FREELAND – Kevin Klemet of White Lake was hospitalized with a stroke two weeks ago, but he returned to golf for the 16th GAM Senior Four-Ball Championship at Apple Mountain Golf Club and Tuesday won the title for the second time with partner Tom “Leo” Daigle of Wixom.
The 2019 champions and runners-up a year ago shot a closing 3-under 69 for a 5-under two-day total of 139.
James Landi and David LeVan of Ann Arbor, who shot 72 for 141, finished second, and three teams tied at 142.
“Two weeks ago I was laying in a hospital, so you know I struggled but my partner was a rock star,” Klemet said. “We won this two years ago and we were second last year and we still came here to win. Like I said my partner played like a star and every once in a while asked me to chip in and help on a hole and I did for a few holes. It was really the Leo Daigle show for the last two days and I was moral support.
Daigle, 58 and a mortgage company owner, said the recently retired Klemet is the greatest partner ever and that it is great fun to play and win.
“We’re getting older, we’re not getting any younger,” he said. “Kevin just turned 60 and had some health scares and I’m right behind him. So every day is a gift from God. We all love another day on this side of the ground and today was a fun day.”
Daigle said the final round started in a funny way.
“Kevin’s in trouble and in his pocket on the very first hole, a par 5, so I layup playing smart,” he said. “Then I bone my third shot two feet off the ground and 100 miles per hour. Well, it hits the pin dead center and rolls back 25 feet off the green. I mean, we’re done, it looks like we’re going to start with a double bogey, but I chip it in for birdie. I had a good feeling after that happened. We were going to have a good day.”
Klemet said if Daigle’s putter had been working as well as it can they would have won by 12 shots.
“He was hitting it that well,” he said. “It’s getting near the end of the season and you would like to think you can bring your A game. Leo did.”
The duo bested a field of 43 two-golfer teams for the overall title and their names being inscribed on the Gus Cosmos Trophy for the second time, but a Super Senior Division winning team was also identified.
Dan Hughes of Saginaw and Roy Schultheiss of Bay City shot a final 73 for 140 to win by one shot over the team of Ray Emsley of Davisburg and Ron Perrine of Holt, who teamed up for a 72 and 141.
