Chet VandenBerg of Portage held off two past champions to capture the 44th GAM Mid-Amateur Championship at The Highlands at Harbor Springs, finishing the 36-hole event at 3-under 139.
The 37-year-old followed his opening 5-under 67 with an even-par 72 on the Arthur Hills Course to edge Scott Strickland of Bloomfield Hills and Nate Clark of DeWitt by one shot.
VandenBerg played a bogey-free front nine in 2-under to stretch his advantage to three shots before consecutive bogeys at Nos. 10 and 11 tightened the race. A birdie at the 14th restored a two-shot cushion, allowing him to bogey the closing hole and still secure the title.
The victory carried added significance for VandenBerg, who revealed that he had survived a frightening accident in July after passing out and falling in a hotel bathroom, breaking his nose. He described simply being able to compete again as something he was grateful for.
Strickland made the strongest final-round charge, shooting a 3-under 69 and birdieing the 18th to finish at 2-under 140. Clark, the first-round leader following a 66, closed with a 74 to share second overall while also claiming the Mid-Senior (45+) title.
Austin Kreger and Evan Johnson shared fourth at even-par 142.
Kevin VandenBerg wins third Senior title in four years
Michigan Golf Hall of Famer Kevin VandenBerg, who is not related to Chet, closed with a 3-under 69 on the Donald Ross Memorial Course to win the Senior Division (55+) at 4-under 140.
The 2000 GAM Mid-Amateur champion finished three shots ahead of John Leach, who posted 1-under 143. David LeVan was third at even par 144.
It marked Kevin VandenBerg's third Senior Division victory in four years.
Maddalena earns first Super Senior crown
Fellow Michigan Golf Hall of Famer Steve Maddalena captured his first Super Senior (65+) title, defeating first-round leader Kerry Buettner on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff.
Maddalena closed with a 71 and Buettner a 74 as both finished at 3-under 141. After the first extra hole failed to separate them, Maddalena converted a seven-foot birdie putt on the second playoff hole to secure the championship.
The victory added to Maddalena's two previous GAM Senior Division titles.
Greg Zeller finished third at 2-under 142, with former U.S. Mid-Amateur champion and Michigan Golf Hall of Famer Randy Lewis fourth at 2-over 146.
