Joe Alfieri wins the 2025 Florida Azalea Senior Amateur in a playoff
March 9, 2025 | by Justin Golba of AmateurGolf.com
see also: Joe Alfieri, View results for Florida Azalea Senior, Palatka Golf Club
Alfieri shot a 4-under 66 to force a playoff with Michael Kelley
Joe Alfieri of Lutz, Fla., erased a one-shot deficit in the final round to force a playoff and ultimately defeat Michael Kelley of Tampa. Fla., at the 2025 Florida Azalea Senior Amateur at Palatka Golf Club in Palatka, Fla.
Alfieri and Kelley finished even-par as Alfieri shot rounds of 71-73-66, and Kelley, the 36-hole leader, shot rounds of 70-73-67.
Kelley turned a two-shot deficit into a one-shot lead after birdies on holes No. 10 and 11, and an eagle on No. 13, but a late bogey on No. 17 saw him fall back to tied at even par with Alfieri.
Mark Knecht of Paducah finished in solo third place at 8-over, and Rusty Strawn of McDonough, Ga., finished in solo fourth place at 11-over. Kevin VandenBerg of Pulaski, N.Y., and Charles Kirk of Middleburg, Fla., finished T5 at 12-over to round out the top five.
VandenBerg is currently No. 1 in the AmateurGolf.com Senior Rankings.
Marcus Beck of Tallahassee, Fla., won the Super Senior Division at 7-over, while Greg Goode of Salinas, Kan., finished in solo second place at 10-over.
Bobby Lundquist of Sanford, Fla., won the Legends Division at 4-under, while Greg Osborne of Lititz, Pa., finished in solo second place at 2-under.
Fred Peel of Chipley, Fla, and John Darr of Gainesville, Fla., finished T1 in the Super Legends Division at 16-over and Don Marsh of Johns Creek, Ga., finished in solo first place in the Grandmaster Division at 11-over.
Results: Florida Azalea Senior
| Place | Player | Location | Pts | Scores |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T1 | Westerville, OH | 700 | 70-73-67=210 | |
| T1 | Lutz, FL | 700 | 71-73-66=210 | |
| 3 | Paducah, KY | 300 | 76-71-71=218 | |
| 4 | McDonough, GA | 300 | 73-73-75=221 | |
| T5 | Pulaski, NY | 300 | 79-75-68=222 |
About the Florida Azalea Senior
54 hole stroke play championship with Senior (ages 55+), Super Senior (ages 64-69), Legends (ages 70- 74) and Super Legends (ages 75+) divisions. Players will be grouped into six flights by handicap. After 36 holes the Championship flight will be cut...
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