Written By: Greg Johnson
GROSSE ILE – Peter Stassinopoulos of Novi executed a sudden-death playoff chip shot from over the green resulting in a tap-in par and victory in the 105th GAM Championship presented by Carl’s Golfland Tuesday at Grosse Ile Golf & Country Club.
Stassinopoulos, who shot a final-round even-par 70, and Vibhav Alokam of Ypsilanti who charged with a 66, were tied at 7-under 203 at the end of regulation play in the 54-hole championship.
On hole No. 1 in the playoff, both players missed the green long with approach shots, but Stassinopoulos produced the better chip shot to save par and win his first GAM title and the historic K.T. Keller Trophy.
“I told myself I’m winning or losing this hole and the whole tournament on this chip shot,” said the 22-year-old soon-to-be Wayne State University graduate. “And I told myself you are going to sellout to it. I landed it right where I wanted to, and I had myself a tap-in for the win.”
Julian Menser of South Lyon, a Michigan State University golfer, who shot 67, and 15-year-old Rochester Adams High School standout Benjamin Vento, who shot 68, tied for third at 205.
Jack Klimek, the 17-year-old from Grand Rapids Forest Hills Eastern High School who led through the first two rounds and shot a competition course record of 63 in the first round (62 is the non-competition course record), closed with a 75 for 206 to round out the top five.
Stassinopoulos said he jokes around and calls himself the Rickie Fowler of the GAM tournaments.
“I’m always finding myself with top 10s, but I can never pull out the win,” he said. “It’s really rewarding to do this. I’ve been putting in a lot of hard work on my game. I’m going to start working in the real world here pretty soon, so this means a lot. The amateur golf days have been my favorites. And to call myself a GAM Champion is tripping for me.”
Alokam, a Villanova University golfer who was competing on his 20th birthday, chipped 25 feet past the hole in the playoff, and then just missed the comeback attempt.
“Almost made the putt, that’s my story of the tournament,” he said. “I’m very happy with the tournament. I played super well. I had only three bogeys in 54 holes, so it was really solid. I’m excited to carry it over to the college season.”
Stassinopoulos, who will soon join the family business, the Leo’s Coney Island restaurant chain, had his parents, John (vice-president of Leo’s) and Jackie, in his gallery. He said it was great they got to see his best golf day.
“I’ve played in the GAM Championships for a few years now, and every time I always get there and see the big names, the kids with their names on their golf bags because they play at Big Ten schools,” he said. “So, for a guy who played college golf for a year-and-a-half and didn’t enjoy it as much as I thought I would, to come here and be able to pull out a win among some really good players, it makes my hard work all worth it.”
He had a key birdie on the par 5 17th in regulation play that gave him the sole lead and allowed for a bogey on the long par 3 18th to land him in the playoff. On 17, he missed the fairway left but hit a 230-yard 4-iron through the green to the back fringe and then two-putted for the birdie.
“I give myself two leaderboard checks a round,” Stassinopoulos said. “I check at the turn, and I check with two holes left. I looked at it on 17 tee and saw (Alokam) was done, and I would need a birdie to get him by one. I made the birdie but left that chip shot short on 18, made bogey and we went to the playoff. I’m proud I was able to get that last par and win.”
