Garety claims fifth GAM Women's Senior title by narrow margin

The fifth time was a charm for Joan Garety, an Ada, Mich., native who seems to only be strengthening her grasp on the Golf Association of Michigan’s Women’s Senior Championship. Garety saved par with an 8-footer on the 18th hole and subsequently won her fifth title (though not consecutive) in this event. She finished two shots ahead of two-time champion Terry Delcamp.

“I was thinking as we got to the back nine and I knew it was within a shot – this is fun,” the 63-year-old Garety said after winning the 23rd version of the championship presented by Sullivan Golf Travel.com. “This is why we play. You don’t play just to play. You play to compete and have a chance to win and that is what is fun. It does not get old to win. This one feels just as good as the first one.”

The Michigan Golf Hall of Famer shot a closing 76 at Harbor Point Golf Club in Harbor Springs, Mich., for a 158 total. That allowed her to slip past Delcamp, who shot 78 for 159. The two are close friends and often partners in team tournaments.

“Of course, I want to beat her, and she wants to beat me,” Garety said. “We play to win.”

Through 13 holes of the final round, Garety had built a four-shot lead, but she made a double-bogey 7 on No. 14 and Delcamp birdied the par-3 15th.

“I had chances to have it be a lot more comfortable,” Garety said. “I missed a makeable birdie putt on 13 from six-feet, then had the 7 on 14. I went from being comfortable to being very uncomfortable. Terry barely missed a birdie on 16. She played beautifully. The ball just wouldn’t go in the hole for her.”

Quotes and information from Greg Johnson/Golf Association of Michigan used in this report