Kerper takes SOS Jack Helser as senior golf returns

Richard Kerper (Oldsmar, Fla.) shot a bogey-free 4-under 68 to come from five shots back and win the Society of Seniors (SOS) Jack Hesler Tournament at Two Rivers Country Club in Williamsburg, Va. Playing with overnight leader Jimmy Jones (Tampa, Fla.), Kerper started chipping into the lead early, picking up a shot on each of the first two holes and getting within one with a birdie at the par-4 6th. When Jones double-bogeyed the par-5 9th hole, Kerper suddenly had a a share of the lead, a lead he took outright with a two-shot swing on the par-4 11th. After another bogey on the par-3 13th, Jones found his game and made three straight birdies to tie it back up with two holes to go. But a bogey at the par-3 17th proved decisive as Kerper parred in for a one-shot win. Kerper finished at 7-under 209, while Jones closed with a 74 to finish at 6 under. Robert Funk of Canyon Lake, Calif. shot a 68 of his own to climb into third place at 5 under, while Allen Peake (71) and Keith Decker (69) rounded out the top five. The SOS Jack Hesler was the first national senior tournament played since the COVID-19 pandemic put a temporary halt to amateur golf this spring. Four months had passed since the nation's top seniors last got together, at the Florida Azalea Senior in March. Don Donatoni (Malvern, Pa.) won the Super Senior division at 2-under 214, four shots clear of Evan Long (Charlotte, N.C.). George Washburn (Frederick, Md.) took a one-shot win in the Legends division over Pete Allen (Southport, N.C.), while Barry Flaer (Adamstown, Md.) took the Grand Masters division by one over Jim Wetzel (Edmond, Okla.).