June 19, 2024
Ferris State golf alum Eric Lilleboe wins prestigious Michigan Open Championship for second time
Ferris State University men's golf alum Eric Lilleboe claimed the Michigan Open Championship for the second time in his professional career.
Lilleboe won the 107-year old state title at Oakland University's Katke-Cousins Golf Course with a six-under par total, winning one of the state's most prestigious tournaments by four shots.
Lilleboe won the Michigan Open in 2019 and is playing this year in the PGA Tour Americas, which debuted following the merger of PGA Tour Canada and PGA Tour Latinoamerica. Lilleboe is in his 12th year of professional touring golf.
The Michigan Open, one of the state's longest-running golf events, began in 1916 and was first won by Leo Diegel, who also played in the inaugural Ryder Cup matches and The Masters.
Lilleboe, who wrapped up his collegiate playing career in 2010, is one of several prominent Ferris State men's golf alumni from recent years who have competed in the tournament.
Historically, some of golf's most famous names are listed on the Michigan Open's James D. Standish, Jr. Trophy.
Walter Hagen, the father of modern professional golf and captain of the first five U. S. Ryder Cup teams, won the event in 1921. Michigan PGA Professional and Ferris State alum Scott Hebert is tied with Al Watrous for all-time Michigan Open titles with six. Legendary Michigan amateur, Chuck Kocsis, who played on three Walker Cup teams, won three titles.
Lilleboe turned in an outstanding four-year career at Ferris State averaging 73.67 strokes per round in 103 rounds. The 2009-10 Division II Men's Golf PING All-America First-Team selection registered 29 top 10-place performances during his career, highlighted by 18 top-five place efforts. He paced the 2009-10 Bulldog squad with a 73-stroke average in 33 rounds.
A two-time PING All-Midwest Region pick, Lilleboe was also recognized as the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference's Men's Golf "Athlete of the Year" for the 2009-10 season. The three-time All-GLIAC First-Team honoree garnered the 2007-08 GLIAC Men's Golf "Athlete of the Year" recognition as well.
Following the completion of his senior season, Lilleboe was named a 2009-10 co-recipient of the Ferris State Athletics' Dean Davenport "Bulldog of the Year" Award. The award is presented annually to the most outstanding Ferris State male and female student-athlete.