Strawn edges Kearney in SOS Ralph Bogart playoff

Rusty Strawn (McDonough, Ga.) broke through at the Society of Seniors (SOS) Ralph Bogart Tournament, chiiping in for birdie from behind the green to win a playoff over Jack Kearney (Peachtree City, Ga.). It was a two-man race from the start of the day, as the two were tied and four shots ahead of the field. The final round was a whirlwind of lead changes. Kearney took the lead with a Strawn bogey at the first and led by two at the turn. But he doubled the 10th to square it up again. Just as suddenly, Kearney was up by two again after a two-shot swing at the 11th. But a double at the 14th gave the lead back when Strawn birdied the same hole, and a bogey at the 15th meant Strawn was up two with three holes to play. But Kearney rebounded with two straight birdies to pull into a tie again, and when both players parred the 18th they were off to the playoff. For Strawn, it was a breakthrough win in a national senior event after coming close several times. He was the runner-up in the Bogart in each of the last two years (including to Kearney in 2018) and has had several other top-5 finishes in other senior majors. Rick Woulfe (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) finished solo third, six shots back of the leaders. Frank Vana (Boxford, Mass.) and Ken Hudson (Bonita Springs, Fla.) tied for fourth another three shots back. The senior division played at The Forest Country Club, while all other divisions were at Crown Colony Country Club. COVID-19 restrictions limited the number of players allowed at Crown Colony and necessitated the second course. Stephen Fox of West Virginia won the Super Senior title for the second straight year, edging Evan Long (Charlotte, N.C.) by two shots. Allan Small (Savannah, Ga.) was another shot back in third. In the Legends Division, Pete McDade (Lakeland, Fla.) defeated Rick Bauch (Hartland, Wisc.) in a playoff. Jim DuBois (Coral Springs, Fla.) won the Grand Master division by one shot over Richard Landon (Ft. Myers, Fla.), while Walt Martin (St. Augustine, Fla.) took the Super Grand Master division by six shots over Gordon Brewer (Bonita Springs, Fla.).