06/11/2026
2026 Michigan Open: Day 3 Recap
After a long day in which the second round was completed and the third round played, too, three players were tied for the lead heading into Thursday’s final round of the Hall Financial/Founders Brewing Co. Michigan Open presented by Make The Turn.
Cameron Ruge, an assistant professional at Bay Meadows Family Golf Center in Traverse City, Will Preston, a Penn State University golfer from Grand Rapids, and Bentley C**n, the 16-year-old phenom from Horton who won a Drive, Chip and Putt title at Augusta National at age 11, shared the 54-hole lead at 9-under Wednesday.
They will make up the final pairing at 11:50 a.m. for the final round Thursday in the $100,000 event at Shanty Creek Resort.
Ruge, who will be the only one of the three playing for a share of the purse as a professional, shot 4-under 67 on the Cedar River Course to check in at 204.
Preston, who just completed his sophomore season at Penn State with a top-20 finish in the Big Ten Conference Championship, shot 70 for 204 with a big boost from a third-round 66.
But it was C**n, a Parma Western High School golfer who turned 16 on May 27, that had the most people at Shanty Creek abuzz.
He shot a 69 in the third round after completing a 65 in the second round for his 204. If he wins the James D. Standish Trophy, he would be the youngest champion in the 109-year history of the tournament, eclipsing Michigan amateur golf legend Chuck Kocsis, who won his first of three Open titles in 1931 at age 18.
“I just came in trying to play golf, like it’s not even that big of a deal,” C**n said, citing his most recent medalist showing as an MHSAA regional title. “My whole junior golf career I’ve pretty much won, so I’m pretty used to this. I’m pretty confident. I will just try to hit fairways and greens and make some putts like always.”
