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ESCANABA — In a field containing a number of former champions, it was two of the youngest players that entered Sunday’s final day of the 107th Upper Peninsula Golf Association’s Men’s tournament in the lead, tied at 209.

By the end, it was 19-year-old Jiseung Choi of Portage Lake Golf Club in Houghton that earned the 2021 UPGA Men’s trophy after a 1-over-par 72 on Sunday for a four-day total of 281 and a four-stroke victory.

He was the “old man” involved in the tie for the lead entering the final along with soon-to-be high school senior Bryson Mercier of North Central.

Jiseung Choi of Portage Lake Golf Club in Houghton raises the championship trophy after winning the U.P. Golf Association title on Sunday. (Escanaba Daily Press photo by Justin St. Ours)

Choi said he didn’t let being in such a lofty position affect his play on Sunday, instead just focusing on maintaining his game.

“(It’s) surreal,” he said afterward. “I can’t really process it. I’m just trying to soak it all in.

“I just wanted to keep it simple and not make any big numbers, and I did just that today. I took it one shot at a time.”

The two Marquette County golfers in the championship flight continued their up-and-down play Sunday.

Scott Prunick of the Marquette Golf Club shot 35-35–70 to finish at 291, a four-way tie for third, though he was shown to be in third place on the final leaderboard.

Members of the Terrace Bluff Golf and Country Club team pose with the plaque after winning the Upper Peninsula Golf Association’s Men’s Tournament team championship in Escanaba Sunday. Pictured, from left: Tom Gerou, Jeff McCall, Matt Argall, Bryce Douglas and Johnny Kositzky. (Escanaba Daily Press photo by Justin St. Ours)

Mark Clements of Wawonowin Country Club in Champion ballooned to 42-37–79 Sunday for a final total of 293 for seventh.

Also tying Prunick at 291 were Ben Strong of Ontonagon with 75 Sunday, Johnny Kositzky of Escanaba with 72 Sunday, and Scott Lancour who had 76 Sunday.

After Clements in eighth place in the championship flight was Matt Argall with 74 Sunday and 296, Chad Tirschel with 74 Sunday and 297, and Dylan Gauthier with 74 Sunday and 311.

Back at the top of the leaderboard, Choi actually trailed Mercier by three strokes after the front nine, but that was where the day began going awry for the local high schooler.

“I played good the first three days, and I played good through the front nine (Sunday),” Mercier said. “On the back (nine), I just flat-out collapsed, for lack of a better word. My putter failed me a lot.

“I got the yips early in the round. I missed shorties on 3 and 5, and then, in the back nine, it just kept on going.

“I don’t think I made a three-footer today, except for 18. I just missed everything. My putter was ice cold today. Other than that, I hit the ball pretty well.”

Mercier finished four strokes behind Choi with a 5-over 76 to total 285. Mercier finished with the second-best score of the tournament, but due to MHSAA eligibility rules, couldn’t technically accept second place.

So it was 12-year Escanaba High School golf coach Brian Robinette who moved up from third to second with a 2-under 69 Sunday for a 289 total.

“To me, if I win second, third or 10th, to see young people in the game is the most important thing for me,” Robinette said. “I’m happy I was able to play a bit better today. It’s tough to balance family (and everything).

“(Four-day tournaments) are tough, but I enjoy it. I enjoy the idea of medal play. I enjoy the idea of people struggling and pushing through it and playing golf the way it was designed to be played, and that is what the Men’s UPGA is all about.”

Choi felt he kept his play even throughout the day, with the possible exception of No. 15.

“On 15, I had a ‘fried egg,’ so I just had to chunk it out,” he said about burying one of his shots in a bunker. “I still saved it to a bogey, but that was probably the hardest one. I had (some) trouble with (the wind), but I was able to manage it.”

A four-day stroke play tournament was a first for the director of golf at the Escanaba Country Club, Jeff Rae, but he felt he and his team succeeded.

“Honestly, the tournament, in my opinion, went flawless,” Rae said. “I’ve run hundreds of tournaments in my career here, and I was a little bit worried about this because I’d never run a four-day stroke play tournament at our course before.

“It went flawless. It really did. The staff was great, and the grounds crew got this course in the best shape it’s ever been in. The players were great. The weather was great. It was great play and very competitive.”

Winning the team tournament was Terrace Bluff Golf and Country Club, consisting of Jeff McCall, Matt Argall, Bryce Douglas, Johnny Kositzky and Tom Gerou.

Choi, a relative newcomer to tournament play who played at Houghton High School, doesn’t have many concrete plans other than just enjoying some golf.

“A couple weeks ago, I won my men’s tournament at Portage Lake Golf Course,” he said. “I did a few qualifiers, but other than that, I (haven’t) done many tournaments. I just want to have fun and enjoy it (golf) and just see where it takes me. I just want to thank the course and, particularly, my family and friends for supporting me through everything.”

Mercier and Robinette also extended their congratulations to Choi.

“Hats off to Jiseung,” Mercier said. “He played really good today, on the back nine especially.”

Robinette also extended his congratulations to the whole field.

“Good on Mr. Choi. I’m really glad he won,” he said. “He played really well over four days. He deserves all the praise.”