Michael Cullen

M.C. Mini Masters Champion 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2004, 2006, 2015

Champions' Division Champion 2015

Most Holes-in-one trophy winner 2003, 2008

Born: 1956

Occupation: Retired engineer

Mini golf experience: Michael won the first four installments of the MC Mini Masters, has seven titles overall (2nd-most), and still holds several all-time records. Michael is also the oldest player ever to win the Mini Masters (age 59 in 2015).

Interesting facts and uninteresting lies: Michael's name would be first alphabetically in The Land of Second-half-of-the-alphabet Names. He led the Blazing Ptarmigans in playoff goals in their inaugural season, 2003-04. His best friend is an ottoman affectionately named Lumpy. Michael eats leprechauns.

Player History

Past MC Mini Masters Results

2024: 46-44-45-42-42-48--267 (+11) (T-24th/54 overall, 6th/6 Champions' Division)

2015: 43-44-36-44-43-36--246 (-21) (1st/38 overall, 1st/5 Champions' Division)

2012: 42-38-42-45-38-43--248 (-18) (2nd/38 overall, 2nd/4 Champions' Division)

2011: 56-41-37-36-36-42--248 (-22) (4th/30 overall, 4th/4 Champions' Division)

2010: 46-43-39-39-40-41--248 (-22) (3rd/29)

2009: 44-44-46-39-41-45--259 (-9) (3rd/29)

2008: 40-50-40-41-40-42--253 (-16) (3rd/24)

2007: 50-47-39-39-41-50--266 (-9) (5th/25)

2006: 38-43-43-36-40-43--243 (-32) (1st/26)

2005: 42-43-45-43-49-47--269 (-1) (T-5th/37)

2004: 43-43-43-40-44-44--257 (-20) (1st/36)

2003: 46-42-39-44-40-51--262 (-18) (3rd/32)

2002: 44-46-40-40-43-47--260 (-20) (5th/27)

2001: 42-43-40-51-47-44--267 (-10) (6th/35)

2000: 41-41-40-43-40-45--250 (-27) (1st/18)

1999: 46-47-40-42-45-44--264 (-13) (1st/26)

1998: 45-50-43-43-43-42--266 (-11) (1st/11)

1997: 41-43-41-39-41-41--246 (-31) (1st/13)

Course Championships

Congo River, 1997 (41)

Sisolak's West, 1997 (41) [tied]

Sisolak's East, 1997 (39)

Lighthouse, 1997 (41)

Kristof's, 1997 (41) [tied]

Congo River, 2000 (41) [tied]

Action Territory, 2000 (41)

Sisolak's East, 2000 (40)

Lighthouse, 2000 (40) [tied]

Action Territory, 2001 (43)

Action Territory, 2004 (43)

Ballybunion, 2004 (40)

Action Territory, 2005 (43) [tied]

Congo River, 2006 (38)

Lighthouse, 2006 (36)

Libertyville, 2006 (43)

Kristof's, 2007 (41) [tied]

Rocky's Fun House Gurnee, 2008 (40) [tied]

Par-King Black, 2008 (40) [tied]

Lighthouse, 2010 (39)

Par-King Black, 2010 (40) [tied]

Lighthouse, 2011 (36)

Par-King Black, 2011 (36)

Action Territory, 2012 (42)

Lighthouse, 2015 (36)

Par-King Red, 2015 (36)

Hole-in-one history

Aloha Falls: 10th

Ballybunion: 17th

Congo Falls: none

Congo Rapids: 17th

Congo River Kenosha: 3rd, 8th, 10th, 11th

Harry Semrow: none

Kristof's: 1st (4), 3rd, 6th (3), 7th, 8th, 9th (3), 10th, 12th, 13th, 14th (2), 16th, 17th, 18th

Lighthouse: 1st, 3rd, 4th (3), 7th (2), 8th, 9th, 11th (3), 12th, 14th (2), 15th, 16th (5), 18th (3)

Lost Falls: 1st (2), 2nd, 3rd (2), 4th, 6th, 8th (2), 9th, 10th, 11th, 13th, 14th (2), 16th

Par-King Black: 5th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 14th, 15th, 17th

Par-King Red: 3rd, 4th, 7th, 11th (4), 16th (2), 17th

Rocky's Fun House Gurnee: 5th, 12th

Rocky's Fun House Waukegan: 17th

Sisolak's East: 1st, 5th, 6th, 12th, 15th, 18th (2)

Sisolak's West: 1st (2), 7th, 9th, 18th (4)

Wild West: 2nd, 10th, 17th

Wisconsin Adventure: none

Personal records by course

Aloha Falls: 43 (2006)

Ballybunion: 40 (2004)

Congo Falls: 45 (2024)

Congo Rapids: 42 (2024)

Congo River Kenosha: 38 (2006)

Harry Semrow: n/a

Kristof's: 40 (2006)

Lighthouse: 36 (2006, 2011, 2015)

Lost Falls: 41 (2000)

Par-King Black: 36 (2011)

Par-King Red: 36 (2015)

Rocky's Fun House Gurnee: 39 (2007)

Rocky's Fun House Waukegan: 39 (2009)

Sisolak's East: 39 (1997, 2003)

Sisolak's West: 37 (2011)

Wild West: 44 (2015, 2024)

Wisconsin Adventure: 43 (2015)

Unique Aces (only hole-in-one in MCMM history at a given hole)

Ballybunion 17th

Kristof's 3rd

Sisolak's East 6th

Career Highlights

2015: Returning to the tournament after a two-year absence, Michael notched his seventh MCMM victory--and his first in nine years--beating his own record to become the oldest ever victor at age 58...Recorded a two on the first sudden-death hole (Par-King Black's 3rd) after runner-up Tom Schweiss put his tee shot into the water hazard...After entering the final round down by four strokes, and falling an additional stroke back after the first hole of Par-King Red, he recorded four holes-in-one in a nine-hole span (3rd-11th) en route to a tourney-best score of 36 to force sudden death...Despite that blistering stretch, still trailed Schweiss by two strokes with five holes to play before scoring back-to-back twos on Par-King Red's 14th & 15th to best Schweiss's consecutive threes...Also posted a 36 at Lighthouse to take the course title there...Tied for 3rd at Wild West (44) while placing 2nd at Aloha Falls (44)...Led all players with 10 holes-in-one...Led players in holes-in-one at Par-King Red while tying for the lead at Wild West (2) and Lighthouse (3)...Led all putters in twos at Aloha Falls (12)...Third overall in total twos (65)...Recorded two eagles at Wild West to tie for the tourney lead...Tied for most total birdies on the day (36) and led all players in total holes under par (40)...Earned the first MCMM hole-in-one at Wild West's 10th hole...Scored back-to-back aces at Lighthouse's 7th/8th en route to a tourney-low 17 on the front 9...Tied for the low front 9 at Aloha Falls (21).

2012: Finished as the tourney runner-up for the first time, finishing three strokes behind son Mick as the latter won his third MCMM title...Finished 18 under par overall...Led with 13 holes to go and was tied with 10 holes to go before dropping 3 strokes over the next 4 holes...Won the course title at Action Territory (42) and tied for the low front 9 at the course (19)...Finished in 3rd place at Sisolak's West (38) and was tied for the tourney lead after the round...Tied for the low back 9 at Lighthouse (19)...Placed 4th at Aloha Falls (45)...Placed 2nd at Par-King Black (38), just one stroke off the low score in the field, to take the lead by a stroke over Tom Schweiss entering the final round...Set a new record (tied with Tom Schweiss) with 16 twos at Sisolak's West...Also scored a record-tying 16 twos at Par-King Black...Tied for fewest threes (3) at Lighthouse...Scored the fewest fours in the field (just 3) while being one of only two players with no fives or sixes all day...Led the field in total twos (71)...Tied for the most eagles at Action Territory (2), most birdies at Sisolak's West (9), and most pars (13) at Par-King Black...Was the only player not to score any multiple bogeys all day.

2011: Opened the tournament on a rough note, posting his all-time highest MCMM score with a 56 at Action Territory...Recovered to go 32-under-par on the day's final five rounds to finish in 4th at 22 under par, just one stroke out of second place, but twelve strokes out of first...Tied for 2nd in the 2nd round at Sisolak's West (37)...Tied for the low front 9 (19) and back 9 (17) at Lighthouse, tying his course record of 36 as he took the course title...Tied for the low front 9 (18) and scored the lowest back 9 (18) as he took the course title at Par-King Black as well with another 36...Led all players in twos at Sisolak's West round 2 (15), Lighthouse (16), and Par-King Black (16), all record totals of twos for those courses...Led the field in twos (76) while recording the fewest threes (20)...Tied for the most birdies in the second round at Sisolak's West (10) and at Par-King Black (6)...Posted his second career bogeyless round at Lighthouse...Led the field in birdies (41), tying his career high from 1997...One of five players with no triple bogeys.

2010: Tied for 2nd at Action Territory (46)...Posted the low front 9 at Sisolak's West round 1 (19) while tying for fourth at the course (43)...Tied for 3rd in the second round at the same course (39)...Won the course title at Lighthouse with a 39, becoming the first course winner ever to score a 6 (5th hole)...Finished in a three-way tie for the course title at Par-King Black (40), tying for the low front 9 (19)...Finished 5 strokes back of the champion, posting a 22-under-par total and finishing third...Tied for most twos in round 1 at Sisolak's West (14) and led the field solo in twos at Lighthouse (14) and Par-King Black (15)...Recorded 77 total twos to lead the field and tie the MCMM single-day record...Scored the fewest threes (19) all day and was one of two players not to score a five...Tied for the lead in pars at Par-King Red (14) and tied for the birdie lead at Lighthouse (10)...Led all players in pars (60) and posted the fewest bogeys (5, tying the all-time record low).

2009: Placed 2nd at Action Territory (44)...Tied for 2nd at Rocky's Fun House Waukegan (39)...Finished 5th at Par-King Black (41)...Finished third overall (-9), 19 strokes out of first...Led the field in twos at Action Territory (12) and tied for the most 3s at Par-King Red (9)...Led the field in birdies at Rocky's Fun House (7)...Tied for the most bogeys (6) at Par-King Red.

2008: Tied for third at Congo River (40)...Finished in a three-way tie for the final course trophy at Rocky's Fun House (Gurnee) with a 40...Finished 3rd at Lighthouse, one stroke back of the course-winning score of 40...Tied for the first course title at Par-King Black (40), carding the lowest score on the back 9 (17)...Tied for 5th at Par-King Red (42), finishing with back-to-back aces...Tied for the most holes-in-one on the day (9) while finishing third at -16, 7 strokes out of first...Led the field with a record-tying 15 twos at Congo River...Tied for most aces (1) and threes (10) at Action Territory...Tied for most aces at Rocky's Fun House (1) and Lighthouse (3) as well...Earned his eighth sixless tournament...Tied for most birdies (9) at Rocky's Fun House and Par-King Red (4) while leading the category outright at Par-King Black (6)...Not surprisingly, led the field in total birdies (36) as well.

2007: Tied for 5th at Action Territory (47)...Tied for low front 9 (18) and 4th overall (39) at People's Choice...Tied for 2nd at Lighthouse (39)...Tied for the course title at Kristof's (41) but lost in a tiebreaker to Lisa Curran...Posted the low front 9 at Kristof's (18)...Played outside the final foursome for only the second time in his MCMM career...Led the field in threes at Action Territory (9) and Libertyville (12)...Tied for most aces at Kristof's (2)...Tied for fewest fours (4) and posted his seventh sixless tournament...Scored the most birdies (12) and the fewest pars (5) at Lighthouse.

2006: Won his record sixth Mini Masters crown by a margin of 15 strokes, 2nd-largest all time...Set a new record low score of 32 under par...Won course titles at Congo River (38), Lighthouse (36) and Libertyville (43)...Finished 2nd or tied for second at two of the other three courses...Scored back-to-back aces at Congo River's 10th and 11th holes en route to a tourney-best back 9 of 18 at the course...Scored the low back 9 (19) at Action Territory...Tied for the low front 9 (19) and back 9 (17) at Lighthouse on his way to posting a course-record score of 36...Carded the lowest front 9 at Kristof's (17) and Libertyville (19)...Tied for most aces at Congo River (2)... Scored most twos at Monster Golf (13) and Lighthouse (16), the latter a still-standing MCMM record...Tied for most twos at Libertyville (10)...Led the field in twos (73) while scoring the fewest threes (23) and fours (4, tied)...Tied for most birdies at Congo River (6)...Scored a double eagle at Action Territory's 15th...Scored the most pars (12) at Action Territory...Tied a course and tournament record with 12 birdies at Lighthouse...Posted the first bogeyless round of his career at Lighthouse...Tied for most birdies at Libertyville (5)...Led the field in total birdies (34)...Scored the fewest bogeys in the field (10)...One of only two players with no double bogeys.

2005: Scored the low back 9 (20) en route to tying for the course title at Action Territory (43)...Placed 5th among amateurs at Monster Golf (45)...Tied for 5th at Libertyville (47)...Tied for 5th overall, just six strokes behind tourney champ R.J. Dusak...Led the field in twos at Action Territory (13)...Tied for the most aces at Kristof's (3)...Was one of just two players with no fives all day...Tied for most birdies (5) at Monster Golf...Scored the most pars at Libertyville (14), a record that still stands...Tied for the fewest total double bogeys (2).

2004: Reclaimed the MCMM title for the first time since 2000, taking his fifth championship with a total of 20 under par...Tied for low back 9 (19) and 3rd place overall (43) at Congo River...Posted the low front 9 (20) and won the course title (43) at Action Territory...Tied for 3rd at Lighthouse (43), one stroke behind the course leaders...Tied for the low front 9 (19) and low back 9 (21) at Ballybunion, winning the course title with a 40...Finished 2nd at Libertyville (44)...Finished 5th at Kristof's (44)...Tied for the most 2s at Action Territory (2) and the most 2s at Libertyville (11)...Scored the most twos all day (64)...Tied for the most pars at Congo River (11)...Scored or tied for the most birdies at Ballybunion (8), Libertyville (7, tied), and Kristof's (7)...Led the field in birdies (37)...Scored the fewest double bogeys (1)...Was one of only two players with no triple or quadruple bogeys.

2003: Finished 2nd at Action Territory, one stroke behind Mick Cullen's 41, despite scoring the most impressive back-to-back-to-back holes-in-one in MCMM history, acing the 10th-11th-12th holes at the course (birdie-eagle-double eagle)...Scored four aces overall at the course, which through 2011 is still the only time anyone has accomplished the feat...Tied for third at Sisolak's East (39)...Scored the low front 9 at Lighthouse (18), tying for 2nd overall (40)...Tied for the lead in aces at Lighthouse (3)...Won the Most Holes-in-one Trophy with 9 aces, tying for the fewest fours (3) and fives (0)...Tied for the most birdies at Sisolak's West (9).

2002: Tied for low front 9 at Congo River (20)...Scored the low front 9 (20) at Action Territory, placing 4th overall (46)...Scored the low front 9 (20) and tied for 2nd overall at Sisolak's East (40)...Tied for 4th at Lighthouse (40)...Finished third overall with a score of 20 under par...Tied for the most twos (12) and fewest 3s (2) at Action Territory...Tied for the most twos at Sisolak's East (14)...Tallied the most twos (70) and tied for the fewest total fours (5) all day...Scored teh fewest bogeys (11) all day.

2001: Tied for 3rd at Congo River (42), just one stroke off the lead...Won the course title at Action Territory (43)...Tied for 4th at Sisolak's East (40)...Was just one stroke off the lead before posting a 51 at Sisolak's West and falling out of contention...Scored back-to-back aces twice at Kristof's (8th/9th and 16th/17th)...Tied for low back 9 (20) at Kristof's...Scored a six on Kristof's 7th hole, the first six of his MCMM career, ending a string of 528 straight sixless holes...Led the field in twos at Congo River (14) and Sisolak's East (15)...Tied for the most aces at Kristof's (4)...Was one of two players with no fives...Was the only player with two eagles at Kristof's.

2000: Won his fourth straight MCMM title in record fashion, posting a total of 27 under par to post a still-record victory margin of 17 strokes over his son Mick...Tied for the course title at Congo River (41)...Tied for the low front 9 (21) and posted the low back 9 (20) en route to winning the course trophy at Action Territory (41)...Tied for the low front 9 (21) and won the course title at Sisolak's East (40)...Tied for low back 9 (19) and 3rd-lowest overall score at Sisolak's West (43)...Posted the low front 9 (20) and tied for the course title (40) at Lighthouse...Led by 8 strokes after 2 rounds, 13 after 3...Led the field in twos at Congo River (13), Action Territory (12), and Sisolak's East (14)...Scored the fewest threes at Sisolak's West (3, tied) and Kristof's (4, tied)...Led the field in twos (73) and scored the fewest threes (24), fours (7), and fives (0)...Was one of just two players to go sixless, accomplishing it for the fourth straight year...Scored half of the field's eagles (3 of 6) at Action Territory...Scored the most pars at Action Territory (12)...Tied for the most eagles (2) and birdies (8) at Lighthouse...Led the field in total eagles (7)...Scored the fewest bogeys (12) and double bogeys (3)...Was one of two players with no triple bogeys and quadruple bogeys.

1999: Won his third title by four strokes over Dan Hill, totaling 13 under par...Tied for 2nd overall at Congo River (46)...Tied for low back 9 (22) at Action Territory while tying for third overall at the course (47)...Scored the low front 9 (18) and tied for 2nd place (40) at Sisolak's East...Tied for 2nd at Sisolak's West (42)...Tied for 3rd at Lighthouse (45)...Placed third at Kristof's (44)...Led the field in twos at Congo River (12), Sisolak's East (13) and Sisolak's West (13, tied)...Scored four of his six aces on the day at Kristof's, doubling the second-best output there...Led the field in overall twos (61)...Recorded his third straight sixless tournament...Tied for most birdies at Sisolak's West (6)...Led the field in eagles at Kristof's (3)...Tied for the overall lead in eagles (6)...Was one of three players with no triple or quadruple bogeys.

1998: Tied for 2nd at Congo River (45)...Tied for 4th at Action Territory (50)...Tied for the low back 9 at Sisolak's East (19) and tied for 2nd overall at the course (43)...Posted the low front 9 (18) and tied for 2nd at Sisolak's West (43)...Placed 3rd at Lighthouse (43)...Tied for low front 9 (21) and came in 2nd at Kristof's (42)...Despite scoring 20 strokes higher than the previous year, still won the tournament by a stroke over Aaron Hanson...Scored the most 3s at Action Territory (12), aces at Sisolak's East (2, tied) and West (3), the most 2s at Lighthouse (12), and the most holes-in-one overall (7)...Tied for the fewest fours (7) and again went sixless (one of two players to do so)...Scored the most pars at Congo River (10), the most birdies (4, tied) and bogeys (8) at Action Territory, the most eagles at Sisolak's West (2), and the most birdies at Kristof's (7)...Scored the fewest double bogeys (3) and was one of two players with no triple or quadruple bogeys.

1997: Scored his first career hole-in-one on Congo River's 3rd hole...Recorded the low front 9 (20) and low back 9 (21) en route to winning the first course title in MCMM history with a 41 at Congo River...Finished in a tie for 2nd at Action Territory (43)...Tied for the course title at Sisolak's West (41)...Posted the low front 9 (19) and won the course title at Sisolak's East (39)...Tied for the low front 9 (21) and won the course title at Lighthouse with a 41...Tied for the course title at Kristof's (41)...Held a nine-stroke lead entering the final round and won going away, scoring 31-under and besting the field by 13 strokes...Scored nine holes-in-one to tie for the overall lead...Was one of two players to go sixless for the day...Led the field in twos at Congo River (11), Action Territory (11), Kristof's (10, tied), and overall (64)...Scored only four fours, fewest in the field, and was the only player not to score a five...Led the field in birdies at Action Territory (6), Sisolak's West (7, tied), Kristof's (7, tied), and overall (41)...Led the field in pars at Action Territory (10, tied) and overall (49).