Rick Herpich, Joan Garety Win GAM Senior Tournament of Champions

Rick Herpich of Orchard Lake and Joan Garety of Ada closed out the Golf Association of Michigan season winning the GAM Senior Tournament of Champions.

Herpich, 69 and an Orchard Lake Country Club member, shot an even par 71 and then won on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff with Andrew Abood of Lansing. It was his second GAM Senior TOC title. He also won in 2020.

Garety is a Michigan Golf Hall of Famer and Egypt Valley Country Club member who shot a 74 to win the women’s title. It was her first Senior TOC, but she has three GAM TOC titles on her rich resume. She’s also a recent MSU Sports Hall of Fame inductee.

Herpich and Abood were tied on just the final two holes of regulation play forcing the playoff, and they were just one shot ahead of 72 shooters Grosse Ile G&CC member Robert Papp of Trenton, and Chuck Christie of Beverly Hills.

Garety took the lead in the middle of the round and held off Julie Massa of Holt, who shot 77.