Amateur Pete Williams, of Juno Beach, became the first amateur to win The Florida Senior Open in its 36-year history. Pete delivered his third consecutive under-par performance and blew past the field to post a four-stroke win at The Florida Senior Open, which concluded Sunday at the 6,741-yard, par 72 Bear Lakes Country Club.
In claiming his first Florida Senior Open title, Williams’ finished the championship at 12-under, 204.
“Every win is meaningful,” Williams’ said, “but to be able to beat all these great pros is pretty special.”
Williams made bogey on 16 after pulling his second shot into the water, but he came back with an eagle on 17 after hitting a three-iron to eight feet from 210 yards.
“That must have been the best three-iron of my life, it was definitely the shot of the week,” Williams’ said. Pete shot rounds of 70-66-68, 12-under to earn the championship title.
Professionals Ed Sabo, of Tequesta, and Gene Fieger, of Naples, closed the tournament at eight-under-par to share the runner-up title. The two will split the first and second place professional's check, taking home $3,750 each.
During this Championship, all participants played eighteen holes each on the Lakes course and the Links course on Friday, August 10th and Saturday, August 11th. Bear Lakes Country Club was in immaculate condition for the competitors and contained challenges in its fast greens and well-placed bunkers. Bear Lakes has played host to both Florida State Men’s and Women’s Amateur Championships, sectional qualifying for the U.S. Open for both men and women as well as the 1995 and 2001 PGA Tour Qualifying Finals.
