LANSING – Watson Mercier of Novi and Belen Berishaj of Birmingham emerged as champions of the 9th GAM 14 & Under Match Play Championship presented by Absopure at Woodside Golf Course.

Mercier, 13, topped the field of boys after beating Leland DeKorver of Jenison 1-up in the nine-hole championship match Thursday afternoon, and Berishaj, 12, topped the field of girls with a 2 and 1 nine-hole championship match win over Eleanor O’Grady of Grand Rapids.

“It feels really great to win, it means a lot,” said Mercier who with a par on the par 3 No.8 hole took a 1-up lead and tied the final hole for the win.

It was Mercier’s second GAM title. He won the GAM 12-and-Under Championship last summer.

“I’ve been improving,” he said. “I was trying to get the ball on the green (in regulation) and then

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