Michigan Golf Journal September 2019

Amateur Championships GAM Championship: Mitchell White at Home   This was the summer in which Muskegon’s Mitchell White didn’t play a lot of golf due to college internship duties, finishing up at Grand Valley State University and spending more time with family. But a fifth-consecutive summer also working as bag-room staff at Muskegon Country Club, host of the GAM Championship, paid off.   “I didn’t plan on winning this,” he said after shooting a closing 5-under 67 to win his second GAM Championship (first in 2015). “It was surreal how everything lined up for me. I had only played in two tournaments. I didn’t think it could happen, but I played my practice round and it was like – I have some things going here.”    This time White dominated. His 15-under 201 total was six better than runner-up and defending champion James Piot of Canton and MSU, who closed with a 68. Michigan Women’s Amateur: Elayna Bowser From Michigan Women’s Amateur runner up last year, to 2019 champion, to LPGA Tour Q-School coming this month, Dearborn’s Elayna Bowser is trending up.   Bowser, a 22-year-old Loyola University grad who is turning professional, defeated Michigan Golf Hall of Famer and MSU coach, Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll, 4 and 3 in the championship match at Spring Lake Country Club.   “It means a lot,” Bowser said of giving her a boost heading off to Q-School. “It is the top women’s amateur tournament in Michigan and to win it feels like I reached the ultimate goal for a Michigan amateur golfer… knowing this was going to be my last amateur tournament, I wanted to finish strong.” At age 47, the MSU coach almost grabbed her third Michigan Amateur title. Slobodnik-Stoll is the winningest golfer in GAM history with 18 titles, including two amateurs in 1996 and ’98. Junior State Amateur: Patrick Deardorff Patrick Deardorff of Clarkston knew it was his last Michigan Junior State Amateur, so he gave it everything he had. T he 18-year-old lefty turned back Tommy Sullivan of Grosse Pointe 3 and 2 in the final match to win the 41st edition of the championship, played at Bedford Valley Golf Course near Battle Creek.   “I’m extremely happy about this win,” he said. “It was a lot of fun and it’s the biggest win I’ve ever had without a doubt.”   Deardorff, who’s undecided about his college or golf plans, got the lead in the middle of the back nine in the final match and then made clutch putts.   The GAM presented a 15-and-under competition for the first time and Ryan O’Rourke of West Bloomfield took the title with a 2 and 1 win over Joe Murdock of Ada in the final match.