Timpf Wins MI Girls Junior State Amateur

MICHIGAN GIRLS’ JUNIOR STATE AMATEUR: Lauren Timpf Wins   

  EAST LANSING – Lauren Timpf of Macomb rallied to beat Lily Bargamian of Grosse Ile 2 and 1 in Friday’s final match of the 45th Michigan Girls’ Junior State Amateur Championship at Forest Akers West Golf Course. 

 It was the second win in the championship for Timpf, who also took home the Wright Memorial Trophy in 2021. The senior-to-be at Macomb Lutheran North said this one means more. 

  “Back when I won the other one I was on top of my game and then I kind of went through a little slump last year and I wasn’t playing my best,” she said. “So coming out here and proving to myself that I can win and compete again feels amazing.” 

  Timpf and Bargamian swapped the lead through the first 10 holes, but Bargamian, 1-up at the time, went 2-up on the par 4 No. 11 hole when Timpf’s tee shot ended up in long grass and she made a bogey. 

  Timpf was right back in the match the next hole though when Bargamian chipped over the No. 12 green and made a bogey. 

  They tied No. 13 with pars, then Timpf took momentum with a 9-foot birdie putt on No. 14 to tie the match. Bargamian then had big trouble with trees and sand on 15 before conceding the hole to give Timpf the lead. 

  Timpf, who is committed to the golf program at Purdue University after completing high school, then closed the match out on the par 5 No. 17 hole with a par. 

  “I’m definitely disappointed because I had opportunities, but happy that I made it this far,” said Bargamian, who is headed to Oakland University for college golf. “Neither of us played our best, and there were some rough breaks, but Lauren played better than I did.” 

  She said the drive at 15 that helped Timpf get the lead for the last time was a key part of the match. 

  “I think I tried to get too much out of it and that probably wasn’t a good idea there,” she said. “I didn’t really have any nerves. I just made a couple of mistakes and had a couple bad breaks.” 

  Timpf, who struggled with her tee shots and driver early in the round, said she was thinking too much on the tee. 

  “I was trying to place it exactly where I wanted to, but towards the end of the round I just kind of let it loose and take a good swing,” she said. “I think that helped me relieve a lot of stress and play better at the end. When I made that putt at 14 for birdie I kind of locked in. I knew now was the time to start winning holes if I was going to have a chance.” 

  The final match was moved to Friday following weather and air quality delays and concerns on Wednesday and Thursday.  The 15-and-under bracket title was decided Thursday afternoon though. Esther Zhang of Ann Arbor won the age group title with a 4 and 3 win over Madilyn Sheerin of Grand Blanc. 

   Also on Thursday, Timpf held off stroke play medalist Alena Li of Okemos 1-up in one semifinal, and Bargamian beat the 2021 15-and-under champion Mia Melendez of Ann Arbor 3 and 2 to reach the finals. 

RESULTS: Visit GAM.org