Mitch Wilson, Ian Harris take Michigan Senior Amateur titles

June 4, 2020 | by Brayden Conover of AmateurGolf.com

Mitch Wilson (photo courtesy of Greg Johnson, GAM)

The good friends Wilson (Senior) and Harris (Super Senior) topped their divisions at Stoatin Brae Golf Club

Kalamazoo College head coach Mitch Wilson outlasted his peers in the 12th annual Michigan Senior Match Play tournament hosted by Stoatin Brae Golf Club in Augusta, Michigan.

The 62-year-old shot a 1-over 72 making him the four-seed heading into the match-play portion of the tournament. Wilson won 8&6, 2&1, 3&2, 2&1, breezing through to the Championship Match against Charles Anderson.

Starting out slow, Wilson did not take a lead until the sixth hole with a birdie on the par-5. From then on out, Wilson never looked back, building his lead to 3UP before giving a hole back to Anderson on the par-4 12th hole.

Practicing what he preaches to his players, Wilson stayed in the moment and executed every shot as he visualized minus No. 16 where he gave one back to extend the match to the 17th hole.

The links-style course played like a links course across the pond with wind, high rough, dried out fairways and greens as well as tough pin locations throughout the week forcing players to pick and choose where they need to land the ball.

“You throw your rangefinder in the bag,” Wilson told AmateurGolf.com. “It’s great for seniors too because it makes us feel like we still have some distance.”

Wilson is no stranger to links play as he played in the British Amateur at Prestwick in 2001. As for American amateur championships, Wilson has played in the 2016,17,18 and 19 U.S. Senior Amateur, making as far as the Round of 32 in 2017 at The Minikahda Club, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Ian Harris

In the super-senior flight, Wilson’s good friend Ian Harris beat Thomas Johnson 4-and-3 in the championship match.

Harris, 67, is a former professional tennis player and current tennis professional at Franklin Athletic Club in Southfield, Michigan, did not pick up the game until he retired from the ATP at 32. Harris played in Wimbledon and the French Open before trading in his racquet for a set of clubs when he qualified for the 2017 U.S. Senior Amateur.

A SPECIAL WEEK

Wilson told the Golf Association of Michigan that it was a special trophy,and a special week before dedicating the win to his mother Jeddy Wilson, who passed away two weeks ago.

“She was the one when I was a youngster that would get me over to Grand Prairie Golf Course where I could play golf for 50 cents,” he said. “She is really the one who got me going with playing golf. So, this one is for you mom. Thank you.”

Wilson is a member at The Moors Golf Club in Portage, and a neighbor of Jerry Walker’s widow (Christine). Walker, who the Senior Match Play trophy is named for, was a GAM rules official who died in 2015 at the age of 66.

About the GAM Senior Match Play

Mitch Wilson, Ian Harris take Michigan Senior Amateur titles

Open to seniors (55+) and Super Seniors (65+). After one round of stroke play qualifying, the field will be sized down to the low 32 Seniors and low 16 Super Seniors left to battle it out in match play.

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