BELMONT ? It is a brave golfer that introduces a new putter to his game in the heat of competition. But that is exactly what Tom Stauffer (Caledonia/Stone Water CC) did during the second round of the 23rd GAM Senior Championship at Blythefield Country Club Sept. 22. He credits that new putter with helping him win the tournament.
?I was confident with my swing, but scared on the greens,? said Stauffer. ??On Monday I had 35 putts and put a new putter into play on Tuesday. I finally made some after that.?
Stauffer finished with a two-under-par 71-71-142.? He finished three strokes ahead of runner-up John Richart (Ann Arbor/ Barton Hills). Even though his putter was working well for him on the second day of competition, he admits to having butterflies on the 17th green when he was trying to make a putt for par to maintain his three-shot lead.
?I couldn?t breathe on the putt at 17 because it has been so long since I was in the hunt like that,? said Stauffer. ?I figured I was in the lead and I was feeling the pressure.?
Stauffer has won several titles over the years including three Kent County Amateur titles and two Grand Rapids City titles. But winning the GAM Senior Championship was atop his list of goals and he is thrilled to be able to hoist the trophy ? especially after losing in a playoff two years ago to Mike Fedewa (Canton).
?I get to go home and cross it off my list but the coolest thing will be taking the trophy home for the kids to see,? said Stauffer. ?I just called them and there was some yelling in the background. They are excited.
?I?m honored to get my name on that trophy. There are some great names on there ? all the top amateurs my age and older. I knew I could compete at this level. It feels great to win. It always feels great to win.?
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