Ally Challenge Goes to Steve Stricker with Late Birdie Surge

Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club, Grand Blanc, MI — August 28, 2022

The Ally Challenge presented by McLaren wrapped up today at the Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club. With a weekend of beautiful weather, the PGA Tour Champions professionals posted some spectacular scores. Including a 63 by Scott Dunlap on Saturday that tied the Ally Challenge course record.

Also Saturday, some of the biggest crowds the tournament has ever experienced enjoyed the Celebrity Shootout with Jack Nicklaus highlighting a fun four-hole exhibition mini-scramble event for charity.  Kane Brown entertained in the shootout and on the stage for the Community Concert. John Daly briefly joined Brown to demonstrate his musical chops during the show.

The Final Day of Play

Gene Sauers, with a 66, and Lee Janzen, who shot 67, were the early golfers making a run up the leaderboard. Both finished at six-under-par.

The leader’s scores moved up and down all afternoon as perfect conditions fought final round nerves to keep things tight as the field turned for the clubhouse after nine. With six holes to play, Dunlap was in sole possession of the lead at -12. However, he had six players chasing him one stroke back.

Jeff Maggert finished with six birdies over the final nine holes to become the leader in the clubhouse at 13 under. After making bogey on the par-four, 12th hole, Steve Stricker dropped out of a tie for the lead and joined the group at -11. Birdies on 13, 14, and 15 vaulted Stricker to the top of the leaderboard at -14.

Padraig Harrington made an eagle on the first, followed by ten straight pars. A bogey on the 12th dropped him into the group at 11 under until a birdie on 14 got him back to -12.

Dunlap had three birdies on the front nine but also carded two bogeys keeping him in touch with the field. With a bogey on 14, it looked like the tournament would slip through his hands. A birdie on 15 brought him back to 12 under and still in contention.

Brett Quigley made two birdies on the opening nine holes and followed them up with bogeys to remain at -10, where he started the day. Then an eagle on 16 turned him into a contender at -12 with two holes to play.

The Finish

Inconsistency ended Dunlap’s bid for the trophy. He went bogey, birdie, birdie, bogey on 14 to 17 and finished at 12 under. Harrington, after making birdie on 14, bogeyed the 15th and then birdied the 16th to tie Dunlap.

Quigley followed the eagle with birdies on 17 and 18 to take the lead in the clubhouse at 14-under-par.

Stricker made his fourth consecutive birdie on 16 to stretch his advantage to three strokes. Then watched as Quigley, playing one group ahead of the final threesome, cut two strokes off Stricker’s lead.

A par on 17 followed by an approach to seven feet from the pin on 18 gave Stricker the chance to close out the competition.

His birdie putt hung on the edge of the cup, and he earned the title with a simple tap-in.

In his winner’s interview, Stricker credited help from a former Ally winner Jerry Kelly and his wife/caddie Nicki. After not putting well in his opening round, the coaching helped him correct a minor flaw, and Stricker began rolling putts into the cup.

The fifth different winner in five years speaks to the intensity of the competition at Warwick Hills. The crowds this week speak to the success of Ally and McLaren at promoting the event. The 4.5 million given to charities in the first four years of the Ally Challenge presented by McLaren indicate how fortunate Grand Blanc is to have this tournament in the community. The post-tournament theme immediately shifted to “bigger and better next year.” Can’t wait!

Results of the Ally Challenge at Warwick Hills