FSGA Players Head Across the Pond

Eight accomplished FSGA senior players will trade in their sunscreen and shorts for hand warmers and jackets as they across the Atlantic and head to England for the 2017 British Senior Amateur Championship. A highly respected event put together by the R & A, the British Senior Amateur hosts senior golfers from across the world as they compete for the prestigious title. 

Making the trip across are Peter Wegmann, Mike Bodney, Pete Williams, Rick Woulfe, John Madden, James Starnes, Marcus Beck, and Roger Dean. 

Peter Wegmann, of Fort Lauderdale is a multiple FSGA champion. He won both the 2016 Senior Amateur Championship and the Senior Amateur Match Play Championship. These two wins earned him the title of FSGA Senior Player of the Year in late 2016. Because of his exquisite play these past two years, Wegmann sits comfortably at the top of the two-year points list for the Southeastern Challenge Match. With just over 17,000 points, Wegmann leads the senior list by almost 8,000 points over Owen Joyner. Because the Florida Senior Open is going on simultaneously and Wegmann opted to play in the British Senior Amateur instead, he will not be earning points, however with his substantial lead, it is nearly impossible for anyone to catch him and take over the top spot on the points list. 

Pete Williams, of Juno Beach recently was the stroke play medalist at the 2017 Senior Amateur Match Play. He has won four FSGA titles throughout his career, including the two in 2014. He won the Senior Amateur Match Play Championship and Senior Amateur Championship in 2014. In 2012, he won the Florida Senior Open Championship and in 2015 he won his last FSGA title at the Senior/Mid-Am Four Ball Championship. 

The most decorated FSGA member competing at the 2017 British Senior Amateur Championship is Rick Woulfe, of Fort Lauderdale. Woulfe lacks no accolades as he is not only a three-time FSGA Amateur Player of the Year winner (2002, 2004, 2006) but also a nine-time FSGA Senior Amateur Player of the Year winner. Woulfe has won the Senior Four-Ball Championship a record four times, beginning in 1995. He won the Senior/Mid-Am Four-Ball Championship back-to-back in 2012 and 2013. and also in 2012, he won the Mid-Amateur Championship. His most successful FSGA year came in 2007 when he won the Mid-Senior Championship, the Senior Amateur Championship, and the Senior Amateur Match Play Championship. His 2007 Senior Amateur Match Play Championship win was his first of two wins at that event; his second victory was in 2015. 

Other FSGA members playing this week include Mike Bodney, of Jacksonville, competed in the 2013 Senior Amateur Match Play where he was a semifinalist. James Starnes, of Fort Myers qualified for the 2016 U.S. Senior Amateur Championship in St. Louis. Marcus Beck, of Tallahassee finished in a tie for third place at the Senior Amateur Match Play this year while Roger Dean, of Ormond Beach was the 2013 Senior Four-Ball Champion. 

The 2017 British Senior Amateur Championship will be taking place at Sunningdale Golf Club and all rounds will be conducted on the Old Course. Sunningdale Golf Club is in Ascot, England, about 30 miles southwest of London. Sunningdale Golf Club was founded in 1900 with the Old Course opening in 1901. During construction, fourteen urns from iron-age skeletons were excavated. When the course first opened, it was considered extremely long and the Willie Park design was considered revolutionary for that time. The Old Course is considered one of England's best inland golf courses and has been featured as one of the "Top 100 Courses". Many prestigious professional and amateur events have taken place at Sunningdale. Multiple European Open Championships as well as the Walker Cup have been played here, yet most recently the Senior Open Championship in 2015 was hosted by Sunningdale Golf Club.

The British Senior Amateur Championship was created by the R&A in 1969 to assist Great Britain & Ireland to pick their teams for the World Senior Amateur Team Championship. While that championship did not continue, the British Senior Amateur Championship received positive reviews and has been a sought-out event for many years. Beginning in 1988, the championship was dominated by Scotland's Charlie Green who won the event six of seven years. The British Senior Amateur Championship Defending Champion is Chip Lutz of the United States. Lutz has won the event multiple times and is competing this week. Americans have had a lot of success in this event. Since 2010, an American has won the Senior British Amateur. 

The Championship begins on Wednesday as 144 competitors play 36 holes Wednesday and Thursday before the field is cut to the low 60 players and ties. The final round will take place Friday with a new champions crowned after another 18 holes. 

Follow the 2017 British Senior Amateur Championship here: Senior Amateur Homepage

First Round Tee Times

Round 1 Tee Times - FSGA Players