Bob Bailey holds on down the stretch for SOS Spring Classic win
2/23/2022 | by Sean Melia of AmateurGolf.com
see also: View results for Society of Seniors Spring Classic, Aileron Golf Club
Bob Bailey holds off a hard-charging Matthew Sughrue and wins at Hammock Beach
Bob Bailey held off a red hot Matthew Sughrue to capture the Society of Seniors Spring Classic at Hammock Beach Conservatory Course in Palm Coast, Fla.
As the final round progressed, it was clear the tournament was a two-horse race. Bailey ended up as the only player under par, carding rounds of 69-72-74. Sughrue was just one shot worse at even par. Finishing in a tie for third place were Rusty Strawn and Rich Buckner.
After the first round, Bailey and Sughrue were separated by 11 shots after Sughrue struggled to an 80. Sughrue bounced back and fired a 70 in the second round at the Ocean Course. He then exacted revenge on the Conservatory Course with a 66 in the final round, which was highlighted by 31 on the outward nine to put some serious pressure on Bailey.
Playing from the front is always hard. The mistakes are magnified, whereas the chasing pack can take chances and have less to lose. As he plodded through his front nine, Bailey made eight straight pars before a bogey on the ninth hole dropped him to two under for the tournament. However, back-to-back birdies on the tenth and eleventh holes bounced him back to three under with some breathing room.
Those two birdies were the last birdies Bailey would make, and bogeys on holes 12, 14, and 16 put some pressure on him with two holes to play. Sughrue was in the clubhouse at even, so Bailey's final two pars were well earned.
* * * * *
In the Super Senior division, Jack Kearney, the retired pilot from Georgia, enjoyed a four shot victory with a total score of one-over par. Emile Vaughan and Jim McNelis rounded out the top three.
Don Donatoni shot rounds of 71-74-74 and beat Peter Van Ingen for the legend division victory. A Pennsylvania native, this is Donatoni's first win of 2022. He tallied victories in Two Rivers Senior Invitational and the Dave King Senior in 2021.
The grand master victor is Frank Polizzi, who rode an exceptional third round 69 to pull away from the field and win by seven shots. Ron Johnson finished second at 11-over par, and Jack Mahan finished third at 12-over par.
As the final round progressed, it was clear the tournament was a two-horse race. Bailey ended up as the only player under par, carding rounds of 69-72-74. Sughrue was just one shot worse at even par. Finishing in a tie for third place were Rusty Strawn and Rich Buckner.
Playing from the front is always hard. The mistakes are magnified, whereas the chasing pack can take chances and have less to lose. As he plodded through his front nine, Bailey made eight straight pars before a bogey on the ninth hole dropped him to two under for the tournament. However, back-to-back birdies on the tenth and eleventh holes bounced him back to three under with some breathing room.
Those two birdies were the last birdies Bailey would make, and bogeys on holes 12, 14, and 16 put some pressure on him with two holes to play. Sughrue was in the clubhouse at even, so Bailey's final two pars were well earned.
* * * * *
In the Super Senior division, Jack Kearney, the retired pilot from Georgia, enjoyed a four shot victory with a total score of one-over par. Emile Vaughan and Jim McNelis rounded out the top three.
Don Donatoni shot rounds of 71-74-74 and beat Peter Van Ingen for the legend division victory. A Pennsylvania native, this is Donatoni's first win of 2022. He tallied victories in Two Rivers Senior Invitational and the Dave King Senior in 2021.
The grand master victor is Frank Polizzi, who rode an exceptional third round 69 to pull away from the field and win by seven shots. Ron Johnson finished second at 11-over par, and Jack Mahan finished third at 12-over par.
Results: Society of Seniors Spring Classic
| Place | Player | Location | Pts | Scores |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yorktown, VA | 700 | 69-72-74=215 | |
| 2 | Arlington, VA | 400 | 80-70-66=216 | |
| T3 | Gainesville, VA | 300 | 74-71-75=220 | |
| T3 | McDonough, GA | 300 | 72-72-76=220 | |
| T5 | Macon, GA | 300 | 72-77-72=221 |
About the Society of Seniors Spring Classic
54 hole stroke play tournament for Society of Seniors Members only, with Senior (ages 55 and over), Super Senior (65+), Legend (70+) and Grand Master (75+) divisions.
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