Michigan State University Athletics
Ashton McCulloch to Play in RBC Canadian Open on Thursday
5/29/2024 4:49:00 PM | Men's Golf
By Alek Kisiel
For msuspartans.com
East Lansing, Mich. – Michigan State rising senior men's golfer Ashton McCulloch turned heads last summer when he won the Canadian Amateur championship.
On Thursday, McCulloch is hoping to turn heads when he plays in the RBC Canadian Open at Hamilton Golf & Country Club in Ancaster, Ontario.
When the Kingston, Ontario native posted a 7-under par 277 (69-68-70-70) to win the Canadian Amateur last August, it gave him an automatic entry into this week's PGA Tour stop, the RBC Canadian Open, which starts on Thursday, May 30 at a course just three hours from his home.
McCulloch will tee off on Thursday morning at 8:35 a.m., playing alongside Ryan McCormick and Paul Barjon.
McCulloch knew that winning the Canadian Amateur was special. It put him on a list with some impressive names, such as PGA Tour members Mackenzie Hughes and Nick Taylor, the latter being the first Canadian in 70 years to win the Canadian Open just last year. McCulloch will be among a group of 25 Canadians playing in the event this week.
"It's awesome, it's a tournament you grew up watching (in Canada)," McCulloch said ahead of his practice rounds on Tuesday and Wednesday. "You see those names, you see all the guys performing on the PGA Tour and when you grow up, it's a tournament you dream to win.
"I didn't know it was in my sights, playing junior golf in Canada, but just as the Amateur progressed, I realized that I'd have a chance. Â And it's pretty exciting."
McCulloch played practice rounds on Tuesday and Wednesday, including sharing a round with former Spartan and current PGA Tour pro Ryan Brehm, with MSU Head Coach Casey Lubahn following the group, which included Joel Dahmen and Mark Hubbard.
"That was a pretty special moment and day, not only for me but for Ashton too," Lubahn said. "It's one of my first players and one of my current getting to play together on the PGA Tour. That's what these guys all dream about."
McCulloch, an All-Big Ten Second Team selection this year, was the team's top finisher in nine events, including the last six of the year, and carried a 70.89 scoring average over 36 rounds, breaking the previous mark of 71.33 set by former Spartan standout James Piot in 2021.
His performance this year also moved him atop the career leaders for scoring average. McCulloch now ranks No. 1 all-time (for a minimum of 50 rounds played) at 71.74, besting the mark of 71.99 set by Piot, who played from 2017-22.
In just three years at Michigan State, McCulloch has three seasons that rank among the all-time single season marks. His 70.89 average this year is No. 1, his 71.89 average in 2021-22 as a freshman ranks No. 8 and his 72.46 average in 2022-23 ranks No. 11.
That win last August in the Canadian Amateur not only set up McCulloch for the season he had for the Spartans in 2023-24, but it gave him a boost overall for his game.
"I came in as a freshman and had a really solid year," McCulloch recalled. "I played well a lot, and gave myself chances to win a lot, but didn't get it done.
"My sophomore year I struggled a little bit, I didn't play as well as I wanted to and then winning the Canadian Am a couple months after the season and a couple months after not doing well at Regionals (in 2023) it really felt like it got me back on track. I realized I am good enough to compete, and that my good is good and my bad just needs to get better."
And that translated into results this year for McCulloch. In addition to being named All-Big Ten Second Team, he was selected to the All-Midwest Region by the Golf Coaches Association of American. In 13 events for MSU, he finished among the top-5 four times, among the top-10 six times and among the top-20 eight times while having 98.6 percent of his rounds count toward the team total (34.5 of 35 rounds).
He got also got an individual win, sharing medalist honors at the Johnnie-O at Sea Island in March, firing a 10-under par 62 in the second round to set a program record for low 18-hole score. He finished the tournament with a 12-under par 204, tied for the sixth-lowest 54-hole tournament score in program history.
McCulloch, like many who start playing competitively, has his sights set on becoming a professional and playing the game at the next level. And he know that playing in the RBC Canadian Open will give him an idea of that experience.
"I really do feel like I've progressed," McCulloch said. "Coach has said to me that it's like the stock market in some cases. You have ups and downs but over time, you just have to keep inching up.
"I'm proud of the circles I've moved into on the amateur level and hoping I can carry that over. I'm honored to represent Canada and we've got a ton of players on the PGA Tour and I'd love to add my name to that list someday."
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For msuspartans.com
East Lansing, Mich. – Michigan State rising senior men's golfer Ashton McCulloch turned heads last summer when he won the Canadian Amateur championship.
On Thursday, McCulloch is hoping to turn heads when he plays in the RBC Canadian Open at Hamilton Golf & Country Club in Ancaster, Ontario.
When the Kingston, Ontario native posted a 7-under par 277 (69-68-70-70) to win the Canadian Amateur last August, it gave him an automatic entry into this week's PGA Tour stop, the RBC Canadian Open, which starts on Thursday, May 30 at a course just three hours from his home.
McCulloch will tee off on Thursday morning at 8:35 a.m., playing alongside Ryan McCormick and Paul Barjon.
McCulloch knew that winning the Canadian Amateur was special. It put him on a list with some impressive names, such as PGA Tour members Mackenzie Hughes and Nick Taylor, the latter being the first Canadian in 70 years to win the Canadian Open just last year. McCulloch will be among a group of 25 Canadians playing in the event this week.
"It's awesome, it's a tournament you grew up watching (in Canada)," McCulloch said ahead of his practice rounds on Tuesday and Wednesday. "You see those names, you see all the guys performing on the PGA Tour and when you grow up, it's a tournament you dream to win.
"I didn't know it was in my sights, playing junior golf in Canada, but just as the Amateur progressed, I realized that I'd have a chance. Â And it's pretty exciting."
McCulloch played practice rounds on Tuesday and Wednesday, including sharing a round with former Spartan and current PGA Tour pro Ryan Brehm, with MSU Head Coach Casey Lubahn following the group, which included Joel Dahmen and Mark Hubbard.
"That was a pretty special moment and day, not only for me but for Ashton too," Lubahn said. "It's one of my first players and one of my current getting to play together on the PGA Tour. That's what these guys all dream about."
McCulloch, an All-Big Ten Second Team selection this year, was the team's top finisher in nine events, including the last six of the year, and carried a 70.89 scoring average over 36 rounds, breaking the previous mark of 71.33 set by former Spartan standout James Piot in 2021.
His performance this year also moved him atop the career leaders for scoring average. McCulloch now ranks No. 1 all-time (for a minimum of 50 rounds played) at 71.74, besting the mark of 71.99 set by Piot, who played from 2017-22.
In just three years at Michigan State, McCulloch has three seasons that rank among the all-time single season marks. His 70.89 average this year is No. 1, his 71.89 average in 2021-22 as a freshman ranks No. 8 and his 72.46 average in 2022-23 ranks No. 11.
That win last August in the Canadian Amateur not only set up McCulloch for the season he had for the Spartans in 2023-24, but it gave him a boost overall for his game.
"I came in as a freshman and had a really solid year," McCulloch recalled. "I played well a lot, and gave myself chances to win a lot, but didn't get it done.
"My sophomore year I struggled a little bit, I didn't play as well as I wanted to and then winning the Canadian Am a couple months after the season and a couple months after not doing well at Regionals (in 2023) it really felt like it got me back on track. I realized I am good enough to compete, and that my good is good and my bad just needs to get better."
And that translated into results this year for McCulloch. In addition to being named All-Big Ten Second Team, he was selected to the All-Midwest Region by the Golf Coaches Association of American. In 13 events for MSU, he finished among the top-5 four times, among the top-10 six times and among the top-20 eight times while having 98.6 percent of his rounds count toward the team total (34.5 of 35 rounds).
He got also got an individual win, sharing medalist honors at the Johnnie-O at Sea Island in March, firing a 10-under par 62 in the second round to set a program record for low 18-hole score. He finished the tournament with a 12-under par 204, tied for the sixth-lowest 54-hole tournament score in program history.
McCulloch, like many who start playing competitively, has his sights set on becoming a professional and playing the game at the next level. And he know that playing in the RBC Canadian Open will give him an idea of that experience.
"I really do feel like I've progressed," McCulloch said. "Coach has said to me that it's like the stock market in some cases. You have ups and downs but over time, you just have to keep inching up.
"I'm proud of the circles I've moved into on the amateur level and hoping I can carry that over. I'm honored to represent Canada and we've got a ton of players on the PGA Tour and I'd love to add my name to that list someday."
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