ROYAL OAK – Red Run Golf Club and its classic course with recently renovated and restored bunkers and tees will host the 50th Fuller Cup Matches Tuesday.
Top amateur golfers representing the Golf Association of Michigan (GAM) and top PGA professionals representing the Michigan Section PGA (PGA) square off in a Ryder Cup-like format with six four-ball matches and 12 singles matches to determine a winning team.
Red Run is hosting the Fuller Cup matches for the fifth time (1978, 1988, 1995, 2007), and FootJoy is the clothing sponsor for the matches.
Red Run and its 1914 Willie Park Jr.-designed golf course have hosted several championships for professionals and amateurs and was the home club of Michigan Golf Hall of Fame legend Chuck Kocsis. Architect Bruce Hepner, who grew up near the course, led the extensive restoration/renovation of tees and bunkers.
The golf course, founded 105 years ago, has a storied history as a tournament site including hosting the GAM Championship seven times (1921, 1924, 1929, 1949, 1968, 1981 and 2014), the Michigan Amateur Championship twice (1995, 2007) and the Michigan PGA Professional Championship in 1934.
Most notably, Red Run has hosted three PGA Tour events – the 1950 and ‘52 Motor City Opens won by Lloyd Mangrum and Cary Middlecoff, and the 1958 Western Open won by Doug Sanders.
Red Run, which also annually presents the second oldest club invitational event in the state, can be played at six possible tee positions ranging from 5,415 yards to 6,942. The course is known for its classic parkland design, challenging greens, tree-lined fairways and immaculately-kept grounds.
One of the club’s great traditions is that many members started out as caddies at the club and became involved in building an elite caddie program. The national Evans Scholarship program has aided several Red Run caddies in college since its first recipient from Red Run, Michigan Golf Hall of Fame golfer and former GAM President Bob McMasters.
Walter Sierakowski III is the PGA professional and Rob Steger is the golf course superintendent. For more information visit redrungolfclub.com.
Last year, the Golf Association of Michigan (GAM) Team trailed the Michigan Section PGA Team 4-2 after morning four-ball matches but rallied in singles matches to win the 49th Fuller Cup Matches at Prestwick Village Golf Club.
It was the fourth consecutive win for GAM and eighth in the last 12 years, though the PGA leads the all-time series 34-13-2.
Representing the PGA this year are Kyle Dobbs of Oak Pointe Country Club, Wally Sierakowski of Red Run Golf Club, Kyle Martin of Lochmoor Club, Josh Fryer of Franklin Hills Country Club, Tim Pearce of Birmingham Country Club, Kosta Ramirez of Treetops Resort, Cody Haughton of Red Run Golf Club, Adam Schumacher of Point O’Woods Golf & Country Club, Ron Beurmann of Country Club of Jackson, Jim Deiters of Midland Country Club, Scott Hebert of Traverse City Golf & Country Club and Brian Cairns of Fox Hills Learning Center.
Representing the GAM this year are Mike Anderson of Northville, Chet Vandenberg of Portage, John Quigley of Sterling Heights, Anthony Sorentino of Rochester Hills, Will Anderson of Portage and the University of Michigan, Pierce Morrissey of Canadian Lakes and Michigan State University, Patrick Deardorff of Clarkston and Eastern Michigan University, David Szymanski of Holt, Greg Davies of West Bloomfield, Matt Zerbel of St. Joseph, Bradley Smithson of Grand Rapids and Michigan State and August Meekhof of Eastmanville and Michigan State.
The format has changed over the years, but the matches are presented to promote sportsmanship, friendship and quality golf among professionals and amateurs. The matches are named for the late Ernest Fuller, a Michigan golf course developer. The GAM team is selected through the use of the GAM Honor Roll and availability and the PGA selects its team via money list standing and availability.
Find more information on the Golf Association of Michigan at GAM.org. Find more information on the Michigan PGA at michiganpga.com.
FULLER CUP PAIRINGS (Tuesday, Oct. 4, Red Run Golf Club
Note: GAM team members listed first
MORNING FOUR-BALL MATCHES
8:30 am – Mike Anderson, Chet Vandenberg vs. Kyle Dobbs, Wally Sierakowski
8:40 am – John Quigley, Anthony Sorentino vs. Kyle Martin, Josh Fryer
8:50 am – Will Anderson, Pierce Morrissey vs. Tim Pearce, Kosta Ramirez
9:00 am – Patrick Deardorff, David Szymanski, vs. Cody Haughton, Adam Schumacher
9:10 am – Greg Davies, Matt Zerbel vs. Ron Beurmann, Jim Deiters
9:20 am – Bradley Smithson, August Meekhof vs. Scott Hebert, Brian Cairns
AFTERNOON SINGLES MATCHES
1:00 pm – Mike Anderson vs. Kyle Dobbs
1:00 pm – Chet Vandenberg vs. Wally Sierakowski
1:10 pm – John Quigley vs. Kyle Martin
1:10 pm – Anthony Sorentino vs. Josh Fryer
1:20 pm – Will Anderson vs. Tim Pearce
1:20 pm – Pierce Morrissey vs. Kosta Ramirez
1:30 pm – Patrick Deardorff vs. Cody Haughton
1:30 pm – David Szymanski vs. Adam Schumacher
1:40 pm – Greg Davies vs. Ron Beurmann
1:40 pm – Matt Zerbel vs Jim Deiters
1:50 pm – Bradley Smithson vs. Scott Hebert
1:50 pm – August Meekhof vs. Brian Cairns
