The Michigan state basketball coach, Tom Izzo, was pleased that he “didn’t maim anyone” while playing golf at the Area 313 Challenge at Detroit Golf Club on Tuesday.
Detroit Free Press
Donnie Trosper has been waiting for this moment all his life.
Born in Canton, he felt like a kid in a candy store when he entered the Detroit Golf Club on Tuesday for his 18-hole practice. At first he felt like everyone was staring at him, but after lunch he spoke to Tony Finau at number 17 and other recognizable faces.
“When I go out, I can say that I probably had too much candy,” he said jokingly.
The 23-year-old Trosper is preparing for his first PGA tour event – the Rocket Mortgage Classic, which starts on Thursday. The Michigan product hopes to boost his career, and he believes there is no better place to do it than his home state.
“If I have a really good strategy,” he said, “I can take this opportunity.”
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Trosper was a Monday qualifier for this week’s tour event. There were two tournament exceptions to choose from on the Oakland University Katke Cousins course. Former UNLV golfer Kurt Kitayama shot 7 under 64 to secure one of the commandments. And Trosper shot with four other golfers – Andrea Pavan (Lucas, Texas), Andres Echavarria (Pembroke Pines, Florida) and Wes Homan (Beastville, Ohio) – 4:67 before carding Birdie-Par-Par out of a three – Hole sudden death playoff.
“I had a really good feeling a week ago,” he said. “For some reason, I thought there was a good chance. Sure enough that I got in. It was a great feeling.”
Trosper’s golf career is still in its infancy. He still has to take part in the Korn Ferry Tour, the small leagues of the Elite PGA Tour. But that doesn’t mean he’s not prepared.
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In 2014, when he was 17, he won the crown at Ping Invitational for his fourth win at the American Junior Golf Association this season, and with Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods he achieved the second-most AJGA wins in one season. Seung Su Han’s five victories in 2002 remain most of all time.
State of Michigan golf coach Casey Lubahn paid attention and recruited Trosper from Canton High School, but the aspiring star disappeared at UCF, where he was named AAC newcomer of the year in 2015/16.
Until Trosper, who had almost qualified for the 2017 US Open, decided to return home.
“Every time a sports student goes to a place where he feels a little more comfortable, he really has the opportunity to be successful immediately,” said Lubahn. “And, boy, he did.”
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Trosper had the lowest one-year average in MSU history (71.37). He was named All-Big Ten for the first team, PING All-Region, and set a school record for the lowest 54-hole score with a 9-under 201 (65-69-67) at the NCAA Pullman Regional.
His first round 65 in the region brought him the third lowest score in the history of the program and it was crucial for the Spartans to finish third in the Big Ten Championship (the best since 2008).
Lubahn didn’t have to train much. He described Trosper as “the best ball striker I’ve seen in my life,” but mentioned that he gave him a few tips on his short game.
When qualification came on Monday, Lubahn was stuck on his computer screen from his home office. He is currently not allowed to return to campus due to COVID 19 restrictions. He had three or four leaderboards on his screen, but was fixated on Trosper’s lap during the ninth hole.
“Every child comes to your office as a recruit or transfer and says that their dream is to play on the PGA tour, and I think it’s important to appreciate when boys get a chance to play,” said Lubahn. “It’s been their dream since they were little. I played a very small role in it, but it still feels good when a child makes his dream come true.”
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While Trosper is ready to realize his lifelong dream of playing on the PGA Tour, he won’t be satisfied with showing up. With five appearances at the Detroit Golf Club, he wants to boost his professional career.
“It’s not a big surprise to come to the tournament,” he said, “but winning it, even getting into the top 5, top 10, shooting or even the top 20 would be a dream come true. I would be impressed . ” “”
And Lubahn has no doubt about his chances.
“This is not a moment when he got hot,” he said. “Donnie has been so good since he was 16. He’s an elite player. This is exactly the break he needed when he needed her.”
Evan Petzold is a sports reporting intern at the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter @EvanPetzold.
