Sue Geyer

ALPENA — Alpena High School Class of 1981 alum Sue (Piper) Geyer is being inducted into the Alpena Sports Hall of Fame, honoring a career that spans more than two decades of excellence on the golf course.

Known for her consistency, competitive spirit, and sheer determination, Geyer has been a dominant force in the Alpena golf scene. Her achievements include a record eight Women’s City Open Championships and 13 Alpena Golf Club Women’s Club Championships — trophies that mark her as one of the most decorated golfers in the region’s history.

Geyer first captured the Alpena golf spotlight in 2001 with her initial club championship win and quickly became a perennial contender. She won the City Open for the first time in 2002 and went on to victories in 2003, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2021. She also earned runner-up honors three times and finished third twice, displaying a remarkable level of consistency over the years.

Among her other accolades are the Alpena Golf Club President’s Cup title (1999), multiple honors in the Northern Michigan Women’s Golf Association, and the Golf Association of Michigan Women’s Senior Match Play Runner-Up award in 2019. Her name has become a fixture at the top of local leaderboards year after year.

In an interview ahead of her Hall of Fame induction, Geyer reflected on her journey and what has driven her.

“I am extremely competitive by nature,” she said. “I discovered I was good at golf, so I set goals every year — and I thrive under pressure.”

One of her most memorable wins came in 2006, just months after undergoing major surgery for Crohn’s disease.

“I came out four months later in August and won the City Open,” she said. “That win meant so much.”

Geyer’s preparation, mental resilience, and strong putting game have been key to her success.

“I always set a goal to place in the top three and to never let a bad shot ruin a round,” she said. “Never give up.”

She also credits the strength of the local golf community and its trailblazers who helped build the tournament culture in the area. That supportive environment — and her personal role in shaping it — adds even more meaning to her Hall of Fame induction.

“Being inducted is a huge honor,” Geyer said. “It’s a culmination of perseverance and staying positive. My mom was one of my biggest supporters, and I know she will be with me in spirit on June 7.”

Becoming the second member of her family to receive the prestigious honor, Geyer now joins her mother, Pat Piper (Class of 1995), in the Alpena Sports Hall of Fame.

Geyer and the other inductees this year will be recognized at the Hall of Fame banquet on June 7.