Michigan Golf Journal May 2020

31 May 2020 www.michigangolfjournal.com Tom Werkmeister of Grand Rapids and Christine Meier of Rochester Hills dominated as amateurs during the last decade – and then they turned professional. They have been named the Golf Association of Michigan (GAM) Players of the Decade . Randy Lewis of Alma and Julie Massa of Holt demonstrated as seniors that golf is the game of a lifetime, and that elite play can remain a part of it. They have been named the GAM Senior Players of the Decade. “We charted the GAM Honor Roll numbers for the decade in determining this,” Ken Hartmann, the GAM senior director of competitions said. “The cream rises to the top. All of them are exceptional golfers and people.” Werkmeister, a metro Detroit native, has been a five-time GAM Player of the Year and in the last decade won the 2017 Michigan Amateur Championship (his second), the 2016 GAM Championship, led GAM’s Michigan tea m to the 2016 USGA State Tea m Championship as nationa l co-medalist, won four of his record six GAM Mid- Amateur Championships and in 2013 was the first amateur to win the Michigan Open Championship in 38 year s. He turned professional in 2018 at the age of 50 to pursue a PGA Tour Champions career. “Trust me, this was a goal and I’m very excited and very honored to win,” he said. “The GAM has been great for me and my golf career. I’m a professional now and I miss the people I played against and the tournaments I got to play in as an amateur. I have great memories though and this adds to them.” Meier, a Rochester Hills native who in 2020 will be an assistant professional at Bloomfield Hills Country Club, won the 2011 and 2013 Michigan Women’s Amateur Championship to highlight the last decade, but as an amateur also qualified for the 2012 U.S. Women’s Open Championship and in 2013 made it to match play in the U.S. Women’s Amateur. She turned professional after playing for Michigan State University and played primar ily on the LPGA’s Symetra Tou r until the summer of 20 19. She said she was c ompletely surprised to be named the Player of the Decade. “The GAM was a huge part o f my amateur career and win ning the two amateurs Continues on next page >>