Written By: Greg Johnson
FARMINGTON HILLS – Greg Davies of West Bloomfield made match play in the U.S. Senior Amateur, made match play in the Michigan Amateur, too, tied for second in the GAM Senior Championship, made the semifinals in the GAM Senior Match Play Championship, and that’s not the half of it.
The Michigan Golf Hall of Famer played a busy and successful competitive schedule, which also included Michigan Publinx tournaments and his third win in the Syron Memorial Championship, and has been named the 2026 GAM Senior Men’s Player of the Year, Ken Hartmann, senior director of competitions and USGA services, announced today.
It’s the second time the 59-year-old Davies has won the Senior Player of the Year honor. The 2006 GAM Men’s Player of the Year – the same year he won the Michigan Amateur Championship –won the Senior Player of the Year honor for the first time in 2023.
Player of the Year point totals can be found on a pull down from the PLAY tab at GAM.org. Carl’s Golfland is the presenting sponsor of the points lists.
Last week, the GAM announced McCoy Biagioli of White Lake as the Men’s Player of the Year and Bridget Boczar of Canton and Elayna Bowser of Dearborn as Co-Women’s Players of the Year. Later this week, the GAM will announce the Senior Women’s Player of the Year, and in the next few weeks more Players of the Year in gender and age categories will be announced.
Davies with his busy competition schedule amassed 635 points to top the Points List.
David Vaclav of Flat Rock, who made the Round of 32 in the U.S. Senior Amateur, was second with 355 points.
Tom Gieselman of Commerce Township, who won the GAM Senior Match Play Championship, had 337.5 points and finished third.
GAM Senior Champion John Leach, who had 305 points, and Leo Daigle of Wixom, who also had 305 points, rounded out the top five.
Davies said it was a busy summer because he doesn’t focus just on the Senior schedule.
“I still compete in all the Men’s tournaments possible, and this year it was nice to qualify for the U.S. Senior Amateur and get to match play,” he said. “That earned a lot of points with the way the GAM weighs them.”
Each year Davies said the first goal is to compete for Player of the Year honors, and the second is to notch another win to add to his Hall of Fame resume.
“I would rather win Player of the Year than win almost anything else because it means you played consistently through the season,” he said. “I do really appreciate winning this award. I’m grateful to the GAM and the Publinx and the Senior organizations where I play.”
Davies said joining Prestwick Village Golf Club helped his game greatly this summer.
“The practice facility at Prestwick is golf nirvana out there, the best in the Midwest,” he said. “Practicing there and playing with some of the young guys out there helps you improve, and I love the process of getting in shape, practicing a ton and being prepared for the next tournament.”
