O’grady, Preston Win Gam Junior Invitational Titles

Lillian O’grady, Tommy Preston Gam Junior Invitational Titles

East Lansing – Lillian O’grady and Tommy Preston, both from Grand Rapids, won the general titles on the GAM Junior Invitational Championship presented by Absopure Sunday at the Forest Akers West Course by Michigan State University.

O’grady, 18 and a senior at Grand Rapids Christian, shot Even-Par 72 before 149 and won through three shots in the girls’ competition.

Preston, 15 and a second-year student at Grand Rapids Catholic Central, followed a 6-under 66 from Saturday’s first round with a 73 for 139 and a six-shot victory among the boys.

Champions were also determined in the 15-and-Under Division.

Parker Westcott van Manchester shot a final round 80 for 154, past Watson Mercier from Novi, who shot 82 for 155 to win the title of the boys. It was the second consecutive year that Westcott won the 15 -year title.

Hannah Kim van Troy shot 68 for 142 and won the 15-end girl’s title with seven shots about Belen Berishaj of Birmingham, who closed with a 77.

Preston said he wasn’t thinking about playing with the big lead he built with the first round 66.

“I played the whole round pretty stable, no large numbers, made some birdies and some bogeys here and there,” he said. “I feel that some of the PIN placements were more difficult today and there was some wind.”

Cooper Reitsma van Ada shot 73 for 145 and finished second among the boys. Sawyer O’grady, Lillian’s brother, shot 71 for 146, and AJ Casper of Flushing Shot 73 for 146.

Preston said this title means a lot to him.

“I’ve been knocking on the door for a few years,” he said. “It was nice to play well in both rounds and win one.”

Preston’s 66 was a higher than his personal record in competition.

“I just made it very good and hit solid shots (to the greens),” he said about his first round. “Then my putter became called, which helped a lot. I had seven birdies and one bogey.”

O’grady, who committed the University of Findlay in Ohio for College Golf, said she played consistently during the final round.

“I got a lot of fairways and many greens,” she said. “I missed some frustrating puts, but in the end I also made something.”

Saisha Patil from Okemos finished second and shot a last 78 to 152. Chaille Payne van Spring Lake shot 82 for 157 and finished third.

O’grady said that a tight battle in the final round with Patil turned around in hole 6 where she made par and patil, made Double-Bogey.

“I was in charge and kept my breathing good and kept playing well,” she said. “It means a lot to win. It shows all the work I put into it, his fruit has been paid off.”

The players in the invitational were invited by the GAM on the basis of performances in GAM championships and a variety of other national and national competitions.

Results: gam.org or golf genius