PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Ralph Michaud of Presque Isle has punched his ticket into the Maine Amateur Golf Championship, to be held July 10-12 at Belgrade Lakes Golf Club.
He earned a spot in the tourney by placing sixth in a qualifying tournament held at Waterville Country Club Monday, June 25. Those finishing in the top 23 at any of the three qualifiers held in June received a berth into the Maine Amateur.
On Monday, after “a mistake” led to a 41 on the front nine, Michaud said he was able to “bear down” and shot a 35 on the back, finishing with a 76. He was four strokes behind the medalist, Jon Hardy of Samoset Resort.
“I went in thinking I’d need to shoot in the 70s to have a chance,” Michaud said. “The course was in great shape and the greens were perfect.”
It is the sixth time in his career that he has qualified for the Maine Amateur.
Michaud is now looking forward to playing at Belgrade Lakes, which he calls a beautiful course. He plays there every spring and is ecstatic to get in his practice rounds and then have the opportunity to compete in the tournament against an excellent field of players.
Michaud, 57, is a member at Presque Isle Country Club and Aroostook Valley Country Club. He is a three-time Cary Classic Tournament champion and has won the Spudland Open twice, the Maine Potato Blossom Festival Tournament twice and the McCain’s Open once. He has racked up 26 club championships at PICC and AVCC.
Michaud is a physical education teacher at Mapleton Elementary School, set to begin his 35th year this fall, and serves as the girls’ varsity soccer coach and girls’ assistant varsity basketball coach at Presque Isle High School.
