Joan Garety
(GAM Photo)
CANADIAN LAKES, MI (August 30, 2016) -- Joan Garety stumbled for a few holes, but didn’t fall and won the 20th GAM Women’s Senior Championship presented by the West Michigan Golf Show Tuesday at Tullymore Golf Resort.
“It was tough out there today,” said the 60-year-old retired accountant and Michigan Golf Hall of Fame member after winning the title for the fourth time (2006, ’09, ’10).
Garety, who also has two Michigan Women’s Amateur titles and now has 10 major Michigan titles in Golf Association of Michigan championships, shot a 3-over 75 for a 1-under 143 total that was two shots ahead of runner-up Barb Schmid of Grand Rapids, who like Garety is an Egypt Valley Country Club member.
Schmid, a two-time past champion in the tournament in 2005 and 2011, shot 74 following a first-round 71 for 145.
Garety fired a 68 Monday, which included five consecutive birdies on holes 7 through 11. It was a different story in the final round. Garety made a double-bogey at No. 7 and played to bogey at Nos. 10 and 11.
“Crazy that is was the same set of holes, but I battled back and played tough at the end on a very tough golf course,” Garety said. “With the way Barb was playing I knew I had to play well to hang on. Barb and I have a very competitive club championship every year for two days in August. I knew it would take work today.”
Sue Campbell of Kalamazoo, a three-time past champion in 2004, ’07 and ’08, shot a closing 72 for 147 and third place.
Two-time defending champion Terry Delcamp of Grand Blanc closed with a 74 for 150 and tied for fourth with Julie Massa of Holt, last year’s Senior Women’s GAM Player of the Year who closed with a 75.
Schmid, 62, said she gave it her best shot to catch Garety, who was playing in the same group.
“I had a chance, and thought I was tied, but I must have been one shot down at one point there,” she said. “I had a good tournament. That round Monday (1-under 71) was my first round under par in quite a while so I was very happy about that.”
Garety said winning never gets old.
“It is one of the reasons you play golf,” she said. “It is so much fun to win, and it’s nice to get back in the winner’s circle.”
A field of 72 golfers ages 50-and-over played 36-holes of stroke play over the two days. In addition to the championship flight that was determined by gross stroke play, winners were identified in gross and net scoring in other flights.
View results for GAM Women's Senior Championship
ABOUT THE
GAM Women's Senior Championship
Open to seniors (50+) who are members of GAM.
Format is 36-holes of stroke play with flighted
divisions
and net and gross champions.
View Complete Tournament Information