PALM BEACH GARDENS, Florida (April 4, 2005) -- Lenny Loyd of Stuart fired a one over par 73 Monday (April 4) on the Champion course at PGA National to win the eighth annual Palm Beach County Senior Classic.
Loyd, 56, a stock portfolio manager, birdied the first and fourth holes with 9-irons and "just held on the rest of the way," he said. He hit his approach shot to five feet at No. 1 and to within a foot at No. 4, both par-4s.
He added three bogies on the course playing some 6,440 yards. He hooked his tee shot into the water at the par-5 sixth and also miscued at the par-4 12th and 16th holes. "But I hit 7-irons to the green at both the (par-3) 15th and 17th holes" for pars, he added with a smile of satisfaction.
"It's the first tournament I've played since last fall except for a couple of member-guests," Loyd said, "but I've played this course enough over the years to know where to at least try to hit it and where not to."
It was Loyd's seventh Palm Beach County Golf Association title, the second on his own ball. He won three times in 2000: the Senior Four Ball, Senior Better Ball and Junior-Senior; and three more in 2003: Junior-Senior, Four-Ball and Senior Amateur.
Mel Hirsch of Palm Beach Gardens, a semi-retired financial entrepreneur, was the low net winner with 67 on a gross score of 81.
The first tournament of the PBCGA's 30th season drew more than 90 starters 50 years and older with more than $1,300 in merchandise prizes awarded.
Next on the schedule: April 16-17, Palm Beach International, The Fox Club, and April 29-May 1, Arrigo Dodge Four-Ball, Bear Lakes CC. For membership information and tournament entry, call the PBCGA, 561-686-9287, or go to pbcga@usga.org.
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Palm Beach County Golf Association
Senior Classic
PGA National, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
Champion course, 6,440 yards, par 72
Gross
Lenny Loyd, Stuart, $150 73
Bill Erwin, Palm Beach Gardens, $87.50 74
Cab Hargrave, West Palm Beach, $87.50 74
David Dulman, Palm Beach Gardens, $50 75
Don Edwards, Hobe Sound, $50 75
Tim Cox, Palm Beach Gardens, $34.16 76
Clyde Gibson, Hobe Sound, $34.16 76
Mark Rubin, Boca Raton, $34.16 76
Jim Cecchini, Palm Beach Gardens, $26.25 77
Larry Derito, Jupiter, $26.25 77
Tom Deary, North Palm Beach, $21.25 78
Gil Turner, Palm City, $21.25 78
Ron Fisher, Delray Beach, $15 79
Ed Little, Boca Raton, $15 79
Rick Wentworth, Stuart, $15 79
Net
Mel Hirsch, Palm Beach Gardens, $150 67
Dan Hearon, Juno Beach, $87.50 69
Robert Quinn, West Palm Beach, $87.50 69
Roger Couto, Indiantown, $45.83 70
Terry Louis, Palm Beach Gardens, $45.83 70
Jack Mansmann, Boca Raton, $45.83 70
George Banks, Palm City, $32.50 71
Tommy Sessums, Boynton Beach, $32.50 71
Jim Bounds, Boynton Beach, $23.75 72
Joe Heffernan, Boca Raton, $23.75 72
James Slocum, Palm City, $23.75 72
Michael Spillane, West Palm Beach, $23.75 72
Bob Brown, Jupiter, $12.50 73
Richard Brunette, West Palm Beach, $12.50 73
Don Curley, West Palm Beach, $12.50 73
Joe Malone, Jupiter, $12.50 73
Jerry Schall, Wellington, $12.50 73
Dave Sweeney, Stuart, $12.50 73
Skins - Kevin Johnson, Jupiter, No. 5, birdie-2; Steve Norell, Stuart, No. 17, birdie-2. $300 each.
Money awarded in merchandise certificates.