GAM Media Relations
96th Michigan Amateur Championship
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www.gam.org
June 23, 2007
Spartan Golfer Bombs His Way to Capture 96th Michigan Amateur Championship
ROYAL OAK ? Ryan Brehm (Mt. Pleasant) developed his strategy early, and stuck with it. Just hit the tee shot as far and as hard as you can.
Throughout the week at the 96th Michigan Amateur at Red Run Golf Club ? sponsored by Pepsi — Brehm hammered away at the Willie Park Jr. designed course ? and the competition ? en route to his championship win.
?My goal was to bang driver all week and also to stay in attack mode,? Brehm said. ?I was a little nervous coming out of the gate (but) I bombed my drive on hole No. 2 and drained the putt, which got my rhythm going.?
Brehm went into the lead, 1up, on the 12th hole and never looked back, defeating Steven Cuzzort (Grosse Ile), 2 and 1 in the final match.
?It wasn?t just Brehm?s distance that won the match,? said Cuzzort. ?I?m use to his distance, he also putted extremely well, he said. You can hit the ball great, but it?s won on the green . . . you win a tournament by making putts and he made a lot of them.?
The victory by Brehm, senior-to-be at Michigan State University, was yet another in a five year ?youth movement? trend at the Michigan Amateur. The last time an over 21 player won the championship was in 2006. Six out the last seven champions have all been college age. This year?s final four featured three college young guns and one 2-time Michigan Amateur Champion, 50 year old, Randy Lewis (Alma). Only six players over the age of 25 made the Sweet 16.
Players young and old had universal praise for the course at Red Run Golf Club. The near century old gem tucked in the city of Royal Oak dates back to 1914.
?This is the granddaddy tournament of them all ? The big one? that all Michigan amateur golfers want to win,? said Brehm.
For more information and complete results, visit www.gam.org.
ROYAL OAK, MI (AP) – Results following Saturday?s semi-final and final match play rounds at the 96th Michigan Amateur Championship played on the par-72 Red Run Golf Club:
Saturday Semi-Finals Match Play Results:
Steven Cuzzort d. Dan Doyle, 2-1
Ryan Brehm d. Randy Lewis, (20 holes)
Saturday Final Match Play Results:
Brehm d. Cuzzort, 2-1
