Fuller Cup Results In GAM Victory

Inaugurated in 1971, the Fuller Cup is an annual competition between teams fielded by the Golf Association of Michigan (GAM) and the PGA of Michigan. This year’s match was presented by Cutter and Buck and held at Barton Hills Country Club.

The 43rd Fuller Cup resulted in a 12-6 win by the Golf Association of Michigan. It was sparked by six consecutive victories in afternoon singles.

The PGA holds a 34-8-1 lead in the series, but this is the fourth win in the last eight meetings for the Golf Association of Michigan.

Tom Werkmeister of Kentwood, the reigning GAM Player of the Year, closed out the PGA’s John Seltzer of Blythefield Country Club in Grand Rapids 4 and 3 just seconds before the GAM’s Otto Black of Pinckney closed out the PGA’s Kyle Martin of the Lochmoor Club in Grosse Pointe Woods to put the Ryder Cup style competition out of reach.

“We had a good mix of eight older amateur players with four college guys fresh off playing in conference championships and I think that helped,” said Ken Hartmann, the director of rules and competition for the GAM. “Having it early in this year helped us, too. The weather and the professionals having to open up their shops means they haven’t been playing or practicing.”

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. Cutter & Buck was the clothing sponsor for both teams.

Representing the GAM was Steve Anderson of Troy, Casey Baker of Novi, Black, Evan Bowser of Dearborn, Andrew Chapman of Traverse City, Nathan Clark of Charlotte, Patrick Colburn of Traverse City, Josh Heinze of Canton, Ryan Johnson of New Boston, Bob Matthiesen of Mason, Steve McKalko of Troy and Werkmeister.

Representing the PGA was George Bowman of Oakhurst Golf & Country Club, Tom Harding of Kendall Golf Academy in Ypsilanti, Scott Hebert of Traverse City Country Club, Lee Houtteman of Manitou Passage Golf Club in Cedar, Gary Lewandowski of Tullymore Golf Resort in Stanwood, Pat Markley of Barton Hills Country Club, Martin, Frank McAuliffe of Marygrove College in Detroit, Kevin Muir of The Wyndgate in Oakland Township, Seltzer, Jordan Young of the Fox Hills Learning Center in Plymouth and Ian Ziska of Katke Golf Course at Ferris State University.

Johnson, Baker, Heinze, Chapman, Colburn and Matthiesen each won matches for the GAM to start the afternoon after two-man four-ball matches concluded in the morning with the teams tied 3-3. That put the PGA on the brink down 9-3.

43^rd Fuller Cup Matches Results

Four Ball Matches

Ryan Johnson/Casey Baker (GAM) def. Kevin Muir/Tom Harding (PGA) 4 and 2

Josh Heinze/Steve McKalko (GAM) def. Frank McAuliffe/Pat Markley (PGA) 4 and 2

Scott Hebert/Lee Houtteman (PGA) def. Andrew Chapman/Patrick Colburn (GAM) 4 and 3

John Seltzer/Kyle Martin (PGA) def. Tom Werkmeister/Otto Black (GAM) 1-up

Ian Ziska/Gary Lewandowski (PGA) def. Nathan Clark/Bob Matthiesen (GAM) 3 and 2

Steve Anderson/Evan Bowser (GAM) def. Jordan Young/George Bowman (PGA) 2-up

Singles Matches

Johnson (GAM) def. Muir (PGA) 5 and 4

Baker (GAM) def. Harding (PGA) 4 and 3

Heinze (GAM) def. McAuliffe (PGA) 7 and 6

Colburn (GAM) def. Houtteman (PGA) 1-up

Chapman (GAM) def. Hebert (PGA) 3 and 2

Matthiesen (GAM) def. Lewandowski (PGA) 7 and 5

Markley (PGA) def. McKalko (GAM) 2-up

Werkmeister (GAM) def. Seltzer (PGA) 4 and 3

Black (GAM) def. Martin (PGA) 4 and 3

Ziska (PGA) def. Clark (GAM) 1-up

Young (PGA) def. Anderson (GAM) 3 and 2

Bowser (GAM) def. Bowman (PGA) 3 and 2