LAKE WALES, Fla. (June 16, 2011) -- Lee Booker defeated Walt Himelsbaugh in 19 holes to win the 6th Senior Amateur Match Play Championship. Michael Shiff defeated Edward Craig 2 & 1 to win the Super Senior Division at Lake Wales Country Club, in Lake Wales on June 12-16.
Before starting match play, Lee Booker, of Naples, earned the 5th seed after posting a 72 in the seeding round. Booker proceeded to win four matches to reserve his spot in the final match. In the Round of 32, Booker beat Phil Block, of Sarasota, 2 up to face Brian Mills, from Windermere, in the next round. Booker would defeat Mills 5 and 3 in the Round of 16.
In the quarters, Booker defeated the 2009 Champion Tom Hyman, of Tampa, 2 and 1. In the semifinal, Booker defeated Berger Warner, from Ocala, 2 and 1 to advance to the final match versus Himelsbaugh. Booker won his fifth and final match defeating Walter Himelsbaugh, of Leesburg, in 19 holes.
In the final match Booker never led by more than 1 up in this seesaw battle. On the 18th hole, Himelsbaugh would make an unbelievable par to extend the match. Booker would go on to make birdie on the 19th hole to capture his first State Championship.
In the Senior Division First Flight, Edward Loughrea, from Cape Coral, defeated Brian Mendell, of Haines City, 6 and 4.
In the Super Senior Championship Bracket, 2nd seed Michael Shiff, of Parkland, beat the two time Defending Champion Edward Craig, of Orlando, 2 and 1 for his first State Championship. Shiff defeated the 2007 Champion Jim DuBois, of Coral Springs, 4 and 3 in the Round of 16 and then beat Tom Austin, of Lake Wales, 3 and 2 in the quarters. Shiff continued his run winning his semifinal match 1 up against Harvey Barish, of Hollywood.
Ron Russo, from Ocala, defeated Angus Hewitt, of Sebastian, 2 and 1 to claim the Super Senior First Flight title.
View results for Florida Senior Match Play
ABOUT THE Florida Senior Match Play
The Senior Championship is for those
individuals
over the age of 55. Two age divisions, 55-64
and
65 and over, will compete with one round of
stroke play qualifying followed by single
elimination match play rounds to determine
winners in each division.
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