Rich Buckner of Hobe Sound, Fla., leads a talented field by three shots heading into the final round of the 2024 Florida Azalea Senior Amateur Championship at Palatka Golf Club in Palatka, Fla.
Buckner is 2-under after rounds of 67-71. He was the first-round leader with 2023 champion Matthew Avril of Vero Beach, Fla., and took the solo lead heading into the final round. John Bearrie of Marana, Ariz., is in solo second place at 1-over and is three shots back of Buckner.
Kevin VandenBerg of Naples, Fla., is in solo third place at 2-over after rounds of 69-73 and is four shots back of Buckner. VandenBerg is currently ranked No. 4 in the AmateurGolf.com Senior Rankings.
Robert Bechtol of Tallahassee, Fla., is in solo fourth place at 3-over, and Avril and Rick Stimmel of Pittsburgh, Pa., are T5 at 4-over.
Buckner recently finished T7 at the Gateway Senior Invitational and 77th in Jones Cup Senior. He finished T7 in this event last year.
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In the Super Senior Division, James Starnes of Fort Meyers, Fla., and David Anthony of Jacksonville, Fla., are tied for the lead at 2-over. They lead the field by two shots. In the Legends Division, Gregory Osborne of Lititz, Pa., leads by one shot a 1-under over Bobby Lundquist of Sanford, Fla.
In the Super Legends Division, Jim Carley of Ormond Beach, Fla., leads by five shots over the field at 2-over. In the Grand Master Division, Brian Sachs of Newberry, Fla., leads by three shots at 1-over. Nick Kirkland of Snellville, Ga., is in solo second place at 4-over.
Palatka Golf Club was designed by Donald Ross in 1925 and borders the beautiful Ravine State Gardens. The course is only 6000 yards long from the tips, but the small Ross greens and well-placed bunkers will give your game a test. The greens are firm and fast for the tournament.
