Alena Li of Okemos Repeats at GAM Girls’ Championship

By Greg Johnson

Alena Li of Okemos adjusted to the green speeds at Washtenaw Golf Club after struggling in the first round and rallied to repeat as overall champion in the Second GAM Girls Championship.

“I had a lot of three-putts (first round) because I wasn’t very confident with the speed of the greens, but that was something I improved on today by making a lot of the short par putts,” she said after carding a final-round 2-over 74 for 153. “It’s so cool and really an honor to be able to win this tournament again. It’s one I enjoy a lot, and I also love this course.”

Li is a 17-year-old senior at Okemos High School. She won by three shots over Lillian O’Grady of Grand Rapids, who led after the first round with a 74 but struggled the second day with an 82 for a final 156 total. Chaille Payne of Spring Lake (161), Copelin Okrangley of Alto (162), and Isabella Michetti of Ann Arbor (166), rounded out the top five.

Cameron Baker of Novi shot a closing 73 for 147 and won the 15-and-under division by nine shots for her first ever GAM tournament win.