Lukas Michel, the 2019 US Mid Amateur champion, had wrestled with a decision for years. Turn professional and begin life as a touring golfer, or use his engineering degree and love of design to pursue a career in golf course architecture? Chase birdies, or bulldozers?
Earlier this year, bulldozers won. Australia’s amateur golf calendar spilled over into January and represented the last handful of tournaments Michel would play as a test to see if he was good enough to join the paid ranks. He was in contention at the Australian Amateur at the Alister MacKenzie-designed New South Wales Golf Club in Sydney earlier this year. During the final round, at the par-4 15th, Michel needed to hit driver to have any chance at posting a number. But the stress of the tee shot, and a strong headwind, forced him to lay up with an iron, which he pushed right into trees.
“That was when I thought, I don’t think this is for me; I didn’t like the stress of it,” Michel says after a Tuesday practice round at Royal Melbourne ahead of the 2023 Asia Pacific Amateur Championship.
Michel, a mechanical engineering graduate from the University of Melbourne, had already started a career in golf course design consulting for several years for the firm of Mike Clayton, Mike DeVries and Frank Pont (CDP). In the 12 months leading up to the 2023 Australian Amateur, Michel spent considerable time behind the wheel of a bulldozer helping to construct 7 Mile Beach golf course, a passion project of former PGA Tour pro Mathew Goggin in the sand dunes of Hobart, Tasmania. Having learned the construction and shaping side of the industry at 7 Mile Beach, Michel, 29, has recently taken the reigns on an innovative design project for a CDP client who owns farmland two hours from Melbourne. Michel will design a golf course with six greens that allows its holes to be played multiple ways, including backwards.
But the desire to compete is still there. Michel plays the US Mid Amateur each year, courtesy of a 10-year exemption for winning in 2019. This week, though, presents a unique opportunity. He’ll face off against 117 of the best amateur golfers from 41 countries from around the Asia Pacific region at a layout he knows well – the Composite course at Royal Melbourne. The Composite – which uses 12 holes from MacKenzie’s West course and six from the East – has hosted three Presidents Cups (1998, 2011 and 2019). Michel, a member at nearby Metropolitan Golf Club, grew up in Melbourne playing the city’s famed Sandbelt courses.
“Admiring Royal Melbourne while competing just makes this week more enjoyable,” Michel said. “Even though I’m so familiar with this golf course, every time I play it, I see something different.”
Michel might be 369th on the World Amateur Golf Rankings, but he’s not teeing up at the Asia Pacific to make up the numbers – he’s here to try and win. The reward would be an invitation to the 2024 Masters and a spot at the 152nd Open Championship at Royal Troon. The event is jointly run by Augusta National and the R&A.
Michel is the only competitor at Royal Melbourne to have already played the Masters. He wants to earn a return to the Augusta National given his experience in 2020 was drastically affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Michel’s Mid Amateur triumph was cemented six months before the pandemic postponed the 2020 Masters and the U.S. Open at Winged Foot, to the fall of 2020. Both were held without spectators.
“It was disappointing, not necessarily for the experience of the 2020 Masters, but not having my family there and sharing it with friends, family and my girlfriend,” he said. “In a way it was really unique having that 2020 Masters experience because no one’s ever going to have it like that ever again, and I really appreciate the opportunity I had. But at the same time, I want to go back and actually have the authentic Masters experience with the big crowds and the roars. I’m not going to put pressure on myself, but going back to Augusta is a motivator, for sure.”
He’ll face tough competition at Royal Melbourne. The field is led by Japan’s Yuta Sugiura (No.15 in the WAGR), China’s Wenyi Ding (No.17), New Zealand’s Kazuma Kobori (No.30) and Thailand’s Ratchanon “TK” Chantananuwat (No.41) and Australia’s Jeffrey Guan (No. 55).
But at least he’ll be free, now the weight of the decision to turn pro is off his shoulders. Ironically, the last time he felt free was the 2019 Mid Amateur.
“I took that approach into the Mid Am I won,” he said. “It sounds silly, but I had decided I was going to turn pro the week after. The only exception was if I won the Mid Am [I would remain an amateur to take up the Masters and US Open starts]. I was excited to turn pro, I wasn’t worried about winning.”
ABOUT THE ASIA PACIFIC AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Created in 2009, the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship was established by the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC), The R&A and the Masters Tournament to further develop amateur golf in the Asia-Pacific region.
The champion from the October 26-29 event will receive an invitation to compete in the 2024 Masters Tournament at Augusta National and The 152nd Open at Royal Troon, while the runner(s)-up will gain a place in Final Qualifying for The Open.
As the host nation, Australia will lead the list of 41 countries represented with 10 players in this year’s field. Three Australians have previously won the Championship, including Harrison Crowe last year.
The Australian invitees in 2023 are: Jeffrey Guan (NSW); Jack Buchanan (SA); Lukas Michel (Vic); Connor Fewkes (WA); Quinnton Croker (Qld); Max Charles (Vic); Harry Bolton (ACT); Jye Pickin (NSW); Jasper Stubbs (Vic); and Harry Takis (Qld).
HOW TO WATCH THE ASIA PACIFIC AMATEUR
All coverage will be simulcast live on the championship website AACGolf.com
