Andy Matthews of Grand Rapids and Sophie Stevens of Highland earned wins in early October in the GAM Tournament of Champions at Grosse Ile Golf & Country Club.
Matthews, a 42-year-old former tour professional and reinstated amateur, was the only golfer under par with a 2-under 69 to top the men in the traditional season-ending Golf Association of Michigan tournament. He formerly was a team captain at the University of Michigan, won the 2001 Michigan Amateur Championship and played professionally for 10 years with a notable Mexican PGA win while playing on PGA Tour Canada.
Stevens, the 16-year-old home-schooled junior standout who won the GAM Women’s Championship this summer, shot an even-par 71 to top the female champions. She plans to sign with the University of Florida in November. Stevens said it was a good way to cap a year in which her bad golf improved.
“I didn’t hit everything beautifully, but I would still hit greens and I hit a lot more fairways than I did last year,” she said. “It feels good to win on a good golf course that tests your putting.”
