Chet VandenBerg Wins GAM Mid-Amateur Championship

By Greg Johnson

    HARBOR SPRINGS – Chet VandenBerg of Portage won the 44th GAM Mid-Amateur Championship at The Highlands at Harbor Springs.

   And then he put it in perspective.

   “I passed out and fell in the bathroom in a hotel in July and almost died because I broke my nose and was drowning in my blood,” he said. “I woke up just in time. The Lord was watching over me. I’m so grateful, so thankful I’m here and getting to play golf at Boyne.”

    VandenBerg, 37 and a territory manager for Corteva Agriscience, shot a two-round 139 on the Arthur Hills Course to secure a one-shot win over a pair of past champions – Scott Strickland of Bloomfield Hills and Nate Clark of DeWitt.

   “It’s one of those things where you get to be 37 and you’re not really sure if you are ever going to get a chance to win this,” he said. “With the younger guys coming in to the Mid-Amateur… It just gets so tough.”

John Leach Pulls Away to Win 40th GAM Senior Championship

   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 at Birmingham Country Club.

   Leach, a 58-year-old Macomb resident, made birdies on holes 10, 12 and 14, to win 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) up north, and I’ve been close before, but to get one across the finish line is just absolutely great.”

  Ian Harris (age 73) of Bloomfield Hills, who shared the overall first-round lead with Leach, was crowned the Super Senior Champion among the golfers over age 65.