By Greg Johnson
Steve Maddalena got the win at the 12th GAM Super Senior Championship at Fox Hills Golf & Banquet Center.
“It’s been good,” he said. “I’ve been playing a little better, putting a lot better, which has made a huge difference,” the Jackson golfer said after shooting a final even-par 72 on the Golden Fox course for a tournament total 1-over 145.
“I got a putting tip from Mike Raymond (2022 Super Senior Champion) because I wasn’t putting very well, and I kind of turned a corner with it down in Georgia and I’ve been playing solid since then.”
The 66-year-old Michigan Golf Hall of Fame member won the recent Golfweek U.S. Super Senior National Championship at The Golf Club of Georgia and finished second in the Super Senior Division of the Michigan Senior Open last week.
“Mike took a video and I was closing down the face of the putter,” he said. “I was playing in best-ball events with him, and he got tired of me not helping. He said, ‘let’s fix this.’ We did, and it’s fun making putts again. I made all the putts I needed to make today.”
Maddalena was one shot off the lead to start the final round and traded the lead with Fisher until late in the round. A birdie at 18 capped the win.
“It’s always fun to win and get the trophy,” Maddalena said. “It’s been fun the last few weeks making putts. You don’t feel like you have a chance when you are missing putts you should make.”
In the Legends Division (ages 70-plus), Canton’s Mike Fedewa carded a closing 75 for 151 to win the Legends title by three shots over Tom Eberhard of Seabrook Island, who shot a closing 79.
Fedewa, 76, was in a tight battle with Eberhard most of the final round. He said birdies at Nos. 1 and 2 starting his second nine of the round gave him momentum.
“I thought winning was over for me, but I’m playing more this summer, three times a week usually and it has made a difference,” he said. “Not working early mornings on a physical job has helped my back, too. I feel good and my game’s starting to come back some.”
Winning the trophy for the over-75 division was Ron Perrine of Holt, who shot a 75 in the second roundd for a total of155.
