GAM Tournament Recaps
Wyandotte’s Jon Swint Wins GAM Net Match Play Championship
By Greg Johnson
Jon Swint made a putter change on Labor Day and later rolled in putt after putt in winning the 13th GAM Net Match Play Championship at Lakes of Taylor Golf Club.
Swint made natural birdies on three of the first four holes and never trailed in turning back Jerry Tranzow of Macomb, 5 and 4, in the championship match.
“I got it, a TaylorMade Spider, from a buddy (Kory O’Brien), put it in the bag and he might not get it back,” Swint said. “I was feeling pretty good with it right away, and it really paid off this week.”
It was the first GAM Net tournament for Swint, who normally plays in gross scoring GAM tournaments. It wasn’t his first trophies though. He has previously finished second in the GAM Tournament of Champions as a member club champion entrant.
“The main reason I played in it was that it was here, Lakes of Taylor, my home course and where I play a lot,” said the 36-year-old shipping and receiving manager for Hascall Steel.
Fenton’s Rick Crandall Claims His First State Title at GAM Senior Championship
Rick Crandall of Fenton expected one of the senior golfers with a resume full of past wins to shine in the final round and win the 38th GAM Senior Championship.
Instead, he surprised himself, shot a shining 5-under 67 Tuesday at Muskegon Country Club and won his first GAM tournament and claimed his biggest win since he started playing golf at age 23 and started competing in tournaments at age 27.
“I just wanted to go out and shoot a good score like in every tournament I play,” said the 57-year-old who works in computer automotive design for Strattec Security Corp. “I was happy to sort of be in contention after the first round. I never looked at the leaderboard all day.”
A Super Senior champion (ages 65-plus) ended up being a familiar name in the GAM Senior Championship. Rick Herpich of Orchard Lake won among the older set for the fourth time in the championship since turning 65 in 2017.
Lewiston’s Lori Schlicher Wins Second Consecutive Michigan Women’s Senior Amateur
Lori Schlicher of Lewiston felt the pressure of being the defending champion, managed it and won the Michigan Women’s Senior Amateur Championship presented by Stifel Investment Services for the second consecutive year.
Schlicher took a 2-up lead through five holes and never trailed in topping Shelly Weiss of Southfield 3 and 2 in the championship match at Sugar Springs Golf Club.
“I did feel a little pressure,” Schlicher said. “I felt like I should definitely win if I played well, and I did play well today.”
Schlicher, medalist and the top seed from the stroke play first-round with a 73, earned her spot in the final match with a 3 and 1 semifinal win over Donna Benford of Linden, and Weiss earned her finals berth by turning back Barb Schmid 6 and 4 in the other semifinal.
Sugar Springs has hosted the championship for three consecutive years.
