Harvey out-battles Schonbaum for another Coleman title

Scott Harvey used a final-round 70 at Seminole Golf Club to overtake second-round leader Andres Schonbaum and win the George L. Coleman Invitational for the second time in three years.

Harvey, the 2014 U.S. Mid-Amateur champion from Kernersville, N.C., started his final round three shots behind Argentinian Schonbaum. Harvey immediately dug himself a little deeper with a bogey on the opening hole. His last bogey of the day, however, was on No. 7 and he turned with a front-nine 37.

Schonbaum, meanwhile, was steady the whole day and was even for the round until he saw the beach and waves on No. 17 tee. The Coleman rookie hit his tee shot in the back left bunker, from which he made a costly double bogey. After Scott birdied Nos. 13, 14 and 15, he found himself in a dog fight with Schonbaum on No. 17 tee. Harvey finished par-par on the final two holes to win by one.

Current U.S. Mid-Amateur champion Kevin O'Connell was part of a three-way tie for third four shots back along with 2016 Mid-Am champ Stewart Hagestad.

Steve Harwell

In the senior Division, Steve Harwell of Mooresville, N.C., was tied for the lead with four others after Round 2. Harwell, however, was able to get in the red with a quick birdie on No. 3 before a bogey on No. 8. He turned at even par on the day, and birdied again on No. 10 then caught a rare eagle on No. 14.

Harwell found trouble in the sandbox on No. 17 and took a double bogey. Playing partner, Chip Lutz, of Reading, Pa., carded a birdie on the 53rd hole which brought him within one shot of Harwell going into the final hole.

Jeff Knox, the Augusta, Ga., resident of Masters marker fame, finished strong with a deuce on No. 17 and an easy par on the final hole to relax in the clubhouse with the lead at 3-over 219. On the last hole, Harwell hit his approach shot 3 feet over the green on the collar and made the decision to chip it. He made it look easy and converted the up-and-down to become win the senior title.

Gene Elliott claimed the Barend van Gerbig Trophy for the third year in a row as the low Seminole member at 7-over 223 for three rounds.