TECUMSEH – Tecumseh Golf Club is hosting for the first time the 29th Women’s Atlas Trophy Matches Saturday and Sunday.
The top women golfers in the state representing private golf clubs and public venues make up the two teams and play a Ryder Cup-style competition.
Tecumseh, then known as Tecumseh Country Club, hosted the 1999 Michigan Women’s Amateur Championship won by Kim Benedict.
The private club opened in 1948 and was sold by members to the Hantz Group in 2011 and is now owned by Tim Simpson, who renamed it Tecumseh Golf Club.
It offers pristine playing conditions, a traditional tree-lined parkland style layout with four sets of tees ranging from 5,400 yards to 6,800 yards. Large willow, pine, maple and hickory trees make for a picturesque setting. Fast greens that tilt in the traditional manner prompt members to tip: Keep the ball below the hole.
Learn more about the course at tecumsehgolfclub.com.
The Women’s Atlas Trophy matches, named for the late Edward Atlas, a noted golf leader in Michigan, were first played in 1989 and have become a competition between women GAM members who are members of a private club, and GAM members who do not belong to a private club. The matches are unique in that teams are made up of golfers of all ages, including seniors and juniors.
Foursomes matches will be played Saturday morning with four-ball matches to follow in the afternoon. Individual matches are played on Sunday. One point is awarded per match with ½ point being given to each team for a halved match. If tied at the end of the competition, the team currently holding the trophy retains it.
The captains of both the “Public” and “Private” teams are selected by the GAM. The captains select 12 team members each, using GAM Honor Roll points and other criteria.
The Private team leads the series 14-11 with three ties after the Public Team won in 2019 at Gull Lake View Golf and Resort’s Stoatin Brae course in Augusta, Mich.
Representing the Public Team captained by Cynthia Pinkard are sisters Bridget and Grace Boczar of Canton, Susan Campbell of Kalamazoo, Ariel Chang of Macomb Township, Katie Chipman of Plymouth, Elizabeth Harding of South Lyon, Chaithra Katamneni of Midland, Laura Liu of Rochester Hills, Adie Maki of Canton, Katherine Potter of South Lyon, Lauren Timpf of Macomb and Shelly Weiss of Southfield.
Representing the Private Team captained by Jean Murray are Kate Brody of Grand Blanc, Terry Delcamp of Grand Blanc, Kimberly Dinh of Midland, Joan Garety of Ada, Veronica Haque of Rochester, Lilia Henkel of Grand Rapids, Shannon Kennedy of Beverly Hills, Danielle Staskowski of Clarkston, Sophie Stevens of Highland, Darci Stocker of Flint, Olivia Stoll of Haslett and Kay Zubkus of Ada.
The matches were not played in 2020 due to pandemic concerns.
