JP Levan Holds On, Wins Michigan JR. Amateur

By Greg Johnson

JP Levan of Grand Rapids held off past champion Max VanderMolen of Richland 1-up to win the 47th Michigan Junior Amateur Championship at Michigan State University’s Forest Akers West Golf Course. The 16-year-old East Grand Rapids High School golfer led most of the day before VanderMolen tied the match at hole No. 14. Levan responded by winning 15, however, and held on.

“It was a tough path, but I feel pretty good that I accomplished what I did this week,” Levan said. “I mean, this is easily the biggest win I’ve had. It definitely means a lot to beat a lot of good players.”

With the victory, Levan earned a USGA exemption in the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship later this summer.

“I’m very excited to play there,” he said. “It’s the biggest tournament in junior golf so obviously, it means a lot to me.”

VanderMolen, the 2022 champion at a record-setting age 14, said he didn’t have his best golf all week but was proud that he was able to grind all the way to the finals.