Written By: Greg Johnson
BIRMINGHAM – John Leach’s wife Kristen showed up at the turn, and he showed off on the back nine to pull away and win the 40th GAM Senior Championship presented by Golf Digest Tuesday at Birmingham Country Club.
Leach, a 58-year-old Macomb resident, made birdies on holes 10, 12 and 14, shot an even-par 72 for 3-under 141 and won his first-ever GAM tournament by five shots over three other golfers in the field of 152.
“She showed up, I made birdies, and I’m just ecstatic that I won and she got to see it,” Leach said. “I’ve been working really hard the last three years on golf and getting healthier, and as my health improved, my golf game has gotten better. I finished second (GAM Mid-Amateur Senior Division) a few weeks ago up north, and I’ve been close before, but to get one across the finish line is just absolutely great.”
Ian Harris of Bloomfield Hills, who shared the overall first-round lead Monday with Leach at 3-under 69, was crowned the Super Senior Champion among the golfers over age 65.
The 73-year-old Harris was hot in the mix for the overall title on the front nine. He ended up with a 77 for 146, and tied with 2023 Champion Greg Davies of West Bloomfield, who shot a final 72, and Leo Daigle of Wixom, who shot a second consecutive 73.
A scorecard playoff among the three determined that Davies took home the runner-up trophy.
Harris, the overall champion in 2012 and ’14, took home a trophy as the Super Senior winner, and Steve Maddalena of Jackson, another two-time overall past champion, was the Super Senior runner-up with a 72 for 152.
“It’s not so bad to win the Super Senior Trophy,” Harris said. “I’m pleased to win that, especially at my age. I’m just shy of 74, and you know you start wondering how many more good tournaments will there be? So, it was a thrill to play well and be in the last group, and let’s face it, John was the best player by far and he played a great back nine. He hit every drive 285, 290 in the middle of the fairway, and that’s hard to beat.”
Leach, a former PGA professional and Ferris State University PGM graduate who is a reinstated amateur, missed just four fairways over two rounds, and said he owed a thank you to his friend and fellow competitor Terry Sawchuk of Lake Orion.
“We were at the (U.S. Senior Amateur) qualifier at Franklin Hills and I was having a rough time hitting my driver,” he said. “He walked up behind me, took a video, pointed a couple of things out and ever since then, I’ve just been hitting it really solid. It makes life a lot easier when you are coming in from the fairway all day long.”
