EAST LANSING – Drew Miller of East Lansing built a big lead and Elise Fennell of Caledonia had to fend off a future college teammate to win the overall boys’ and girls’ titles in the 11th GAM Junior Invitational Championship presented by Absopure Sunday at Forest Akers West Golf Course.
Miller followed up a first-round 66 with a 4-under 68 Sunday for a 10-under 134 total to win by eight shots. Will Preston, who shot a final 74 after an opening 68, finished second at 142.
Fennell shot a 73 to close after a 70 in the first-round and with her 1-under 143 total finished two shots clear of Jessica Jolly of Rockford, who shot 74 for 145.
Miller, who is 18 and a senior at East Lansing High planning to sign with the Michigan State University golf program next month, said his game feels good right now.
“I really played well and feel confident out there,” he said. “Everything in my game was just solid, pretty consistent all around. I didn’t really give away too many shots.”
Defending champion Max VanderMolen of Richland, who shot 69, finished third at 143 behind Miller and Preston. Julian Menser of South Lyon was fourth with a 75 for 145.
“I got off to a rocky start, but then made a birdie and gained a little bit of momentum and never looked back,” Miller said. “I had a couple good saves, a couple birdies in there and stayed solid the rest of the day.”
Miller said it meant a lot to win the title.
“Any GAM tournament is important to me,” he said. “I always want to play good in the tournaments that have players from around the state, and to be able to get a win is awesome.”
Fennell, who is 17 and a senior at East Kentwood, said it was super fun to battle Jolly, a senior at Rockford, which like East Kentwood is also part of the OK Red Conference in high school golf. Both are planning to sign next month with Illinois State University. Ironically, Jolly was the winner of the GAM Kickoff Tournament at the start of the summer, while Fennell finished second.
“We battle against each other a lot in conference play, and then in GAM tournaments,” Fennell said. “I have to play my best to beat her. Yesterday I played pretty good but today I made a lot more putts and got everything going.”
The two were tied or trading the lead through most of the round. A bogey at hole 15 by Jolly help result in the final two-shot margin for the tournament.
Alena Li of Okemos, who shot 72 for 146, finished third behind Fennell and Jolly. Mia Melendez of Ann Arbor, who shot 76 for 150 was fourth.
“Winning this one means a lot,” said Fennell, who is also a two-time GAM Junior Stroke Play Champion. “I feel like all summer I played pretty good but I just couldn’t put rounds together. I finally did that and it feels really good.”
Jack Whitmore of Northville made a chip-in birdie on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff (hole 18) to win the boys’ 15-and-under title.
He shot 75 for 151 and was tied after regulation play with Cooper Reitsma of Ada, who shot 77 to close.
Saisha Patil of Okemos shot a pair of 75s for 150 to win by 10 shots in the girls’ 15-and-under competition. Esther Zhang of Ann Arbor was second with an 81 for 160.
The players were invited by the GAM to play in the season-ending junior championship based on performances in GAM championships and a variety of other state and national competitions.
