Michigan Golf Journal September 2019

of the Year, and also took his game to the national stage. He qualified for and played in 15 U.S. Amateur Championships and three U.S. Open Championships and won the 1967 Middle Atlantic Amateur Championship. 1980-1989: Michigan Native Jeff Rivard Guides Changing Association Jeff Rivard came to the GAM as its third executive director in 1984, served through 1992 and was on the scene for the most significant change in the association’s history.   In 1985 the GAM changed its bylaws to include public golf facilities in the GAM family and services. Previously, and for 66 years, it has been an organization of private golf clubs only.   Another significant change during Rivard’s Michigan tenure involved the Michigan Amateur Championship. Rivard thought it needed site changes and a format change to maximize it as the flagship tournament.  In terms of format for the Michigan Amateur, Rivard lobbied for a change to the qualifying.  Fast forward to 2012, a record 1,034 golfers entered the Michigan Amateur. It was hosted that year by Oakland Hills on the North Course and won by Drew Preston. #GAM100