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 of Grand Rapids, won the overall titles at the GAM Junior Invitational Championship presented by Absopure Sunday at Michigan State University’s Forest Akers West course.

O’Grady, 18 and a senior at Grand Rapids Christian, shot even-par 72 for 149 and won by three shots in the girls’ competition.

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

Champions were also determined in the 15-and-under division.

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

Hannah Kim of Troy shot 68 for 142 and won the 15-and-under girls’ title by seven shots over Belen Berishaj of Birmingham, who closed with a 77.

Preston said he didn’t think about playing with the big lead he built with the first-round 66.

“I played pretty steady the whole round, no big numbers, made some birdies and some bogeys here and there,” he said. “I feel like some of the pin placements were harder today and there was some wind.”

Cooper Reitsma of 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 at the door for a couple of years,” he said. “It was nice to play well in both rounds and win one.”

Preston’s 66 was one higher than his personal best in competition.

“I was just hitting it really well off the tee and hitting solid shots (to the greens),” he said of his first round. “Then my putter got hot, which helped a lot. I had seven birdies and one bogey.”

O’Grady, who has committed the University of Findlay in Ohio for college golf, said she played consistently through the final round.

“I hit a lot of fairways and a lot of greens,” she said. “I missed some frustrating putts, but I ended up making some, too.”

Saisha Patil of Okemos finished second shooting a final 78 for 152. Chaille Payne of Spring Lake shot 82 for 157 and finished third.

O’Grady said a tight final-round battle with Patil turned at hole 6 where she made par and Patil made double-bogey.

“I got the lead and kept my breathing good and kept playing well,” she said. “It means a lot to win. It shows all the work I’ve put into it is paying off.”

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

RESULTS: GAM.org or Golf Genius