Jamieson, Ly Are Champions At GAM Junior Invitational

Park Jamieson of Lansing, Jasmine Ly of Windsor, Champions at GAM Junior Invitational

EAST LANSING – Parker Jamieson of Lansing and Jasmine Ly of Windsor, Ontario, each shot 3-under 69 scores and emerged as the overall winners of the 5th GAM Junior Invitational Championship presented by Pepsi Sunday at Forest Akers West Golf Course.

Jamieson’s 69 gave him a two-day total of 141 and a one-shot win over Nick Krueger of Spring Lake, who closed with the day’s low round of 68 for 142 in the boys competition.

Ly’s 69 gave her a two-day total of 143 and an eight shot win in the girls competition over Danielle Staskowski of Clarkston, who shot 75 for 151, and Mikaela Schulz of West Bloomfield, who shot 79 for 151.

A field of 86 golfers played to determine the boy and girl overall champion as well as winners in the 15-and-under division. The players were invited by the GAM based on performances in a variety of state and national competitions in 2017.

The 15-and-under boys winner was Justin Sui of Lake Orion, who shot 75 for 145, and topped runner-up Murphy Kehoe of Traverse City, who shot 75 for 152. It was the second consecutive 15-and-under invitational title for Sui.

The 15-and-under girls winner was Jacque O’Neill of Harbor Springs, who shot 80 for 161. The runner-up was Kit Schaefer of Kalamazoo, who shot 82 for 170.

Jamieson, 17 and a Lansing Christian High School golfer who won the Division 4 individual state championship two seasons ago, said he came into the tournament just wanting to do his best.

“I didn’t know what the field would look like, but once I got here I saw the field was strong, and this means a lot,” he said. “This is probably my biggest win, right there with the state championship. It was a strong field out there and I played solid today.”

Jamieson, who also won a Callaway junior tournament this summer and made the round of 16 in the Michigan Junior State Amateur, was tied for the lead with four other golfers when the final round started.

“I made a lot of putts and was hitting my driver solid,” he said. “I hit a lot of fairways and gave myself a lot of chances.”

He made five birdies in his round against two bogeys, and late birdies on Nos. 16 and 17 proved crucial.

“I won my state championship here (Forest Akers West), so I’ve played some good golf here,” he said.

Patrick Sullivan of Grosse Pointe was third with a 71 for 143, and Coalter Smith of Grosse Pointe Farms as fourth after a 72 for 144.

Ly, 16 and a junior at Holy Names High School in Windsor, won her first Golf Association of Michigan title and called it her biggest win.

“It really means a lot,” she said. “I made some good putts and I hit some good iron shots as well.”

She also made six birdies on the day, three on par 5 holes, to overcome one bogey and one double-bogey.

“I tried not to think about the score and just tried to think about the process and give myself a chance to hit the best shot possible,” she said. “I kind of knew where I was out there, but I just tried to block it out and play each shot.”

Ly’s high school play in Windsor starts this week.

“It’s fun to end the summer with this,” she said holding the championship trophy.

SCORES: Complete results can be found at gam.org under the Championships tab

VIA Greg Johnson