Anthony Sorentino of Shelby Township made a three-foot par putt on the fourth hole of sudden-death against his good friend John Quigley of St. Clair Shores and won the 33rd GAM Mid-Amateur Championship presented by Boyne Golf at Boyne Highlands Resort on Friday, September 4.
It was the second Mid-Amateur title for Sorentino, a 37-year-old lawyer who also won in 2006, and it also drew him even for the summer against Quigley, who beat him in the finals of the 2015 Michigan Publinx State Match Play Championship.
“It’s great,” Sorentino said. “I know how good John is and how great he putts and I was just happy to come out on top.”
Sorentino said he was very nervous over his final three-footer because he thought Quigley might save par from 20-feet after coming out of a greenside bunker.
“That kind of putt is right up his alley,” he said.
Quigley, a 31-year-old manager for Blue Cross, said he was as happy for Sorentino as he would have been for himself.
“We play on the same Publinx team and he is one of my best friends,” he said. “We both have a trophy this summer and that’s great. We talked about getting back in that winner’s circle and we did it this year.”
Quigley said he depends on his putter to save him, and he did make par saves on the first two holes of the playoff.
“The thing about Tony is that he is a great ball striker and he hit all four greens,” he said. “I make putts and that keeps me in it. I just couldn’t make that last one.”
Sorentino, who shot 1-under 70 on the Moor Course with birdies on the last two holes of regulation, and Quigley, who shot 71 for his 141, finished three shots clear of the field.
Mike Basinski of Grand Rapids, who shot 69, Brian King of West Bloomfield, who shot 72, and first-round leader Bill O’Connor of Birmingham, who shot 77, tied for third at 144 in the championship for Michigan male amateur golfers over age 25.
Defending champion Tom Werkmeister of Kentwood, who has six Mid-Am titles in the last seven years, shot 78 for 151.
In addition to the age 25-and-over competition, winners were also determined in the Mid-Seniors 45-and-over category, the 55-and-over Seniors and the 65-and-over Super Seniors.
The Mid-Senior trophy went to O’Connor, whose 67 on The Heather course on Thursday had him in the overall lead by three shots to start the day. The Mid-Senior runner-up was Greg Davies of West Bloomfield, a two-time past overall champion who shot 75 for 145.
The Senior title went to Ian Harris of Bloomfield Hills, who shot 71 for 141 on The Heather Course. Mike Raymond, who shot 71 for 143, was the runner-up.
Greg Reynolds of Grand Blanc, another two-time past overall champion, won the Super Seniors title with a 73 for 145. Pete Saputo of Bloomfield Hills was runner-up with a 78 for 151.
Boyne Highlands hosted the championship for the 14th consecutive year and 18th time in the history of the event. Visit www.boyne.com for information.
For more information on the tournament, including final scores, visit www.gam.org.
Media contact: Greg Johnson 616 560 8995, [email protected]
Attached: Action photo of Anthony Sorentino in the playoff.
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