BY WENDI REARDON PRICE
Clarkston News Sports Writer
Patrick Deardoff had a goal since he was 15-years-old – to win the Michigan Junior State Amateur Championship.
The recent Clarkston High School graduate achieved it three years later – winning the championship at Bedford Valley Golf Course, July 29-Aug. 1.
“My reaction was pure satisfaction.” Deardorff shared. “It is a great feeling to have my name on the trophy with all the other great players.”

He won the final match taking the final 3 and 2 over stroke play over Tommy Sullivan from Grosse Pointe.
Deardorff added his biggest challenge was staying focused during the many rounds he played in the short amount of time.
“I had a good process I stuck to everyday,” he said, explaining how he got over it.
He added a big help was his sister, Meghan Deardorff, a 2017 CHS graduate currently playing golf at Central Michigan University.
“It was really good to have my sister there everyday for support,” Patrick said. “She was my travel partner for the week, and it was a lot of fun to have her there for moral support. Meghan understands the pressure a tournament like this can have on a player.”
Patrick was seeded No. 3 going into the tournament. Before getting to the finals he succeeded in winning his matches against Haydon Chapman of Marshall in the Round of 32; Conor Spencer of Jackson in the Round of 16; Colin O’Rourke of Troy in the quarterfinals; and August Meekhof of Clinton in the semifinal.
He added to accomplish the goal he had for since he was 15-years-old he practiced every day to get better.
“I worked really hard at the game,” he said.
Next for Patrick is heading south.
“I plan taking a gap year and moving to South Carolina to live with my grandparents and work on my game,” he said. “I am considering going to college next year and play college golf.”
The 42st Michigan Junior State Amateur tournament hosted 84 players and features the top junior boy golfers in Michigan.

  Golf, Patrick Deardorff