Steve Earsley and Brian Sachs
LECANTO, Fla. (April 16, 2009)--Steve Earsley held onto his second round lead during the final round of the Senior Amateur Championship at Black Diamond Ranch in Lecanto to capture the victory. In the Super Senior Division, Brian Sachs had a come-from-behind victory.
Steve Earsley, of Hobe Sound, captured his first Florida State Golf Association Championship by stringing together rounds of 72-72-75 for a 219 tournament total and a three stroke victory. Earsley, the 2003 and 2004 Golfweek #1 ranked player-of-the year and 2007 FSGA Senior Amateur runner-up, started with a birdie at the first hole in his final round. Adding another birdie to get to two under, he gave away strokes at holes seven and eight after shortsiding himself on his approach and leaving difficult up-and-downs that resulted in bogies. The bad luck continued on the back nine, with a string of four bogies in the first four holes. He again shortsided himself on the tenth hole, three-putted both the eleventh and twelfth holes, and missed a three-footer on the thirteenth. Battling with a trio of contenders, Earsley found himself with only a one stroke lead with five holes to play. Bolstered by a par on the fourteenth hole, Steve stuck his approach shot to a foot on the fifteenth to give him a tap-in birdie. “The panic had started to set-in. After I parred fourteen and hit it to one-foot on fifteen I felt a whole lot better,” Earsley remarked. A birdie on the eighteenth hole sealed the victory. Jim Carley, of Ormond Beach, shot the only under-par round of the day in the Senior Division to leap into a tie for second place after shooting rounds of 78-73-71 for a 222 tournament total. John Darr, of Gainesville, also finished second with rounds of 75-74-73.
Brian Sachs, of Newberry, overcame a six-stroke deficit to have an impressive come-from-behind victory in the Super Senior Division. Tied for fourth place heading into the final round, Sachs scorched the course, returning the only under-par round in the Super Senior Division. He followed his rounds of 78 and 76 with a one-under par 71 to win by three strokes. Edward Craig, of Orlando, finished in second place with rounds of 76-78-74 for a 228 total. Ed Duffy, of West Palm Beach, shot rounds of 72-76-81 for a 229 total and claimed third place honors.
View results for Florida Senior Amateur
ABOUT THE Florida Senior Amateur
The Senior Championship is for those individuals
over the age of 55. 54 holes of stroke play, with a
cut
to the low 60 and ties after 36 holes. Must be an
FSGA
member.
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