(Mercier Family photo) HERMANSVILLE WILD PINES Golf Club member Bryson Mercier of Powers poses with the Upper Peninsula Golf Association juniors championship trophy, Monday at Terrace Bluff Golf Course in Gladstone. The title is Mercier’s third consecutive UPGA junior crown.

POWERS — U.P. and Wisconsin Junior golf standout and incoming North Central High School senior Bryson Mercier won his third consecutive Upper Peninsula Golf Association junior championship on Monday at Terrace Bluff Golf Course in Gladstone.

Mercier shot a 72 and finished birdie-birdie on the last two holes to win by one shot over Adam Bauman from Peshtigo, Wis.

“After bogeying 15 and 16 I really focused on hitting one good shot at a time to finish strong. I knew I could birdie the last two holes if I stay confident in my swing,” said Mercier Tuesday evening via email. “Being patient was key most the day because the pins were in some tough spots.”

A Wild Pines Golf Course member, Mercier increases the Hermansville courses’ total of UPGA junior titles to seven, between Hunter Eichhorn (4) and Mercier (3), which is the most by any golf course in U.P.

This was Mercier’s second straight UPGA junior championship win at TBGC, with his 2019 victory at Marquette Golf Club’s Heritage Golf Course.

“I think the 2019 stands out the most because I wasn’t expected to win because of my age and the competition was solid. Jiseung Choi (Houghton), Ty Kretz (Marinette, Wis.), and other very good golfers were in the field and the course was difficult,” Mercier added.

The top five players from Monday’s tournament get invited to Golf Association of Michigan Invitational at Forest Akers Golf Course in East Lansing Sept. 18 and 19.

“This will be my fifth time down there and last year was my best finish (10th place). It is a loaded field and the course is Michigan State University’s home course and can be challenging on the greens,” Mercier noted. “I look forward to competing with the best players in the state next month and if I play solid believe I can set a goal of a top 5 finish.”