Bond’s journey to the Michigan Amateur title is nothing short of remarkable. Just a year ago, he was a walk-on at Michigan State after transferring from Ferris State University, where he had competed for two seasons. At Ferris State, Bond earned All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) First Team honors and was named the GLIAC Freshman of the Year in 2022-23, showcasing his potential with a 71.40 scoring average and three tournament wins. His transition to the Big Ten was seamless, as he quickly became a cornerstone of the Spartans’ lineup, finishing the 2024-25 season with a 71.69 scoring average—ranking as the sixth-lowest single-season average in Michigan State history.
Bond’s coach, Casey Lubahn, described his rapid ascent: “I didn’t know he was going to be this kind of impact player. We talked about him being a steady contributor, but by Big Ten championship Sunday, he had the team on his back.” Lubahn praised Bond’s ability to move on quickly from poor shots, likening him to a “goldfish” for his short memory and unwavering focus—a trait that proved critical in the high-pressure environment of the Michigan Amateur.
The Path to the Championship
The 114th Michigan Amateur Championship, presented by Carl’s Golfland, celebrated the 100th anniversary of Belvedere Golf Club, a fitting stage for a tournament steeped in tradition. The event began with 36 holes of stroke play, where Bond secured the No. 5 seed entering the match-play bracket. His journey to the final was relatively smooth, highlighted by a dominant 6-and-5 semifinal victory over former Ferris State roommate Zach Koerner, who had made a Cinderella run as the No. 64 seed.
In the championship match, Bond faced No. 2 seed PJ Maybank II, a two-time Michigan Junior State Amateur champion and a highly regarded recruit. The final was a back-and-forth affair, with both players trading birdies and momentum. Bond took an early 2-up lead through six holes, but Maybank responded with a stunning chip-in on the par-4 seventh to cut the deficit to one. Maybank tied the match on the ninth and took his first lead on the 10th, putting Bond’s resilience to the test.
The turning point came on the 16th hole, where Bond drained a jaw-dropping 60-foot birdie putt to square the match. “That freaky 60-footer on 16,” as Maybank called it, shifted the momentum decisively in Bond’s favor. On the challenging, wind-swept 450-yard 18th hole, both players were tied. Maybank’s iron shot left him with a difficult 50-foot putt, which he left 10 feet short and missed, resulting in a bogey. Bond, meanwhile, calmly two-putted from 20 feet for par, securing the 1-up victory as the sun set over northern Michigan.
“As much as you can wish to win every week, it’s really hard,” Bond said after the match. “To win an event like this, especially with match play, takes a lot of luck and a lot of help. Winning is always the goal, and you just keep your head down and hit one shot at a time.”
A Full-Circle Moment
For Bond, defeating Maybank was a deeply personal achievement. “Beating Maybank, a two-time Michigan Junior State Amateur champion and top-level recruit out of high school, was a full-circle moment,” he said. The victory underscored Bond’s growth from a local standout at Williamston High School to a nationally competitive amateur.
Maybank, gracious in defeat, acknowledged Bond’s performance: “He played awesome. He deserves it. I thought I had him when I was 2-up, but then he made that freaky 60-footer on 16. I guess that’s golf.”
Bond’s Stellar Season
Bond’s Michigan Amateur win caps an impressive 2024-25 season with the Spartans. He earned All-Big Ten honors and was selected to the Golf Coaches Association of America All-Midwest Region Team, leading Michigan State to a third-place finish at the Big Ten Championships and a fourth-straight NCAA Regional appearance. His season highlights include a runner-up finish at the Boilermaker Invitational, where he shot a career-best 9-under par 204, and serving as the team’s top finisher in four events.
Bond’s scoring average of 71.53, with 97.1% of his rounds counting toward the team total, underscores his consistency and leadership. His ability to step up after the injury to teammate Ashton McCulloch, the 2023 Canadian Amateur champion, was pivotal in Michigan State’s improbable season, which saw the young roster exceed expectations.
