Steve Hudson was in control the whole way at The Landings
(The Landings photo)
SAVANNAH, GA (October 4, 2017) -
Steve Hudson shot a one-under 71 to complete a wire-to-wire victory at the Society of Seniors (SOS) Fall Classic, clearing the field by four shots at The Landings - Deer Creek Course.
Hudson took control of the tournament in the first round, taking a four-shot lead with a three-under 69. From there, he did exactly what a leader hopes to do--he maintained it each day and didn't let the field get any closer.
On day two he shot his high round of the tournament, a two-over 74, but his lead didn't shrink as the rest of the field shot higher scores as well. Today, the scoring was better--four people broke par after only Hudson had done it in rounds one or two--and Hudson had the second-low round of the day.
Keith Decker (Martinsville, VA) continued his run of good form, closing with the day's best round, a two-under 70, to finish runner-up at two-over 218, four shots behind Hudson. Decker now heads right up the road to the Capital City Club in Atlanta, where he will compete in the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship.
Mike Arnold (Mooresville, NC) finished third at five-over 221, while #1 ranked Doug Hanzel (Savannah, GA) shot his third straight 74 to finish fourth at 222. Jeff New (Scottsdale, AZ) shot a 71 to move into fifth at 223.
For Hudson, this is his first major senior win since last year's Senior Masters, when he successfully defended his title at Indian Wells Golf Resort in the California desert.
In the Super Senior Division, Evan Long (Charlotte, NC) shot the day's low round, a 73, to overtake the second-round leader Gary Kirwan (McKinney, TX) and win by a single shot at five-over 221. Kirwan closed with a 78 to give Long the opening. Allan Small (Savannah, GA) finished third at 224, three shots back.
In the Grand Master Division, Skip Snow (Dayton, OH) came into the day with a four-shot lead, and shot a solid 76 to win by five shots at seven-over 223. First-round leader Frank Costanzo (Savannah, GA) and Jim Kamis (Marietta, GA) tied for second at 228, with George Washburn fourth at 229.
SECOND ROUND RECAP
On a day with relatively little movement on the leaderboard, Steve Hudson (Birmingham, AL) shot a two-over 74 to maintain a four shot lead with one round to play at the Society of Seniors (SOS) Fall Classic at The Landings - Deer Creek Course.
Hudson started the day with the same four-shot edge after opening with what is still the only under-par round in the Senior Division, a three-under 69. His two closest pursuers starting the day, Jack Kearney (Peachtree City, GA) and Keith Decker (Martinsville, VA), fell a further shot back after rounds of 75.
Three players are now tied for second at three-over 147. Mike Arnold (Mooresville, NC), Bob Beck (Allentown, PA) and William Charpek (Red Bank, NJ) all shot 73 on Tuesday.
Kearney and Decker are tied with two Savannah natives: Doug Hanzel and Jack Hall. Hanzel and Hall are 1-2 on the AmateurGolf.com Senior Rankings coming into the week.
This means seven players are within one shots of each other, so if Hudson slips at all in the final round, it could be a shootout.
In the Super Senior Division, Gary Kirwan (McKinney, TX) shot his second straight even-par 72 to open up a four-shot lead over Evan Long (Charlotte, NC). First round co-leader Allan Small (Savannah, GA) is alone in third, five shots behind Kirwan.
In the Legends Division, Skip Snow (Dayton, OH) shot a 73 to finish 36 holes at three-over 147 and pull ahead of first-round leader Frank Costanzo (Savannah, GA) by four shots. Jim Kamis (Marietta, GA) is third at 152, five shots behind Snow.
FIRST ROUND RECAP
Steve Hudson (Birmingham, AL) shot the day's only under-par round in the Senior Division, a three-under 69, to take a four-shot lead at the Society of Seniors (SOS) Fall Classic at The Landings - Deer Creek Course.
Jack Kearney (Peachtree City, GA) and Keith Decker (Martinsville, VA) share second at one-over 73. Decker has been in fine form, making the Final 16 at the U.S. Senior Amateur and then winning the Senior Porter Cup and finishing runner-up in the Sunnehanna Senior. He also won the SOS Spring Classic earlier in the year.
Five players are tied in fourth place at two-over 74, including the current #1 ranked player in the AmateurGolf.com Senior Rankings, Doug Hanzel (Savannah, GA), who is playing in his hometown. Herb Fisher (The Woodlands, TX), Mike Arnold (Mooresville, NC), Bob Beck (Allentown, PA) and William Charpek (Red Bank, NJ) also shot 74.
Another hometown favorite, Jack Hall (Savannah, GA) is among three players at 75. Hall is currently ranked #2 behind Hanzel.
In the Super Senior Division, three players are tied after opening rounds of even par 72. Allan Small (another player from Savannah, GA), Dick Anderson (St. Petersburg, FL) and Gary Kirwan (McKinney, TX) are all one shot ahead of Bill Henry (Cranford, NJ) and David Crocker (Bluffton, SC) who shot one-over 73.
In the Legends Division, another Savannah player is on top, with Frank Costanzo taking a three shot lead after a one-under 71. Skip Snow (Dayton, OH) is second at 74, while Charles Hinners (Dataw Island, SC) is third at 76.
The SOS Fall Classic has again drawn a deep field, with players from 21 states competing at The Landings this week.