Winners Crowned at First Winter Series

Jackson Sampselle captured the first Winter Series event of the 2013-2014 season at Timacuan Golf & Country Club in Lake Mary, November 25-26. He was joined in the winner’s circle by Paul Melson and Edward Craig, who won the Senior and Super Senior divisions respectively.

Jackson Sampselle, of Palm Coast, (pictured far left) went wire to wire to capture the Regular Division. In the first round Sampselle opened up a three stroke lead after his solid round of one-under par 71. Sampselle held on in the final round managing a five-over par round of 77, to prevail by one stroke, and take an early points lead for an exemption into the 2014 Amateur Championship held at Quail Valley Golf Club. Lloyd Fisher, of Dade City, finished in second place after posting rounds of 76-73 for a tournament total of 149.  Michael Lewis, of Heathrow, took home third place honors with a tournament total of 151.

Paul Melson, of Fort Lauderdale, (pictured center) erased a four stroke deficit to win the Senior Division.  After a first round of five-over par 77, Melson would trail the first round leader, Robert Lundquist, of Sanford, by four strokes heading into the final round. Melson posted the low round of the event on Tuesday, carding an impressive round of three-under par 69 to capture the title by three shots. Jerry Rose, of Sarasota, earned second place honors after rounds of 78-71. Howard Logan, of Naples, and John Vaccaro, of Sarasota, finished tied for third place with a tournament total of 152.

Edward Craig, of Orlando, (pictured far right) posted a tournament total of two-over par 146 to capture the Super Senior Division by three strokes. Craig opened up with an even par round of 72, and followed up with a final round of two-over par 74, good enough to beat out some familiar foes in the Super Senior Division. Tom Austin, of Lake Wales, and Ray Darmstadt, of Cocoa Beach, finished tied for second place with a tournament total of 149.

The Winter Series events include seven competitions, six individual events and one four-ball event. There are three age divisions, Mid-Senior (40-54), Senior (55-64) and Super Senior (65 & over). The Winter Series is a great opportunity for golfers to compete in competitive events that normally may not because they do not live in Florida year round.