Ann Arbor’s Mia Melendez Tops 15-and-under Girls’ Points List

By Greg Johnson

Mia Melendez of Ann Arbor worked on her golf game as she became bigger and stronger and hit the ball farther, and those factors worked together in championship fashion in 2021.

Melendez, a 14-year-old Ann Arbor Greenhills student, was named the Golf Association of Michigan Junior Girls’ 15-and-under Player of the Year.

“It feels great to be player of the year,” she said. “After all of my accomplishments this year I feel I’m well-deserving and I worked hard to earn this title.”

Melendez, a GAM member through Youth on Course Michigan and the Polo Fields Golf & Country Club, won her first GAM tournament to start 2021 in the season-opening GAM Junior Kickoff, and then was the stroke play medalist and overall winner of the 15-and-under age division in the Michigan Girls Junior State Championship. She totaled 1,330 points for the season.

Alena Li of Okemos, also a Youth on Course Michigan member, won the GAM Invitational 15-and-under title at the end of the season and was runner-up to Melendez in the Michigan Girls Junior. She finished second with 820 points.

Lauren Timpf of Macomb, Burning Tree Golf Club and Youth on Course played most of her tournaments in the overall or higher age division. She still managed 650 points in 15-and-under play keyed by topping Melendez in the final match of the GAM 15-and-under Match Play Championship.

Melendez, who works with Dave Kendall of Kendall Golf Academy as her instructor, said she has worked on all aspects of her game in recent years.

“I definitely improved a lot this year and in winning some big tournaments like the Michigan Junior Am I could see my growth,” she said. “I was able to show my strengths as a player.bI stay solid and I hit the ball straight and far, and my mental game is stronger, too. It helped me secure wins in tournaments this year.”