Morgan Repeats As GAM Super Senior Champion

John Morgan of Novi Repeats as GAM Super Senior Champion

  FREELAND – Competition brings out the best in John Morgan of Novi (pictured above), who proved to be the best once again in winning the 10th GAM Super Senior Championship presented by Saint John’s Resort at Apple Mountain Golf Club Tuesday.

  Morgan, a Michigan Golf Hall of Fame member, won among the age 65-plus set for the second consecutive year after shooting a final-round 73 for even-par 144.

  He beat the 2018 and 2019 champion, Ian Harris of Bloomfield, by one shot. Harris also closed with a 73.

  First-round leader Rick Herpich of Orchard Lake, the 2020 champion, shot a closing 78 to finish third at 147, and Mitch Wilson of Portage, who shot 77, was next at 149.

  “I wasn’t playing great coming in, so I’m very happy that I played well during the tournament,” Morgan said. “I’ve always been fortunate that I can get my focus back for tournaments, and that I play better in tournaments than I do in practice rounds. So, it worked out well.”

  The day worked out well for Mark Ochsankehl of Caledonia, too (pictured above). He won The Legends Division (ages 70-plus) by shooting a closing 73 for 145.

  Michael Parker of Lapeer, who rallied with a 70, was second at 147. Dan Hughes of Saginaw, who shot 78, and 2015 Super Senior winner Terry Moore of Grand Rapids, who shot 77, tied at 152.

  “It’s still fun to compete and I know I can compete with my peers,” said Ochsankehl, who in 2019 was the Super Senior Division winner in the GAM Senior Championship. “I had some nerves there at the end, but I overcame them and that was good. It was fun.”

   Morgan, a Michigan Amateur Champion, two-time GAM Champion and the GAM Player of the Decade for the 1980s, said when he won last year he did some research on his golf resume.

  “I went back and looked at tournaments I had played in and what I won, and I had won nine times,” he said. “So, I’m thinking, I want to win 10 times. And this was the attempt and it’s a great honor to win.”

  Morgan said he wasn’t aware of how he stood during the round, but he assumes somebody had to be playing well.

  “I don’t look at the scores because I’m not going to change the way I play,” he said. “I total them up and end, and I was fortunate. I probably hit my irons as well as I have all year. My irons were right at the flag or in the position that I wanted to hit them. I didn’t make any putts, but I struck it well and today it was enough. I can’t complain about it.”

  Ochsankehl said the course, wet weather and wind offered a strong challenge in the second round.

  “Overall, it was just fun,” he said. “Coming down the stretch I was getting a little bit nervous and then I made a nice chip from off the green at 16. That was a big birdie there. It got me up into the lead and I was able to finish off from there.”

  Both champions praised the Apple Mountain course.

  “I loved everything about it,” Morgan said.

  A Grand Legends trophy for golfers ages 75-plus was awarded to Roger Cummings of Birmingham, who shot a pair of 79s for 158.

RESULTS: GAM.org or Golf Genius