Keith Decker won his second straight Senior Porter Cup (NFCC photo)
LEWISTON, NY (September 8, 2017) -
Keith Decker of Martinsville, VA won his second straight Senior Porter Cup at Niagara Falls Country Club.
Decker, who won this championship last year by five shots, took the same five shot lead into the final round this year. Scoring was high on Friday--
John Miosi's round of even-par 70 was the low round by two shots--and everyone was backing up, including Decker.
In the end, his five-over 75 was good enough to complete the victory.
Doug Hanzel of Savannah, GA, the 2015 champion and the #1 player in the
AmateurGolf.com Senior Rankings, shot a final-round 72, the second-low round of the day, but it was not enough to catch Decker.
Decker and Hanzel separated themselves from the field, as the four players who shared third place--
Colin Grieve, Miosi,
Larry Nunez and
Scott Smith--were a full nine shots behind Decker and seven behind Hanzel.
In the Super Senior Division, Paul Schlacter lapped the field, closing with a 69 to win by ten shots over Peter Van Ingen. Schlacter opened a five shot lead after day one, extended it to seven after 36 holes, and pushed it to ten with a two-under 208 total. In the Legends Division, Don Kuehn won by a single shot over George Washburn, with Ronnie Law and Skip Snow tied for third.
ROUND TWO RECAP
Keith Decker of Martinsville, VA is one step closer to a repeat win at the Senior Porter Cup, shooting a second-round even-par 70 and pushing his lead to five shots.
He won the tournament last year by five shots and was the only player under par in doing so. That's exactly the case now with one round to go. Decker is at three under par for the tournament after opening with a 67.
Doug Hanzel, the 2015 champion and #1 ranked player in the
AmateurGolf.com Senior Rankings, is Decker's closest pursuer after consecutive one-over 71s.
If Hanzel can manage a comeback win, it would be his sixth major amateur title of the season. Decker is going for his third national win of the year to go along with the Dave King Senior Invitational and the SOS Spring Championship.
They both made the Final 16 of the U.S. Senior Amateur and it should be a good final-round matchup.
Scott Smith is the next closest player, alone in third at four-over after two straight rounds of 72.
In the Super Senior Division, Paul Schlacter also extended his lead on day two, from five shots to seven, after a 72 that leaves him at one-under 139 for the tournament. Peter Van Ingen has moved into second place at 146, with Dennis Helms in third at 147.
In the Legends Division, Don Kuehn shot a 69 to take the lead from George Washburn. Kuehn is now at even par 140 for the tournament, with the first-round leader Washburn alone in second three shots back. Skip Snow is in third, six shots behind.
ROUND ONE RECAP
Keith Decker of Martinsville, VA shot an opening round three-under 67 to take the lead in the Senior Porter Cup at Niagara Fallas Country Club.
The defending champion Decker, who won by five shots in last year's tournament, has a three shot advantage over Frank Morris of Canada and Michael Wharton-Palmer of Texarkana, AR.
Doug Hanzel, the 2015 champion and #1 ranked player in the AmateurGolf.com Senior Rankings, is four shots back after a one-over 71. He is tied with Larry Nunez of Austin, TX.
Jim Starnes, Mike Mealia, Doug Alexander, and Scott Smith are tied for sixth at two-over 72.
For Decker, it is a continuation of a good run of play that includes a win at the Dave King Senior Invitational and a Final 16 finish in the U.S. Senior Amateur at the Minikahda Club in Minneapolis. Decker also won the Society of Seniors Spring Championship earlier this year.
In the Super Senior Division, Paul Schlacter has a five-shot lead after a three-under 67. Dennis Helms, Jim Castagna, and Robert Galpin share second at two-over 72.
In the Legends Division, George Washburn shot a two-under 68 for a three shot lead over three players--Don Kuehn, Ronnie Law, and Jack Mahan.
ABOUT THE Senior Porter Cup
The Senior Porter Cup is an invitational
amateur
event conducted at stroke play over 54 holes.
The
Tournament Committee reserves the right to
invite players of national and international
reputation to participate. Contestants are
selected
on the basis of their competitive record and
accomplishments in major amateur and senior
amateur tournaments. Players must be at least
55
years of age prior to beginning of tournament.
The Senior division was added to the annual
Porter Cup Invitational in 1992 and has been
played as as a separate tournament since
2008.
View Complete Tournament Information