Written By: Greg Johnson
WINDSOR, ONTARIO – Essex Golf & Country Club in Windsor, Ontario, will host the Golf Association of Michigan (GAM) vs. Golf Ontario (GO) International Senior Matches, also known as the GAM-GO Senior Matches, next Tuesday and Wednesday.
The 10th GAM-GO Matches, which started in 2011, are being conducted for the first time since 2019 due to pandemic border restrictions.
Essex G&CC features a classic Donald Ross-designed course that is ranked No. 24 in Ontario and No. 48 in all of Canada. It’s known for excellent course conditions and fast, smooth greens.
The club has hosted several significant tournaments over the years including the Canadian Open in 1976, the LPGA`s duMaurier Classic in 1998 and the AT&T Canada Senior Open in 2002.
The matches, designed to promote international sportsmanship among senior golfers from Michigan and Ontario, are played over two days in Ryder Cup fashion with two eight-golfer teams representing their associations. The associations alternate hosting at one of their member clubs. The last competition was in 2019 at Cobble Beach Golf Links in Ontario with the 2020, 2021 and 2022 suspended.
Representing the GAM Team this year are Leo Daigle of Wixom, Mike Ignasiak of Saline, Mitch Wilson of Portage, David Martin of Ann Arbor, Tom Senkowski of Rochester Hills, Michael Zoerhoff of Caledonia, Kevin Klemet of White Lake and Dean Shollack of Brighton.
The first round Tuesday consists of four four-ball matches and the second round Wednesday is eight singles matches. The last time in 2019, the GAM Team rolled to a 4-0 first-day lead and then won six of eight singles matches to post a 10-2 win over the GO TEAM.
