Preston Is 2025 GAM 15-And-Under Junior Boys Player Of The Year

GAM PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Tommy Preston of Grand Rapids Tops 2025 15-and-under Junior Boys’ Points List

FARMINGTON HILLS – Tommy Preston of Grand Rapids had his two best scoring rounds of his young career at opportunistic times this summer.

The 15-year-old Grand Rapids Catholic Central student shot 65 in the U.S. Junior Amateur qualifier at The Orchards in Washington Township to earn medalist honors and a spot in the national championship.

And, playing up an age group in the overall division, he shot a 66 at Forest Akers West in closing out the season with a victory at the GAM Junior Invitational Championship.

“I think when I go low it is because the putter gets hot,” he said. “I make a lot of birdies. That’s what happened in those rounds, and it’s the one thing I’ve been working on the most. It’s on and off and I want to get more consistent with it and make a lot more putts.”

Preston made enough putts to top the GAM’s 15-and-under Junior Boys’ Points List, and he has been named the 15-and-under Junior Boys’ Player of the Year, Alex Clark, director of tournament operations announced today.

Player of the Year point totals can be found on a pull down from the PLAY tab at GAM.org. Carl’s Golfland is the presenting sponsor of the points lists.

Preston’s announcement wraps up the Player of the Year awards for 2025. In recent weeks, the GAM announced Elayna Bowser of Dearborn as the Women’s Player of the Year, Caleb Bond of Williamston as the Men’s Player of the Year, Lori Schlicher of Lewiston as the Senior Women’s Player of the Year, Mike Anderson of Novi as the Senior Men’s Player of the Year, Greg Zeller of Jackson as the Super Senior Player of the Year, Alena Li of Okemos as the Junior Girls’ Player of the Year, JP Levan of Grand Rapids as the Junior Boys’ Player of the Year and Hannah Kim of Troy as the 15-and-under Girls’ Player of the Year.

“It’s a great honor to be a player of the year,” Preston said. “It reflects well on one of my best summers and it shows you are one of the best players in the state.”

He said making the trip to the U.S. Junior Amateur at Trinity Forest Golf Club in Texas was a lot of fun, especially with friends and fellow competitors (JP Levan and Cooper Reitsma). We played practice rounds, played in the tournament, and hung around afterwards. It was a great experience.”

Being named Player of the Year matched the accomplishment of his older brother Will, who is currently playing college golf at Penn State University. Both of them work with instructor Kevin Weeks of Cog Hill Golf & Country Club in the suburban Chicago.

“I want to play college golf and do the things Will did,” Preston said. “I had a good summer, and I want to build on that next year.”

Preston, a GAM member though Cascade Hills Country Club with his family, won a tight points battle with 458 points.

Blake Springstead of Kewadin and A-Ga-Ming Resort was second with 420 points.

Timothy Wageman of Haslett, who had 410 points, Rodrigo Dugarte of Troy, who had 405 points and Draven Rogers of Fort Gratiot, who had 345 points, rounded out the top five.

Clark said Preston clearly has an abundance of talent.

“He played in the Overall Division in many tournaments this year, which is unusual for a 15-year-old,” he said. “However, he proved he has the game to compete with the older juniors. Tommy is a great ball striker. He plays fast, which indicates he is confident in his skills, and he isn’t overthinking. His golfing future is very bright.