Holt Named GAM Women’s Senior Player of the Year

Julie Massa of Holt Named GAM Women’s Senior Player of the Year

Julie Massa of Holt has been named the Golf Association of Michigan Senior Women’s Player of the Year.

This past season, Massa played U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur and the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur in back-to-back weeks, made match play in both championships and reached the round of 16 in the Senior Women’s Amateur.

Massa, 52 and a native of Oregon, has played in GAM events since the early 1990s. She has three daughters who have been successful on the high school, junior and women’s amateur scene in the state – Megan (Schucharet), 27, Maddi, 26, and Mariah, 22. Megan is a club champion at Harbor Shores in Benton Harbor, Maddi played at Michigan State and is in medical school and Mariah is a current Spartan golf team member

“Playing golf with them and my husband (Darryl) helps keep me competitive and it is motivation to play well,” Massa said. “You have to have a really good day to be medalist in the family.”

The Forest Akers Golf Club golfer finished with 450 points in the GAM Honor Roll for Senior Women, topping Terry Delcamp of Grand Blanc and Atlas Valley Country Club, who had 401 and won the GAM Women’s Senior Championship.

Donna Benford of Linden and Spring Meadows Country Club, the Michigan Women’s Senior Amateur Champion, was third with 370.

Joan Garety of Ada and Egypt Valley Country Club (325) and Barb Schmid of Grand Rapids and Egypt Valley (188) rounded out the top five.

“There are so many fine players in the state so it is no easy task to stay competitive with them,” Massa said. “GAM events are always run so well, and just like the USGA, you know the competition is going to be tough. I’m honored and humbled by this.”

Massa grew up in a golf family in Oregon where her father Al Cross was a golf professional.

“I came from a golf family and I have been fortunate by husband and the kids enjoy and play the game also,” Massa said. “I have a little more time to work on my game with our girls older now. I hope to stay competitive. I really enjoy the competition.”

Previously, Ryan Johnson of New Boston was named the Men’s Player of the Year, Hailey Hrynewich of Muskegon the Women’s Player of the Year and Randy Lewis of Alma the Senior Men’s Player of the Year.

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 more than 55,000 golfers and more than 470 Michigan golf courses, conducts over 30 amateur championships, oversees 15 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/GAM