Lecanto, Fla. - 87 golfers ages 65-and-over made the journey to Black Diamond Ranch to battle it out on the Quarry Course for the Super-Senior Amateur Match Play Championship. Players were also forced to deal with multiple suspensions during the first round of matches. Ultimately, Earl Lanoue, Robert Karcher and Tom Grady won the Championship, 70-74, and 75 & Over Divisons, respectively.
Championship Division
David Tassell, of Jupiter, put together a strong performance during the Stroke-Play Seeding Round, posting a score of one-under par, 71, which would give him medalist honors. This set him up as the second seed and gave him a first-round matchup with 15th-seeded Timothy Rodgers. Rodgers would push Tassell to the 18th hole where he would go on to win 2-up. Pete Williams our defending champion came in with the number 1 seed and was looking to take on Mike Murphy in his first round match. Battling through weather delays Williams would succumb to a 3 & 2 defeat by Murphy ending his bid for another title.
On Wednesday in our Semifinals matches, Brett Storm would face of with Earl Lanoue and Mike Murphy would play Bob Murphy. In the first match of the day Murphy and Murphy would go back and forth throughout the day until Bob Murphy was able to two putt the 17th home to secure a 2 & 1 victory propelling him into Thursdays Final. Storm and Lanoue would be in a similar close match until Lanoue would win holes 13,14 & 15 to close out the match 4 & 3. Lanoue is now set to meet Bob Murphy in the Finals Thursday morning to decide who will claim the Championship.
On Thursday, Lanoue faced off against 13th-seeded Bob Murphy who has dominated his matches to get into the Finals. The Tampa native took control of the match early on, building a three-hole lead through the first four holes. Lanoue would never trail throughout the entire match, ultimately completing his victory on the 17th hole by a score of 2 & 1. This is Lanoue’s first state Championship title and we are sure it will not be his last.
70-74 Division
James Prendergast, of Ocala, completed the Stroke-Play Seeding Round with a score of 1-over par, 73, which was good enough to claim Division' medalist. After a dominate first round match victory of 8 & 7, Prendergast looked to capture another victory in the semifinals and put him into the finals. Robert Karcher won his first round match 4 & 2 and would face off against Greg Shires in the Semifinals on Wednesday.
In the Semifinals Prendergast would face off against Bobby Lundquist. After a great battle that pushed deep into the back nine Prendergast was able to come out on top with a 2 & 1 victory and setup his time in the Final match on Thursday. In the other semifinal match was Robert Karcher and Greg Shires. Karcher would play a tremendous round and complete the match by winning 7 & 6 and cementing his place in the finals.
The North Venice native would face-off against the number one seed James Prendergast. After winning his first two matches 4 & 2 and 7 & 6 Karcher had his eyes on the title. Karcher was able to get up early and steady play the remainder of the match was able to help him secure his first title with a dominate victory of 6 & 5.
75 & Over Division
Tom Grady came into this year's Championship looking to claim another title at his new age division. The Bradenton native completed the Seeding Round with the round of the tournament, shooting a five under-par, 67. Grady would take this confidence into his first round match winning 4 & 3 propelling him into the semifinals. In our other semifinals match was Jim Brush and Jerry Rodeheaver. After battling all round Brush was able to come out on top finishing the match out on hole 17. Brush and Grady now are looking to battle it out to claim the title.
Grady continued his stellar play in the Finals but starting out hot and playing steady golf throughout the entire match. Brush would push Grady deep into the match but would ultimately fall 2 & 1. With this win it becomes Grady’s third title at this Championship and first in the 75 & Over Age Division.
