Written By: Greg Johnson
ANN ARBOR – One of Tommy Preston’s goals for the summer was winning GAM Junior Boys’ Player of the Year honors and thereby following up on being the GAM 15-and-Under Junior Boys’ Player of the Year in 2025.
The 16-year-old Grand Rapids golfer took a giant step toward that goal by shooting a 6-under 66 in the final round to win the GAM Boys’ Championship at Polo Fields Golf & Country Club by four shots Tuesday.
With his win in the Michigan Junior Amateur Championship earlier this summer it gave him a sweep of the top two junior events for boys on the GAM schedule.
“This means a lot with player of the year points and everything,” said the Grand Rapids Catholic Central student and golfer. “I was pretty steady. I only had one bogey and seven birdies. My short game was able to save me a few times, and I made a few putts here and there.”
Preston’s here-and-there 66 left him with an 11-under 133 total, four shots better than the defending champion, JP Levan of Grand Rapids, who shot a final 67 for 137.
It was Levan who last year won both titles and was GAM Junior Boys’ Player of the Year.
Harris Hoekwater made it a one-two-three finish for golfers from Grand Rapids with a closing 70 for 138.
Joseph Karoutsos of Grosse Pointe Woods, who shot 74 following a first-round 66 for 140, Draven Rogers of Fort Gratiot, who shot 74 for 142, and Mikey Karwaski of Commerce Township, who followed a first-round 66 with a 77 for 143, rounded out the top six.
Salvatore Camalo of Plymouth claimed the 15-and-under Division Championship with a birdie on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff with Fitz Vanderson of Grand Rapids.
Camalo shot a closing 71 for 143, while Vanderson closed with a 73 for 143.
Colton Oake of Howell, who shot 73 for 146, and Timothy Delzer of Grand Blanc, who shot 74 for 146, rounded out the top four.
Preston said a combination of greens that were a little soft and his good wedge play helped him shoot the winning 66.
“I was able to hit some tight with my wedges and I putted well,” he said. “The greens weren’t too fast, and I like to hit my putts a little hard sometimes, but I was able to get a firm pace and make a lot of putts.”
He said chipping in for a birdie from right of the green at No. 5 was a key part of his round.
“That got me going a little,” he said. “I was 3-under through five and just cruised from there pretty much.”
Preston recently played in the U.S. Junior Amateur, and he said the experience helped him.
“Playing a really hard course and seeing I’m able to play well on hard courses helped,” he said. “I played bad one of the days, but I bounced back and played well. It showed me my game is in a good spot.”
Camalo, the 15-and-under champion, said the win means a lot to him.
“I haven’t played too good this year, so it’s a big, big confidence boost for me,” said the Detroit Catholic Central golfer. he said.
He said he wasn’t looking at the leaderboard during play.
“I don’t tend to check; just gets in my head,” he said. “I did run into the leading group on hole nine, though, and they told me what they were at. I kind of just knew that I had to battle.”
Camalo said he normally hits a cut shot, but the first playoff called for draw.
“I hit a good drive, had a 70-yard shot left, hit it to 10 feet, and made the putt. It was awesome.”
