Written By: Greg Johnson
LAKE ORION – Jeff Knudson, an Oakland University Golf & Learning Center member, and Donna Tepper, a Country Club of Detroit member, finished the season as champions among champions.
Knudson won the men’s title and Tepper the women’s title in the season-concluding 16th GAM Senior Tournament of Champions presented by BOYNE Golf Wednesday on the Old Course at Indianwood Golf & Country Club.
Knudson shot a 4-under 67 and won by three shots over 70-shooting Mike Anderson of Meadowbrook Country Club.
John Leach, an Indianwood member who recently won the GAM Senior Championship, shot 71 for third place.
Rick Williams of Salem Hills Golf Club, David LeVan of Traverse City Golf & Country Club and Tim Harding of Gull Lake Country Club rounded out the top six with 72s.
Tepper also pulled away from the field to win the women’s title. She shot 76 and won by four shots.
Julie Massa of Lincoln Hills Golf Club was second with an 80. Cherie Robinson of Crystal Downs Country Club and Shelly Weiss of Plum Hollow Country Club were next with 81s.
Cindy Troyanovich of Lochmoor Club and Cathy Netter of the Women’s District Golf Association each shot 82 to round out the top six.
Knudson called it a great day.
“The greens were rolling really fast,” he said. “It was nice that everything came together for the last tournament of the year. I hadn’t been playing that good. It just happened today.”
Knudson had an action-packed round with five birdies, three bogeys and a highlight eagle-3 at No. 12.
“It was a kick-in,” he said. “I just hit a great shot, caught a couple of big, good hops and it ended up four-inches from the cup,” he said. “I play here a fair amount, and I just happened to be hitting it good today. Three of (the birdies) were kick-ins. I wasn’t putting that well, but I just hit it real close, all about a foot away.”
Tepper, who added a second Senior Tournament of Champions title to her 2023 win, said she felt great about the work she had been putting in on her golf game paying off.
“It’s been a bumpy road this year, but I put different effort into it today,” she said. “I started to believe in myself and play with more confidence and just tried to get comfortable out there. Before, fear was such a factor, and I just realized you can’t play with fear.”
Tepper had an adventurous front nine but played solidly with a 1-over 37 on the back nine.
“I love Indianwood,” she said. “It was in great shape. It’s just so dynamic and interesting and the staff is phenomenal. It just couldn’t have been a better day.”
