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. 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…
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