Yee Wins GAM Net Match Play Championship

Gary Yee of Farmington Hills Wins GAM Net Match Play Championship

 ANN ARBOR – Gary Yee of Farmington Hills claimed his first GAM title, winning the 14th GAM Net Match Play Championship presented by PDS Networking Wednesday at Polo Fields Golf & Country Club.

  Yee started the week by shooting 71 in the stroke play portion of the tournament Monday to determine seeding for match play. He had seven net birdies in an up-and-down round and won a scorecard playoff for the No. 1 seed against two other players who also shot net 71 – Andrew Lang of Grosse Ile and Rick Rachner of Walled Lake.

  Yee would meet Lang, a two-time GAM Net Match Play Champion, yet again, in the championship match Wednesday, and he won again in 19 holes.

  Yee defeated Chad Wilson of Midland earlier Wednesday, 2 and 1 in the semifinals, to secure his spot in the final match. Lang won his semifinal 3 and 2 over Scott Degregorio of Dexter.

  Wilson made a key putt on No. 18 to extend the title match to extra holes. Lang put pressure on immediately, hitting the green first, but Yee made another clutch putt that ended up securing the win.

   “I’ve never played that much stressful golf before,” said Yee who had to win five matches to earn the trophy. “It was probably the most stressful thing golf related ever.”

  The 41-year-old building principal said the experience was awesome.

  “There was no plan,” he said. “It was just survive and try to focus on one shot after another.”

  Lang had a positive outlook after falling in the final.

  “I love playing in GAM events,” he said. “That’s really what these tournaments mean. You meet people, I will have new people to play golf with in the future. In my opinion, I made five new friends.”