Indianwood’s Old Course Hosting GAM and PGA Teams for 47th Fuller Cup Matches
LAKE ORION – Indianwood Golf and Country Club’s classic Old Course, long a favorite championship site for the Golf Association of Michigan, the Michigan Section of the PGA and the United States Golf Association, will host the 47th Fuller Cup Matches Tuesday.
Top amateur golfers representing the Golf Association of Michigan and top PGA professionals representing the Michigan Section of the PGA square off 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 outfitting both teams.
Indianwood Golf and Country Club was in disrepair in 1981 despite its classic Old Course designed by Wilfred Reid in 1925. Stan Aldridge, a member of the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame, purchased the club and started a dramatic resurgence to prominence, including building another golf course, the New Course designed by Jerry Pate and Bob Cupp.
The Old Course, which has been ranked in the top 100 classic courses in America, has hosted two U.S. Women’s Open Championships (1989, 1994) and a U.S. Senior Open (2012), as well as several GAM tournaments, Michigan PGA Section championships and qualifiers for USGA and other championships dating back to the 1940s.
Betsy King won the 1989 Women’s Open, and Patty Sheehan the 1994 Women’s Open. Roger Chapman won the Senior Open. The Old Course hosted the 1930 Western Open, which was then considered one of golf’s major championships. Legend Gene Sarazen won that championship, and it was the only major Bobby Jones didn’t win that year.
Representing the GAM this year will be reigning Michigan Amateur Champion Beau Breault of Hartland, reigning GAM Champion James Piot of Canton, Donnie Trosper of Canton, Connor Jones of Lake Orion, Andrew Walker of Battle Creek, Dan Ellis of East Lansing, Anthony Sorentino of Shelby Township, David Hall of Birmingham, Jeff Champine of Rochester Hills, Ken Hudson of Bloomfield Hills, Josh Gibson of Grandville and Mike Anderson of Northville.
Representing the PGA will be Bob Ackerman of Bob Ackerman Golf, Scott Brotebeck of Flint Golf Club, Brian Cairns of Fox Hills Learning Center, Josh Fryer of Franklin Hills Country Club, Cody Haughton of Red Run Golf Club, reigning Michigan PGA Professional Champion Lee Houtteman of Manitou Passage Golf Club, reigning Michigan Senior Open Champion Frank McAuliffe of Meadowbrook Country Club, Kevin Muir of The Wyndgate, Jeff Roth of Boyne Highlands Resort, reigning Michigan PGA Match Play Champion John Seltzer of Quail Ridge Golf Club, Dan Urban of Gull Lake Country Club and Kyle Wittenbach, golf coach at Ferris State University.
Last year, college players fresh off their seasons sparked the GAM team, which won 12.5 – 5.5 at Birmingham Country Club. The GAM has won six of the last 11 competitions, but trails 35-10-1 in the series. Prior to 2001 the PGA teams dominated.
The format has changed over the years, but the matches are presented to promote sportsmanship, friendship and quality golf among professionals and amateurs. The GAM team is selected through the use of the GAM Honor Roll and availability and the PGA selects its team via money list standing and availability.
via Greg Johnson
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