LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla. – Shannon Sykora survived a playoff to capture the 46th Florida Senior Open Championship on Wednesday at Lakewood National Golf Club. The Fort Myers resident used an 6-under 210 and a birdie on the third playoff hole against Steve Vecellio to capture the Florida Senior Open victory.
"This win is really big. I don't play much golf. With coaching college golf, most of my time is spent doing that. To come out here and play against these guys and win is really fun," Sykora said.
This is the Florida Senior Open victory for Sykora, who took home a $12,000 winner’s check.
Vecellio held a one-shot lead over the field to start the final round. He birdied the ninth to finish the front nine at even par and head to the back side with a one-shot lead over the field. Sykora began the final round in a tie for seventh, four shots back of Vecellio. The Florida Gulf Coast University head women’s golf coach got it going on the front side, playing the Nos. 3-7 at 2 under and made the turn at 4 under.
Mike Finster, who started the day three shots back of the leader, made a run in the final round. He carded a bogey-free first nine with a birdie on the third. The St. Petersburg native kept it rolling on the back nine with a birdie on the 10th to move to 5 under, one shot back of Vecellio.
Finster had a good look at eagle on the 13th, with an 18-foot putt off the fringe. He just missed and tapped in for birdie to move to 7 under and take the outright lead. Meanwhile, Sykora added another birdie on the 10th and 13th to go to 5 under.
"When I made birdie on the 13th, I thought if I could get a couple more then I might have a chance," Sykora said.
Sykora added a birdie on the 17th to take a share of the lead at 6 under with Finster, who dropped a shot on the 15th with a bogey. Sykora finished with a par on the 18th to take the clubhouse lead at 6-under 210, with three groups left to finish. Finster found some trouble on the 18th, hitting his second shot in the penalty area and finished the hole with a bogey and ending the day at 5-under 211.
Vecellio had some struggles to start the back nine, playing the Nos. 10-14 at 2 over to fall to 5 under. He birdied 18th hole to finish at 6-under 210 and force a playoff with Sykora.
The players headed to the 18th hole to begin the playoff. Sykora and Vecellio both birdies the first playoff hole and finished with par on the second playoff hole (17th hole). Heading back to the 18th, both players hit their second shot to 15 feet. Vecellio just missed his birdie putt, while Sykora rolled his put in for birdie to capture the win.
Mike Finster finished the week in third on his way to earning Low-Amateur honors.
