Written By: Greg Johnson
Brighton – Patrick Duffy won at the course where his family had membership while he was growing up, and he’s a new father, too.
It made for an emotional champion of the 15th GAM Net Match Play Championship Lakelands G & CC Wednesday.
The 30-year-old Rochester Hills resident who works for an automotive supplier topped Jack McHale of Macomb Township 3 and 1 in the final match.
“So, it’s kind of cool to come and defend the home course, and we’ve got a little baby and that’s tons of fun,” he said of Mia, who is 10-months old.
“It’s really special to win, fantastic. She’ll be the first one to take some photos with the trophy. We’re going to fill it with some formula for her and she’ll have a ball.”
Duffy, who had not played in a GAM tournament since college, beat Chris Hanson of Oakland Township 3 and 2 in a morning semifinal to reach the title match while McHale beat Brad Christians of Fountain 3 and 1 in the other semifinal.
“It was a long week,” Duffy said. “It’s a lot to play 36 holes three days in a row. I think you get to a certain point, and it becomes, you know, a golf trip swing and a knock-down shot swing, but it’s a bunch of fun being out there.”
McHale had an early lead in the final, but a chip-in that hit the pin at 5 helped Duffy start to rally.
A birdie on 13 turned the match in his favor.
“I was feeling a little bit of momentum go my way,” he said. “It was great to see that putt go down on 13. We were both really tired. I think it was, just if you can hit a green, that’s enough momentum to keep you alive. That’s what I focused on.”
Duffy is a public course player but plays once in a while with his father at Lakelands, and usually in the club’s annual invitation. He was happy to see his father get out to the final match for a few holes.
“He got out for a few and we had a couple of buddies come up, some college friends, so it was great to have a lot of support out there,” he said. “It just made it all that more memorable.”
