Jerry Hudgins, a Houston dentist, recorded 18 consecutive second-round pars to stave off Tom McGraw of Montgomery and Robert McKinney of Houston and successfully defend his Greater Houston Senior City Amateur Championship at Memorial Park. Hudgins, the first-round leader, recorded rounds of 69-72 for a 3-under-par 141 total. That was one shot better than McGraw and former city champion McKinney, the only players in the field to break par both rounds. Each carded a pair of 71s. Dan McGuire of Humble and Fred Clark of Kingwood shared fourth with 145 totals.

Hudgins’ winning total was two shots lower this year than his 141 he posted in 2005 which earned him a playoff with Bob W. Smith. Hudgins finally prevailed with a 10-foot birdie putt on the third hole of sudden death.

In the Super Senior Division for golfer’s 65-and-up, Sam Caliva of Bellaire withstood a charge from defending champion Lance Sims of Missouri City for a two-stroke victory. Caliva shot 73-74—147 for a two-shot cushion over Sims, who closed with even-par 72 after a first-round 77. Bill Kelly of Houston shot 77-73 to finish third.

While Hudgins methodically made pars, McGraw had four birdies to offset three bogeys in mild playing conditions on Sunday. McKinney also posted four final-round birdies and three bogeys. He climbed into a tie with McGraw with a birdie-3 on the final hole. The 6,721-yard layout played easier in the final round with the field averaging 74.7 compared to 80.8 in the first round.

The competition, conducted by the Houston Golf Association, attracted more than 200 local senior and super senior golfers who attempted to qualify for the final field of 94 players.

Click here for final results.

The Greater Houston Senior City Amateur is an amateurgolf.com Texas Amateur Rankings Points Event.

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