Stevens Wins 2022 GAM Women’s Championship

Sophie Stevens of Highland Wins The 2022 GAM Women’s Championship

Highland’s Sophie Stevens Wins 2022 GAM Women’s Championship

  LANSING – Sophie Stevens, the 16-year-old home-schooled standout from Highland, made eight birdies and shot a closing 6-under 66 to pull away from the field and win the 31st GAM Women’s Championship presented by Stifel Investment Systems at the Country Club of Lansing Tuesday.

  “I honestly don’t know if I’ve had eight birdies before, at least I don’t remember having that many in one round,” said Stevens, who has one-year of home school remaining before taking her golf talents to the University of Florida.

   “It was pretty cool. There’s a lot of great competitors in this state and it feels awesome just to get it done today.”

  Bridget Boczar of Canton, headed to Oakland University’s golf team this fall, shot a 69 for 142 and second place.

   Jessica Jolly, a Rockford High School student, shot 71 for 144 and third place.

   University of Northern Illinois golfer Jasmine Ly of Windsor finished fourth after a 74 for 146 and defending champion Mikaela Schulz, a University of Michigan golfer from West Bloomfield, rounded out the top five with a 72 for 148.

   Stevens, a runner-up to Grace Wang in the recent Michigan Junior Girls’ State Amateur Championship, bogeyed holes 2 and 3 to fall behind Boczar briefly early in the round, but then made three consecutive birdies at 5, 6 and 7 to pull in front. She took all the drama out of things by shooting 4-under 32 on the back nine and pulling away.

  “I hit a lot of good wedges that gave me like five footers, which are perfect for birdies and I drained a few 10-to-15 footers, too, and my driver was solid as well,” she said. “I feel like my game is really coming together right now. I’ve seen a big improvement in it over the whole summer, especially my putting from the 15 to 20-foot range.”

  Boczar started the day one shot off Steven’s lead and said she expected Stevens to play great.

  “She always does on the second day,” she said.

  Boczar, 18 and the GAM Junior Kickoff champion at the start of the summer, said her coach, Scott Hayes of Miles of Golf, suggested a putting grip change and she was concentrating on it instead of thinking about her score.

   “I changed it from left-hand low to a conventional grip just last weekend, so I was just focusing on getting comfortable with it and I putted well,” she said.

  Stevens, whose name will go on the Betty Richart Trophy, said she stuck to her plan both days.

  “My game plan was to hit just as many fairways and greens as I could, and once on the green I planned to give myself a good roll at it,” she said. “I did a good job of it and gave myself the chance to win.”

2022 GAM Women’s Championship Results: Visit GAM.org