Fisher and Marques Win GAM Net Chapman

Longtime Buddies Greg Fisher and Steven Marques win GAM Net Chapman

  BATH TOWNSHIP – Buddies since kindergarten some 55 years ago, Greg Fisher of Chesterfield and Steven Marques of Richmond became the first two-time winners of the GAM Net Chapman Championship presented by V1Sports Monday at Eagle Eye Golf Club.

  Fisher and Marques, who previously won the title in 2018, combined in the unique format for a 7-under 65 to beat a pair of teams by one shot in the eighth edition of the tournament.

In a Net Chapman, each player on the two-person teams play from the teeing ground and then play their teammate or partner’s ball for the second shot. After the second shot the partners select the ball with which they wish to score and play that ball alternately to complete the hole.

  The teams of Randall Boboige of Commerce Township and Kevin Kotzian of Milford, and Kevin Renaud of Northville and Michael Cotter of Plymouth each shot 66 and Brian Keith of Almont and Arthur Black of Brighton shot 67. Three teams tied for fifth with 68s.

   “We’re good friends, both from St. Clair Shores – Sherwood Elementary, then Rogers Middle School and Lakeshore High and we’re still buddies,” Marques said.

   The buddy system worked once again.

   “It was a great day where we took turns picking picked each other up every time we needed it,” Fisher said. “If it was a putt that needed to be made, a chip or an iron shot, it was amazing how well we came through and we just didn’t make any mistakes.”

   Marquis said there were not any dramatic shots, but they did make some key par putts kept the round intact after they started the day with a bogey.

   “You know it’s the kind of tournament where you can’t let down,” Marquis said. “You have to stay in the moment and it does help to be friends. We’ve been playing golf with each other for a lot of years and we keep it positive out there.”

   The friends topped a field of 88 golfers playing net stroke play in the unique Chapman format. The format calls for each player on the two-person teams to play from the teeing ground and then play the teammate or partner’s ball for the second shot. After the second shot the partners select the ball with which they wish to score and play that ball alternately to complete the hole.

   “It’s a fun format, something different,” Fisher said. “We’ve played in this four times and won twice. It works for us.”

   Mike Huetteman of Macomb had the shot of the day, a hole-in-one at No. 5. He hit a 9-iron shot into the cup from 139 yards out. He was playing with his father, Mike Sr., it was his second ace but the first in a competition.