Anderson is the 2025 GAM Senior Player of the Year

GAM PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Mike Anderson of Novi Tops 2025 Senior Men’s Points List

FARMINGTON HILLS – Novi’s Mike Anderson wondered why, without a win during the season, he was invited to the season-ending GAM Tournament of Champions, and promptly asked Ken Hartmann, senior director of competitions and USGA services for the GAM.

Hartmann told him this was because he was leading the GAM Senior Men’s Points List this season. Anderson, who turned 56 in September, then took advantage of the opportunity and won the year’s final tournament.

That victory, combined with the points he earned for reaching the quarterfinals in the U.S. Senior Amateur Championship earlier this summer and top finishes in other tournaments, resulted in him being named the 2025 GAM Senior Men’s Player of the Year.

Player of the Year point totals can be found in a drop-down menu on the PLAY tab on GAM.org. Carl’s Golfland is the presenting sponsor of the points lists.

In recent days, GAM announced Dearborn’s Elayna Bowser as Women’s Player of the Year, Williamston’s Caleb Bond as Men’s Player of the Year and Lewiston’s Lori Schlicher as Senior Women’s Player of the Year. In the coming weeks, the GAM will announce more Players of the Year across gender and age categories.

“I didn’t realize the USGA National Championships had such an impact on the points, but I’m obviously very happy that it was recognized,” Anderson said. “Many great players have been Player of the Year and it is a great honor to be named and included in that group.”

Anderson, the managing director of investments at Stifel Financial, said the honor is a great way to end his first full year as a senior golfer.

“I would say as a first-year senior I paid more attention to the competition than I have in recent years,” he said. “As a senior I had so many more opportunities to play events and great venues, and I tried to play at least one a month.”

Anderson said his performance in the U.S. Senior Amateur at Oak Hills Country Club in San Antonio, Texas, was his best week of the summer. He won matches in rounds of 64, 32 and 16 before falling 1 up against the eventual champion, Michael McCoy of Des Moines, Iowa.

“That was the best I’ve played in a while, it was a good week,” he said. “I played well going in. The course suited my game well. I played against some great players and was fortunate to beat them before losing to the eventual winner, who is just an incredible player, a former Walker Cup guy, an elite senior. It was a great, new experience.”

He said it gives him confidence and validation that he can compete at the highest level of senior amateur golf.

“I feel like I have another five, maybe even 10 years ahead of me. If I work hard, do the right things and learn more every time I play, I can continue to play well here at Michigan, but also at the national level,” he said.

He said a trainer’s visit at the start of the golf season gave him a flexibility and stretching routine that he continues to use.

“I think it helped me physically and even psychologically,” he said. “I feel like ball striking has always been one of my strengths and doing this flexibility and stretching has helped with that. I haven’t lost anything in that category.”

Anderson earned 585 points and topped the GAM Player of the Year points list.

Greg Davies of West Bloomfield, the GAM Senior Match Play champion, was second with 423.

Mike Ignasiak of Saline with 330 points, and Chris Bailey of Rochester and GAM Senior champion Rick Crandall of Fenton, who tied with 265 points, rounded out the top five.

Hartmann said Anderson is a great person and golfer.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if he won this honor a few more times,” he said. “He competes regularly with the younger players. His iron play is so consistent. He hits it from close range. When he’s on, a shot outside 10 feet is a bad shot for him. He could be a dominant senior player, and he’s a great competitor.”

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