Kimberly Dinh Wins Her Second GAM Women’s Mid-Amateur Title
By Greg Johnson
Kimberly Dinh of Midland made sure the only drama involved others asking why her foot was in a brace.
The 30-year-old senior research specialist for Dow Chemical, who broke bones in her lower leg and damaged ligaments in a late January snow skiing accident – and started playing complete golf rounds again just over two weeks ago – shot a closing 2-under 69 and rolled to victory in the 25th GAM Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship on May 30-31 at Saginaw Country Club.
Dinh’s 36-hole total of 139 was nine shots clear of the field, and she will again have her name added to the Jeanne L. Myers Trophy. The 2022 GAM Women’s Player of the Year and 2021 Michigan Women’s Amateur Champion also won the Women’s Mid-Am in 2020.
Dinh said she felt gratitude for being able to return to form and win.
“I really didn’t know what to expect,” she said. “I finally got out of the boot and my leg was super skinny and I couldn’t do much with it. I couldn’t understand how I could be ready to play competitive golf again so soon. A lot of credit goes to my physical therapists, my surgeon and Kyle (Martin, her teaching professional at The Fortress in Frankenmuth), who got me ready like he always does.”
Laura Bavaird of Trenton shot a closing 73 for 148 and second place, and Rachel Sampson of East Lansing shot 72 for 149 and third in the championship for golfers age 25-and-over.
Champions were also determined in a Senior Division (age 50-plus) and the age 19-24 Division.
An emotional Shelly Weiss of Southfield shot 77 for 152 and then topped runner-up Julie Massa of Pentwater in a USGA formula scorecard playoff to take top Senior honors. Massa, last year’s GAM Senior Women’s Player of the Year, also shot 77 for 152, but had a higher overall score on the back nine.
Katherine Potter of South Lyon, home for the summer from the Marshall University golf team in West Virginia, shot a second consecutive 72 for 144 and the win among the college players. Grand Valley State University’s Olivia Stoll, and Megha Vallabhaneni of Northville and WMU, were next at 146.
