Dave Praet used his home course advantage to win at Indianwood
(GAM photo)
LAKE ORION, MI (October 10, 2017) – Indianwood Golf & Country Club member Dave Praet has posted low rounds on the Old Course, but few more interesting.
The club’s stroke play champion earlier this summer shot a 4-under 66 to win the men’s division of the 2017 GAM Tournament of Champions Tuesday by five shots. The 66 included five bogeys overwhelmed by seven birdies and an eagle.
“It was obviously an up and down day, a little crazy,” said the 31-year-old who lives in a housing development just off the New Course at Indianwood and works in mergers and acquisitions for Doren Mayhue in Troy.
“I made bogeys with sand wedge in my hand, and then made a lot of good shots, too. It was set up a little shorter than I usually play it, and I hit the driver pretty good to give me a lot of short iron shots into greens.”
Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll of Haslett, a member of the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame, won the women’s division in the GAM season-ending celebration tournament (see related story on this website) that included men and women golfers who won their club championships or a GAM gross stroke play championship this year.
Brad Bastion of Shelby Township shot 71 to take second place. GAM Senior Champion Craig Adams of Spring Lake shot 72, and six golfers shot 73 – Tony Rishell of Farmington, Steve McKalko of Troy, Tom Markham of Rochester Hills, Steve Anderson of Troy, Razmig Boghikian of West Bloomfield and Lucas Belanger of Clinton Township.
Prate, a former Georgetown University golfer originally from Rochester, Mich., has been a member at Indianwood for three years. He took a break from competitive golf after college and concentrated on his career. He has played in several GAM tournaments, many during high school and college years and in the Michigan Amateur and GAM Mid-Amateur this year, but this was his first win in one.
“I decided to play in a few tournaments this year, and I’ve played well,” he said. “I just play. I don’t remember the last time I had a real practice session.”
His previous low on the Old Course is a 65, and he has never had a stretch on the back nine like he did Tuesday. From hole No. 12 through 17 he had four birdies, an eagle on No. 15 with a 250-yard 3-wood second shot to six feet, and one par.
“It was really different,” he said. “I really gave away some shots, too.”
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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