Evan Bowser
(GAM Photo)
GROSSE ILE, MI (October 11, 2016) -- Dearborn’s Evan Bowser hit a pitching wedge shot to four feet and made a birdie-3 on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff with Flat Rock’s David Vaclav to win the Michigan Tournament of Champions presented by Global Golf Post Monday at Grosse Ile Golf & Country Club.
Bowser, 21 and a recent graduate of Oakland University, and Vaclav, a Grosse Ile G&CC member, each shot 72 in regulation play.
“I hit a knock down shot, got a little hop left and it was in there close,” Bowser said. “It feels good to win, especially after I three-putted 18 for bogey after hitting a great shot in there.”
On No. 18 Bowser hit a 3-iron on the 230-yard par 3 to 12 feet, but rushed the first putt past five feet and missed again.
“I thought that might have been it right there, but I got another chance in the playoff,” he said. “I played pretty solid golf all day. It wasn’t playing easy. It was windy, cold and the greens were fast.”
Peter vanWezel of Lasalle and Nathan Clark of Charlotte each shot 73s to finish one shot out of the playoff.
Tom Gieselman of Commerce Township shot 74, and Ken Hudson of Bloomfield Hills and Joe Hooks of Commerce Township each shot 75.
Bowser plans to travel to Arizona to work on his golf game and attempt Web.com Tour qualifying as an amateur.
“I don’t want to turn professional until I have status,” said Bowser who earned his degree in finance at Oakland U. “I want to make it, but it’s not a life or death thing for me.”
Bowser won the GAM’s final tournament of the golf season to cap a year in which he won the Horton Smith Invitational, the Michigan Publinx Golf Association title and was part of the national championship GAM team representing Michigan in the USGA State Team Championship just over a week ago.
“Started the season great and ended it great,” he said.
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ABOUT THE GAM Tournament of Champions
18-hole stroke play tournament open to Men and
Women who have won their GAM Club
Championship or
a GAM Championship in the current year.
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