Written By: Greg Johnson
GRAND RAPIDS – The Golf Association of Michigan (GAM) team built a 5-1 lead over the Michigan Section PGA team in morning four-ball matches to take control early and eventually won 11.5-6.5 in the 52nd Fuller Cup Matches Tuesday at Blythefield Country Club.
Top amateur golfers representing the GAM and top professionals representing the PGA squared off in a Ryder Cup-like format with six four-ball matches and 12 singles matches to determine a winning team. The clothing sponsor was Harlestons.
The GAM, which has won six times in the last seven years, still trails in the historic series, 36-14-2. The PGA dominated the matches in the first three decades of play.
The format has changed over the years, but the matches are presented to promote sportsmanship, friendship and quality golf among professionals and amateurs. The matches are named for the late Ernest Fuller, a Michigan golf course developer.
The GAM team is selected via the GAM Player of the Year points and availability, and the PGA selects its team from the players who won Section events in the last year, the host Professional and its Player of the Year points.
The GAM won both sessions, four-ball 5-1, and singles 6.5-5.5.
Michael Coriasso of Royal Oak, Joe Montpas of Flushing, McCoy Biagioli of White Lake and Ferris State University, and Drew Coble of Lake Orion and Grand Valley State University won four-ball points with their partners and also won singles matches to lead the GAM victory.
Justin Sui of Lake Orion, who won a full point with Coble in four-ball, tied the PGA’s Jeff Roth of BOYNE Golf Academy in the singles matches to secure a 9.5-point total and the cup.
Other singles winners for the GAM were Michigan State University golf teammates Drew Miller of East Lansing and Julian Menser of South Lyon.
Ben Cook of Quail Ridge Golf Club near Grand Rapids and teammate Tim Pearce of Birmingham Country Club won the only four-ball match for the PGA.
Singles match winners for the PGA included Chad Kurmel, the assistant men’s golf coach at Michigan State University, who beat one of his players, Caleb Bond of Williamston, 2 and 1.
The other PGA singles winners were Dan Urban of Gull Lake Country Club, Adam Schumacher of Point O’Woods Golf & Country Club in Benton Harbor, Patrick Wilkes-Krier of Kendall Academy/Miles of Golf in Ypsilanti and Cody Haughton of Red Run Golf Club in Royal Oak.
FULLER CUP RESULTS
Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, Blythefield Country Club
MORNING FOUR-BALL MATCHES
Michael Coriasso, Joe Montpas, GAM, def. John Seltzer, Juan Martinez, PGA, 3 and 1
McCoy Biagioli, Caleb Bond, GAM, def. Scott Hebert, Chad Kurmel, PGA, 1-up
John Quigley, Matt Zerbel, GAM, def. Dan Urban, Adam Schumacher, PGA, 1-up
Ben Cook, Tim Pearce, PGA, def. Drew Miller, Julian Menser, GAM, 1-up
Justin Sui, Drew Coble, GAM, def. Jeff Roth, Ryan Lenahan, PGA, 4 and 3
Mike Ignasiak, David Szymanski, GAM, def. Patrick Wilkes-Krier, Cody Haughton, PGA, 5 and 4
FOUR-BALL TOTALS: GAM 4, PGA 1
AFTERNOON SINGLES MATCHES
Michael Coriasso, GAM, def. John Seltzer, PGA, 2 and 1
Joe Montpas, GAM, def. Juan Martinez, PGA, 7 and 6
McCoy Biagioli, GAM, def. Scott Hebert, PGA, 3 and 2
Chad Kurmel, PGA, def. Caleb Bond, GAM, 2 and 1
Dan Urban, PGA, def. John Quigley, GAM, 4 and 3
Adam Schumacher, PGA, def. Matt Zerbel, GAM, 4 and 2
Drew Coble, GAM, def. Ryan Lenahan, PGA, 2 and 1
Justin Sui, GAM and Jeff Roth, PGA, Tied
Drew Miller, GAM, def. Ben Cook, PGA, 2 and 1
Julian Menser, GAM, def. Tim Pearce, PGA, 1-up
Patrick Wilkes-Krier, PGA, def. David Szymanski, GAM, 4 and 3
Cody Haughton, PGA, def. Mike Ignasiak, GAM, 2 and 1
SINGLES TOTALS: GAM 6.5, PGA 5.5
FINAL SCORE: GAM 11.5 – PGA 6.5