Julian Sinishtaj of Macomb Tops 2024 15-and-under Junior Boys’ Points List
By Greg Johnson for www.skyviewsports.net
FARMINGTON HILLS – Julian Sinishtaj is playing junior varsity basketball at De LaSalle Collegiate High School in Warren this winter, but as soon as it is golf season again, he will head back to the golf course.
“I practice and play every day,” he said of his routine at The Orchards Golf Club. “I like playing more, but I love practicing, too. The place is filled with juniors, and we are all there to try and get better.”
Sinishtaj, 15, the 2024 winner of the 15-and-under division at the Michigan Junior State Amateur Championship, has been named the GAM 15-and-under Junior Boys’ Player of the Year, Alex Clark, GAM director of tournament operations, announced today.
“It feels good to be a player of the year,” he said. “I think I had a good year. I was a lot more consistent with all parts of my game, especially scoring. I put the practice reps in every day.”
A Youth on Course Michigan member, Sinishtaj’s win in the Michigan Junior State Amateur’s younger age division, which included a second in the stroke play portion of the championship, collected 826.5 points to top the GAM Junior Boys’ Points list.
David Han of Midland, a Youth on Course Michigan member, winner of the GAM Junior Stroke Play title and runner-up to Sinishtaj in the Michigan Junior State Amateur, finished second with 802.5 points.
Aidan Oake of Howell, a Youth on Course Kensington Junior Golf member, with 628 points, Landon Guenther of Grand Blanc and Warwick Hills Golf & Country Club with 560 points, and Parker Westcott of Manchester and Washtenaw Golf Club with 487 points, rounded out the top five.
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.
Recently, McCoy Biagioli of White Lake was named the GAM Men’s Player of the Year, Elayna Bowser of Dearborn was named the Women’s Player of the Year, Randy Lewis of Alma was named the Super Senior Player of the Year, Leo Daigle of Wixom was named the Senior Men’s Player of the Year, Lori Schlicher of Lewiston was named the Senior Women’s Player of the Year, Cooper Reitsma of Ada was named the Junior Boys’ Player of the Year and Alena Li of Okemos was named the Junior Girls’ Player of the Year. The GAM will announce the 15-and-under junior girls’ player of the year Thursday.
Sinishtaj said his best play of the summer came during the week of the Michigan Junior State Amateur at Ferris State University’s Katke Golf Course.
“That was my biggest win so far,” he said. “I felt satisfaction because I knew I could go that low and play that good, I just had to do it. The championship match felt so good. I didn’t hit a bad shot, made three birdies and I won 9 and 8.”
Sinishtaj plans to compete as often as possible next summer and will return to the Michigan Junior State Amateur and attempt to make the starting field in the Michigan Amateur Championship again, too.
He has his eyes on playing college golf in the future and would love to draw the attention of Michigan State University, where two of his sisters attend college.
“I’m a confident golfer and I’m trying to workout, get stronger and hit it farther,” he said. “Hitting it off the tee is the best part of my game right now just because it is the most consistent. Putting is what I have to work on the most.”
Sinishtaj is a student of Brian O’Neill of Orlando (Fla.) Golf Academy, a former BOYNE Golf professional.
“I go to his academy and over the summer he comes to Michigan (for an American Junior Golf Association tournament), and I see him then,” he said.
Clark said Sinishtaj has obvious talent and can hit a variety of shots.
“That’s rare at such a young age, but along with his shot making, Julian is ahead of the curve on his course management skills, too,” he said. “I know he is looking forward to competing against the older juniors because he’s a fierce competitor. I’m sure he will make a successful transition to the overall division. He has the game to compete now and will only improve each year.”
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