By Jim Henry
jhenry@joplinglobe.com
Michael Letzig, who is paired with Tiger Woods in today’s final group of the Buick Open in Grand Blanc, Mich., is a past champion of the Joplin High School Invitational golf tournament.
Letzig and his Richmond High School teammates played in the tournament at Twin Hills Golf and Country Club three years. The Spartans won the team title in 1996 and 1998 and placed second behind Rogers, Ark., in 1997.
Letzig claimed medalist honors as a sophomore with a 1-over-par 73. He did not finish in the top 10 his junior year but came back to tie for fifth as a senior.
Letzig capped his prep career by winning Class 2 state medalist honors with a 139 total, which remains the state record for that class. His final-round 3-under-par 67 that year is the third-best score in all classes.
Jeff Southwick, Letzig’s high school coach, remains his coach today.
“I work with him, analyze his swing, make sure everything is in check,” Southwick said. “I’ve been coaching him since he was in the seventh grade. It’s one of those deals where I kind of know his swing like the back of my hand. We usually check for timing and rhythm, posture, good ball position.”
Southwick last met with Letzig two weeks ago in Milwaukee.
“I don’t see him as much as I would like to,” Southwick said. “We talk on a regular basis.”
Southwick resigned his golf coaching duties at Richmond in 2003 and is preparing for his 10th year as the school’s athletics director. He is the nephew of Ben and Janice Southwick, former Joplin residents who now live in Ozark.
