Chelsea’s Brian Tillman, Rockford’s Jessica Jolly Win GAM Junior Kickoff Titles

By Greg Johnson

Brian Tillman of Chelsea and Jessica Jolly of Rockford are the first Golf Association of Michigan champions of the year after securing wins in the fifth GAM Junior Kickoff recently at Washtenaw Golf Club.

Tillman, a sophomore at Chelsea High, shot a final-round 4-under 68 and won the boys’ title by four shots – while Jolly, a junior at Rockford High, closed with a 74 and held off her future college teammate Elise Fennell of Caledonia and East Kentwood High by one shot. Tillman gave up basketball a year ago to focus on golf.

Winners were also crowned in the 15-and-under age division – by Nemo Tsai of Ann Arbor firing a second-round 67 to win by seven shots and Sophia Lee of Midland shooting a final 78 to win by nine shots.

“I practiced a lot more than ever before this winter after stopping playing basketball,” Tillman said. “I had a lot of free time, so I was able to work in a couple of trips south to spend time in Florida and improve my game.”

Jolly, who recently turned 17, had a three-shot lead going to the 18th hole in the final round, missed the green long and left and played to a double-bogey 6. She totaled 3-over 147 for the tournament, one better than Fennell, who shot a pair of 74s. Lauren Timpf of Macomb shot 75 for 150 and third place.

Fennell and Jolly have both committed to play at Illinois State University starting in the fall of 2024. The Redbirds are coached by former Kentwood resident and 2003 Michigan Women’s Open Champion Breanne Hall.

In the boys’ 15-and-under Tsai made a 10-shot improvement from a first-round 77 to his 67 for 144. The 13-year-old was playing in his first GAM tournament; whereas he typically plays national events and wins a good share of those. Lee’s win in the 15-and-under girls’ competition was her first win in any tournament.