior Amateur and had not made in through to the second round of matches prior to this year.
“It’s really cool to make the final four,” he said.
He said it helped that he has played in several tournaments at Forest Akers West in the past.
“I feel comfortable here and it’s a great course,” he said. “I’m excited to keep playing.”
A 15-and-under division final four was also determined on Tuesday. Timothy Wagemann of Haslett will play Rodrigo Dugarte of Troy in one semifinal, and Blake Springstead of Kewadin will meet Wyatt Reid of South Lyon in the other semifinal. Winners will play in the championship match in the afternoon.
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