Ed Brooks (TGA photo)
Ed Brooks of Fort Worth hung on to win the super senior division of the 2019 Texas Super Senior. Brooks, who led after the opening round, outlasted Gary Kirwan of McKinney in a playoff to claim the title.
After weather caused the championship to be reduced to 36 holes, Brooks and Kirwan needed two more holes of a sudden death playoff to crown the champion. The two played the par-4 18th hole twice, and a par on the second go-around was what Brooks needed to win.
The round of the day came from Kirwan, who was six shots behind Brooks heading into the final round. Kirwan, who opened the tournament with a 4-over 74, fired an impressive even-par 70 in the final round to get himself into a position to win.
Kirwan got the ball rolling early as he birdied two of his first five holes, one which was on his opening hole of the day. After a strong start Kirwan made the turn onto the back nine at 2-under par for the round. A 2-over back nine got him back to even-par for the day. Kirwan’s final round kept him at 4-over 144 for the tournament.
Brooks, who started the day with a two-stroke lead, was steady early in his round. His first mistake of the day came on No. 7 as he made triple bogey, but he quickly recovered and made birdie on the par-4 eighth. A par on No. 9 kept Brooks at 2-over par for the day as he made the turn to the back nine.
Brooks made an early bogey on the back nine on the par-5 10th hole. However, like the front nine, he was quick to bounce back with a birdie on his next hole. From there Brooks finished his round with five pars, a bogey and double bogey, for a 3-over 38 on the side, 5- over 75 on the day.
Finishing one shot behind Brooks and Kirwan at 5-over 145 was the trio of John Grace of Fort Worth, Hill Holstead of Wichita Falls and Bill Huckin of Dallas.
Holstead and Huckin took home low net honors in the super senior division. Both of them finished the tournament with a net score of 1-over 141.
Richard Lundy of Amarillo overcame a two-shot deficit in the final round to win the Legends Division. Lundy, who trailed Don Grider by two heading into the final round, played consistent golf through the championship to claim his title.
After an opening round of 78, Lundy put together another sub-80 round of 9-over 79 to get him to 17 over for the tournament. His tournament total of 157 was enough to win the division by three shots.
Lundy struggled on the front nine as he made the turn at 8 over but bounced back quickly on the back side, shooting 1-over 36. His back nine consisted of a lone birdie on the par-4 13th hole.
Trailing Lundy and finishing in a tie for second was defending champion Don Grider and Jim Strouse. The pair finished at 20-over 160 for the tournament.
Strouse took home the low net honors for the legends division. His net rounds of 75 and 77 were good to finish the tournament at 12-over 152.
ABOUT THE Texas Super Senior
Eligibility: Entries are open to male amateur golfers
with a GHIN Handicap Index from a TGA Member
Club. New in 2019, the Super Senior Division and the
Legends Division will recognize gross and net
winners. In order to participate in the Texas Super
Senior, you must have a GHIN Handicap Index of
12.4 or less for the Super Senior Division and 16.4
or less for the Legends Division.
Format/Field Size: Play will be contested over 54
holes of stroke play with no cut. There will be two
age divisions competing: Super Senior (age 65+)
and Legends (age 75+). Each Division will play from
different tees/yardage with a separate gross and net
champion being crowned in each division. Legends
age players wishing to participate in the Super
Senior Division must declare on the application their
intention to compete in this Division. The field is
limited to 84 players; 60 players in the Super Senior
Division and 24 players in the Legends Division.
View Complete Tournament Information