Written By: Greg Johnson
HARBOR SPRINGS – The Hills and Moor golf courses at The Highlands at Harbor Springs will welcome a standout field of 200 golfers playing Wednesday and Thursday in the 41st GAM Mid-Amateur Championship presented by Stifel Investment Services.
The BOYNE Golf resort is hosting the championship for Michigan male amateur golfers age 25 and over for the 20th consecutive year and 26th time. The overall winner receives the coveted Glenn H. Johnson Trophy. The scoreboard at Country Club of Boyne is also named in honor of Johnson, a GAM legend and Michigan Golf Hall of Fame member.
The Highlands features four courses that are part of 10 golf courses that can be played at three Boyne golf resorts in the northern section of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula.
The field is split in half to take on the Hills and Moor courses for two days of stroke play competition, and an overall Mid-Amateur winner (age 25-and-over) and winners in three other age categories will be determined (Mid-Seniors 45-and-over, Seniors 55-and-over and Super Seniors 65-and-over).
The Highlands has used each of its four courses at various times to host the championship in the past.
The Hills course, designed by Arthur Hills, features a memorable three-hole ascent at No. 11 to one of the highest points in the region for a remarkable view from the 13th tee. The layout concludes with a 577-yard par-5 that is reachable in two shots by going over the trademark pond that guards all No. 18s in Boyne golf.
The Moor was the second course built at Boyne Highlands and challenges golfers with numerous doglegs and water hazards. It, too, has a championship pedigree as host of past Mid-Amateurs, the AJGA’s annual visit, the Kircher Cup and Harbor Cup tournaments. Michigan-based Raymond Hearn Golf Course Designs has performed some renovation work on the course in recent years.
John Myers is he head golf professional for both the Hills and Moor courses, and Nick Shaw is the superintendent. Learn more at boynegolf.com.
Last year Scott Strickland of Bloomfield Hills, 41 and a private wealth director for Morgan Stanley, won his second GAM Mid-Amateur title by beating three-time champion Anthony Sorentino of Rochester Hills on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff.
Champions were also determined in three other age divisions. Greg Davies of West Bloomfield won the Mid-Seniors (ages 45-and-over) title, Steve Maddalena of Jackson won the Senior (ages 55-plus) title and Ron Perrine of Holt won the Super Senior (ages 65-plus) title.
Strickland, who also won in 2018, and Sorentino, the champion in 2006, ’15 and ’16, are in this year’s field joining several past champions, some who are playing this year in older age divisions. The list includes 2020 champion Mike Anderson of Northville, 2019 champion Mike Coriasso of Royal Oak, 2017 champion John Quigley of Sterling Heights, two-time winner Greg Davies of West Bloomfield (2003, ’05), 2012 winner Erik Schleicher of Petoskey, 2000 winner Mattawan native Kevin Vandenberg of Pulaski, N.Y., 1998 winner Randy Lewis of Alma and two-time winner Greg Reynolds of Grand Blanc (1983, ‘94).
