Hanzel logs another Jones Cup Senior win with strong finish

Doug Hanzel pulled off a comeback victory Wednesday at the Jones Cup Senior to win the elite senior event for the third time in his career. Hanzel entered the day one shot off the pace, but climbed the leaderboard with a final-round even-par 70 at Sea Island’s Seaside Course in St. Simons Island, Ga.

Hanzel was AmateurGolf.com’s 2017 Senior Player of the Year. The Savannah, Ga., native won this event in 2012 and again in 2014.

This year, he used rounds of 71-74-70 to get it done. He was 1 under on the back nine on Wednesday, and needed every shot. Jeff Knox and Robert Funk tied for second behind Hanzel. Both were 6 over for the week, and like Hanzel, closed with a final-round 70.

The win also took Hanzel to the top of the AmateurGolf.com Senior Rankings.

Second-round co-leader Lewis Stephenson couldn’t quite keep pace on Wednesday, and dropped to 7 over with a final-round 73. He finished solo fourth. Danny Nelson, the other co-leader, was disqualified for signing an incorrect scorecard.

Three players tied for fifth at 9 over, and that group included defending champion Gene Elliott. While he opened with 69, Elliott closed with rounds of 77-73 to fall out of contention. Frank Vana and Todd Walter also finished at 9 over.

In the super senior division, Don Marsh finished with an 11-over total that was good for a one-shot victory over John Armstrong.