Amateur Strickland cruises to Georgia Senior Open title

For the second consecutive year, an amateur has taken home the Georgia Senior Open title. This year it was Woodstock resident Mark Strickland, who used a final-round 7-under 65 at St. Ives Country Club in Duluth, Ga., to distance himself from the field.

Strickland, a former Georgia Mid-Amateur champion from 2011, didn’t have a bogey in Tuesday’s final round. In fact, he only had one for the week. He made it on the par-4 17th in the first round, but followed up with an eagle on the par-5 18th to effectively erase it. With rounds of 68-65, Strickland was 11 under for the week and four shots ahead of second place.

Fittingly, Strickland is a Yamaha Golf Car employee, and Yama title-sponsored the event.

James Mason, a professional from Dillard, Ga., finished runner-up with rounds of 68-69. Doug Hanzel, winner of the Florida Azalea Senior and Jones Cup Senior, was third another shot back at 6 under.

Defending champion Bob Royak, also an amateur, tied for fifth at 3 under.