Birmingham Country Club Hosting GAM and PGA Teams for 46th Fuller Cup Matches

Birmingham Country Club Hosting GAM and PGA Teams for 46th Fuller Cup Matches

BIRMINGHAM – Birmingham Country Club celebrated 100 years in 2016 and the centennial coincided with the completion of an $8 million renovation of its classic golf course.

The original Tom Bendelow design has been redesigned and renovated several times by the likes of Wilfred Reid, Robert Trent Jones Sr., Bruce Matthews Sr., Arthur Hills and most recently Bruce Hepner. It has also hosted major golf tournaments including the 1936 True Temper Open, the 1953 PGA Championship, the 1968 U.S. Women’s Amateur and the 1984 U.S. Senior Amateur.

It will serve as an exceptional host course for the best amateur golfers representing the Golf Association of Michigan and top PGA professionals representing the Michigan Section of the PGA when they square off in the 46th Fuller Cup Matches Wednesday.

The two teams will compete in a Ryder Cup like format with six four-ball matches and 12 singles matches to determine a winning team.

Fairway & Greene is the clothing sponsor and will outfit both teams. The PGA Michigan Section’s staff directed by Tournament Director Justin Phillips will administer the competition.

Representing the GAM will be Brett Hudson of Bloomfield Hills, John Quigley of St. Clair Shores, Mike Ignasiak of Saline, Nathan Clark of Charlotte, Connor Jones of Lake Orion, Jake Kneen of White Lake, David Praet of Troy, AJ Varekois of Rockford, Jack Weller of Swartz Creek, Beau Breault of Howell, Jeff Champine of Rochester Hills and Scott Strickland of Birmingham.

Representing the PGA will be Joe Herbstreith of Birmingham CC, Steve Vecellio of Birmingham CC, Lee Houtteman of Manitou Passage GC, Gary Lewandowski of Tullymore Golf Resort, Ron Beurmann of CC of Jackson, Scott Hebert of Traverse City G&CC, Travis Dodson of Meadowbrook CC, Kyle Martin of Lochmoor Club, Cody Haughton of Red Run GC, Jordan Young of Fox Hills Learning Center, Brian Cairns of Fox Hills Learning Center and Josh Fryer of Franklin Hills CC.

Last year, the Michigan PGA Professionals slipped past the GAM 10-8 in the 45th version of the Fuller Cup Matches, which were played at Oakhurst Golf & Country Club. The GAM won the previous two years in 2015 and 2016 and five of the last 10 competitions. Prior to 2001 the PGA dominated the Ryder Cup-style competition and maintains a 35-9-1 advantage in the series.

The format has changed over the years, but the matches have always been presented to promote sportsmanship, friendship and great golf between the professionals and amateurs in the state. The GAM team is selected through the use of the GAM Honor Roll and the PGA selects its team via money list standing.

Birmingham Country Club is managed by Joe Basso. Joe Herbstreith is the head PGA professional, Scott Coleman is the golf services manager and Dan Dingman is the golf course superintendent. The course plays to a maximum of 6,764 yards with a 73.3 course rating and 138 slope rating.

Morning four-ball matches will start at 8 a.m. and afternoon singles will start at 12:40 p.m. Pairings are listed below.

Find more information on the Golf Association of Michigan at gam.org. Find more information on the Michigan PGA at michiganpgagolf.com. Learn more about Birmingham CC at bhamcc.com.

46th Fuller Cup Matches
Wednesday, May 9th
Birmingham Country Club
Morning Pairings
8:00 a.m.: (GAM) Brett Hudson/John Quigley vs. (PGA) Joe Herbstreith/Steve Vecellio
8:10 a.m.: (GAM) Mike Ignasiak/Nathan Clark vs. (PGA) Lee Houtteman/Gary Lewandowski
8:20 a.m.: (GAM) Connor Jones/Jake Kneen vs. (PGA) Ron Beurmann/Scott Hebert
8:30 a.m.: (GAM) David Praet/AJ Varekois vs. (PGA) Travis Dodson/Kyle Martin
8:40 a.m.: (GAM) Jack Weller/Beau Breault vs. (PGA) Cody Haughton/Jordan Young
8:50 a.m.: (GAM) Jeff Champine/Scott Strickland vs. (PGA) Brian Cairns/Josh Fryer
Afternoon Pairings
12:40 p.m.: (GAM) Brett Hudson vs. (PGA) Joe Herbstreith
12:40 p.m.: (GAM) John Quigley vs. (PGA) Steve Vecellio
12:50 p.m.: (GAM) Mike Ignasiak vs. (PGA) Lee Houtteman
12:50 p.m.: (GAM) Nathan Clark vs. (PGA) Gary Lewandowski
1:00 p.m.: (GAM) Connor Jones vs. (PGA) Ron Beurmann
1:00 p.m.: (GAM) Jake Kneen vs. (PGA) Scott Hebert
1:10 p.m.: (GAM) David Praet vs. (PGA) Travis Dodson
1:10 p.m.: (GAM) AJ Varekois vs. (PGA) Kyle Martin
1:20 p.m.: (GAM) Jack Weller vs. (PGA) Cody Haughton
1:20 p.m.: (GAM) Beau Breault vs. (PGA) Jordan Young
1:30 p.m.: (GAM) Jeff Champine vs. (PGA) Brian Cairns
1:30 p.m.: (GAM) Scott Strickland vs. (PGA) Josh Fryer