GAM Player of the Year: Allyson Geer First to be Top Woman and Top Junior

GAM Player of the Year: Allyson Geer First to be Top Woman and Top Junior

FARMINGTON HILLS – Allyson Geer of Brighton has fashioned a Golf Association of Michigan first.

The back-to-back Michigan Women’s Amateur champion who in 2015 was the youngest to ever win the now 100-year-old state championship has been named the Golf Association of Michigan’s Junior Girl Player of the Year, Ken Hartmann, senior director of rules and competitions announced today.

Geer, 18 and starting her collegiate career at Michigan State University in January, is the first person to ever be named a GAM Player of the Year in two categories. She was recently named the Women’s Player of the Year as well.

“This has been a humbling and amazing year,” Geer said. “I love golf and I love what I do, and these awards are so special. I don’t take them for granted, and I’m grateful for them. I don’t do it to earn awards, but I appreciate the recognition for the hard work I’ve put in on my game.”

Geer being tabbed the top Junior Girl concludes the GAM Player of the Year announcements for 2016. Tom Werkmeister of Grandville was named Men’s Player of the Year, Geer was named the top woman, Randy Lewis of Alma the Senior Men’s winner, Julie Massa of Holt the Senior Women’s winner and Devin Deogun of Orchard Lake the top Junior Boy.

They will receive their awards in the spring at the GAM’s annual meeting for 2017. Honorees are determined based on the GAM Honor Roll, which awards points for tournament accomplishments.

“To win both categories is a first and it is very impressive,” Hartmann said. “Allyson is a very impressive golfer, very talented and she is going to go a long ways with her game. She is more than just a talented golfer, too. She is a delight to be around, not arrogant at all, very grounded and displays tremendous sportsmanship.”

In addition to winning the 100th Michigan Women’s Amateur Championship in August, Geer, a GAM member through Oak Pointe Country Club, was an AJGA All-American for the second time. She topped the GAM Honor Roll with 1,383 points.

Kerrigan Parks of Flushing, Michigan Junior Girls Amateur champion, was second with 1,043 points and rounding out the top five were Julia Dean of Brighton, GAM Women’s Champion Anna Kramer of Spring Lake and Anika Dy of Traverse City.

Geer said she is especially proud that her state golf association is recognizing her season of play.

“I met other generations of golfers at the 100th Michigan Women’s Amateur and they had such pride in being from Michigan,” she said. “I’m proud to represent in any way I can the next generation of golfer from our state.”

ABOUT THE GAM: Founded in 1919, the Golf Association of Michigan is the governing body for amateur golf in the state. As a not-for-profit organization, the GAM’s purpose is to promote, preserve and serve the game of golf. The GAM, served by over 250 dedicated volunteers as well as nine full-time staff, provides membership to almost 60,000 golfers and more than 470 Michigan golf courses, conducts over 30 amateur championships, oversees 18 USGA qualifying events, administers the GAM/USGA Handicap System and measures and rates almost 70 courses a year for the USGA. Learn more at www.gam.org.

via Greg Johnson