HARBOR SPRINGS. Mich. (Aug. 30, 2013) – Tom Werkmeister won the GAM Mid-Amateur Championship presented by Boyne Resorts for the fifth time in the last six years, and added another accomplishment to an already remarkable summer of golf.
Werkmeister, who earlier this summer was the first amateur golfer to win the Michigan Open in 38 years, shot a closing 7-under-par 64 Friday on the Ross Memorial course at Boyne Highlands Resort to win by five shots over Scott Strickland of Birmingham.
“I really wanted this one,” he said. “I had not won anything in the (GAM) this year so this is big to me. I love this tournament. I love playing at Boyne. I feel blessed.”
The 45-year-old internet salesman from Kentwood said a six-hour rain and lightning delay didn’t bother him because he embraces playing in tough weather conditions. His 64 and the same score turned in by third-place finisher Eric Dovre of Waterford set a course record for the Ross Memorial course that played to par 71 instead of par 72 for the tournament.
Werkmeister’s final 36-hole total was 11-under-par 132, while Strickland checked in with a 66 for 137 and Dovre’s 64 put him at 139. Brad Bastion of Clinton shot 69 for 141 and fourth place, and Steve Nichols of Lansing shot 70 for 142 to join Anthony Sorentino of Rochester Hills, who shot 70, in a tie for fifth place. Michigan Amateur champion Andrew Chapman of Traverse City shot 70 and was in the group at 143.
“All the rain and then it cleared and you had perfect scoring conditions with soft greens,” Werkmeister said after a round in which he missed one green in regulation and made six birdies and an eagle on the par 5 No. 13 hole with a 70-foot putt.
“It turned it into a shootout. I got off to a good start (consecutive birdies) and then I wanted to go way under. I just felt good today. I bombed in a long one at 13. Some days on the range you know it is going to be a good day, and today it was one of those.”
Strickland, who earlier this summer won the GAM Championship, said he thought his 66 might be enough to catch Werkmeister for a while.
“Then I found out he was 7-under, and well you just realize how good a golfer that guy is,” he said. “He’s not the guy you want to be trying to catch.”
Werkmeister’s five titles in the 31-year history of the Mid-Amateur are unprecedented. He fell in match play in the Michigan Amateur to the eventual champion (Chapman), made history in the Michigan PGA and made history in the Grand Rapids area golf by being the first person to ever win what is known as the local “Grand Slam” of tournaments, including the West Michigan Amateur and the Kent County Amateur.
“It really has been a wonderful year,” he said. “I keep getting better with age, and I’m hoping to continue playing that way next year.”
Boyne Highlands was hosting the championship for Michigan male amateur golfers over age 25 for the 12th consecutive year and 16th in the history of the event. The Highlands, also home to the Country Club of Boyne, features four courses, which are part of 11 golf courses and 171 holes of golf that can be played at three Boyne Resorts in the northern section of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula.
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ABOUT THE
GAM Mid-Amateur
36-hole stroke play championship contested over
two days. Open to men, 25 and older. Tournament has Mid-Amatuer and Senior Divisions. Handicap requirements of 5.4 index for Mid-Am, 7.4 for seniors.
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