Local business owners Mark Eriksen and Joel Wells joined forces to compete in the Horton Smith Championship at Detroit Golf Club last week.
Mark Eriksen, owner of EriksenFinancial in downtown Clarkston, played in the invitation-only tournament while Joel Wells, owner of Tiny Tots Golf School and After School Golf Academy, caddied.
Wells, son Nick, 9, has played in the US Junior World Championships and his older son Tyler is a freshman playing on the Clarkston High School Varsity Team. Wells enjoys caddying for Eriksen, sharing the experience gains in tournament settings with his children and pupils.
Eriksen, a former Division 1 College golfer and Mini Tour Professional, plays competitive golf now as an amateur for the competition and love of the game.
One reason he established his practice in downtown Clarkston was to be closer to his wife Lauryn and their four children, Emma, 14, Ian, 12, Nolan,11, and Allie, 8.
Eriksen has played in The Horton Smith Championship before with Wells on the bag. His best finish was third in 2003.The Tournament was played over the classic Donald Ross layout May 7-9. Eriksen shot 76, 73 and missed the cut this year.
‘I hit the ball fairly well, I was on 4 over par after 14 holes in the morning round and with birdies on 15 and 17, and I felt I was back in contention. Then I double bogied the last hole as the rain started. I knew I was going to have to play solid in the afternoon to compete this year.?
Eriksen did play well but came up one shot short of making the cut.
‘The bad news is I missed the cut, the good news is, that as a result I was able to watch Nolan’s lacrosse game Saturday morning. ‘I’ll have lots of chances to make the cut but I only have 1 chance to raise my children, I was thankful that I was able to see Nolan play.?