GRAND RAPIDS – Cascade Hills Country Club, which in 2021 will host the 110th Michigan Amateur Championship as part of its centennial year, is first hosting the 48th Fuller Cup Matches Thursday.
Top amateur golfers representing the Golf Association of Michigan and top PGA professionals representing the Michigan Section of the PGA square off in a Ryder Cup-like format with six four-ball matches and 12 singles matches to determine a winning team. The annual competition was originally scheduled for May 5, but rescheduled due to pandemic restrictions.
Linksoul is the clothing sponsor outfitting both teams.
Cascade Hills, founded in 1921, was designed by Jack Daray Sr., one of the turn-of-the-century teaching professionals who also worked in classic course design across the country. In 1920 he was the head professional at another and now defunct Grand Rapids area club (Highland Country Club), and was a protégé of famed architect and golf professional Willie Park Jr.
One of the 14 founding members of American Society of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA), he also worked at Olympia Fields Country Club in suburban Chicago and in the winter taught at Biloxi Golf Club in Mississippi. Later he lived in California where he designed several more courses.
Most of his classic design elements remain in what is now a 6,800-yard par 71 course over rolling hills with fast push-up style greens and a variety of looks and challenges.
Cascade Hills, which also has a nine-hole par 3 course (The Park) and state-of-the art practice facility, has hosted several USGA and GAM qualifying events over the years and hosted the Michigan Open Championship four times between 1931 and 1945. In 1940 it hosted what is now the Michigan Women’s Amateur Championship.
Representing the GAM this year will be Cascade Hills member Chip Anderson of Grand Rapids, Brad Bastion of Shelby Township, Michael Coriasso of White Lake, Dan Ellis of East Lansing, Nick Gunthorpe of East Lansing, Grant Haefner of Bloomfield Hills, Austin Kreger of Harrison Township, Cameron Lippoldt of Midland, Steve Nichols of East Lansing, James Piot of Canton, Anthony Sorentino of Rochester Hills and Andrew Walker of Battle Creek.
Representing the PGA will be Brian Cairns of Fox Hills Learning Center, Josh Fryer of Franklin Hills Country Club, Joe Hatch of US Golf Cars Inc., Cody Haughton of Red Run Golf Club, Lee Houtteman of Glen Arbor, Adrian Jolliffe, the host head professional from Cascade Hills Country Club, Frank McAuliffe of Meadowbrook Country Club, Tim Pearce of Birmingham Country Club, Jeff Roth of Boyne Highlands Resort, Adam Schumacher of Point O’Woods Golf & Country Club, Dan Urban of Gull Lake Country Club and Kyle Wittenbach, golf coach at Ferris State University.
Last year, the GAM team won 14-4 at Indianwood Golf & Country Club. It was the sixth win in the last 10 matchups for the GAM, but the PGA has a 34-11-2 lead in the overall series.
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 through the use of the GAM Honor Roll and availability and the PGA selects its team via money list standing and availability.
Find more information on the Golf Association of Michigan at GAM.org. Find more information on the Michigan PGA at michiganpga.com. Learn more about Cascade Hills at cascadehillscc.com.
48th Fuller Cup Matches
Thursday, Oct. 8
Cascade Hills Country Club
Morning Session Four-Ball
8:30 a.m.: Michael Coriasso/Dan Ellis (GAM) vs. Dan Urban/Lee Houtteman (PGA)
8:40 a.m.: Austin Kreger/Nick Gunthorpe (GAM) vs. Adrian Jolliffe/Adam Schumacher (PGA)
8:50 a.m.: Andrew Walker/Cameron Lippoldt (GAM) vs. Kyle Wittenbach/Joe Hatch (PGA)
9:00 a.m.: Steve Nichols/Chip Anderson (GAM) vs. Frank McAuliffe/Cody Haughton (PGA)
9:10 a.m.: James Piot/Grant Haefner (GAM) vs. Jeff Roth/Tim Pearce (PGA)
9:20 a.m.: Anthony Sorentino/Brad Bastion (GAM) vs. Brian Cairns/Josh Fryer (PGA)
Afternoon Session Singles
1:30 p.m.: Michael Coriasso (GAM) vs. Dan Urban (PGA)
1:30 p.m.: Dan Ellis (GAM) vs. Lee Houtteman (PGA)
1:40 p.m.: Austin Kreger (GAM) vs. Adrian Jolliffe (PGA)
1:40 p.m.: Nick Gunthorpe (GAM) vs. Adam Schumacher (PGA)
1:50 p.m.: Andrew Walker (GAM) vs. Kyle Wittenbach (PGA)
1:50 p.m.: Cameron Lippoldt (GAM) vs. Joe Hatch (PGA)
2:00 p.m.: Steve Nichols (GAM) vs. Frank McAuliffe (PGA)
2:00 p.m.: Chip Anderson (GAM) vs. Cody Haughton (PGA)
2:10 p.m.: James Piot (GAM) vs. Jeff Roth (PGA)
2:10 p.m. Grant Haefner (GAM) vs. Tim Pearce (PGA)
2:20 p.m.: Anthony Sorentino (GAM) vs. Brian Cairns (PGA)
2:20 p.m.: Brad Bastion (GAM) vs. Josh Fryer (PGA)
