McConnell victorious at Golfweek Player of the Year Classic

To the surprise of no one, Miles McConnell has taken very well to his new life as a senior golfer.

In a heavyweight field that featured some of the top senior amateurs in the world, the 55-year-old McConnell carded a final-round 2-under par score of 70 on Tuesday to win the Golfweek Player of the Year Classic held at Tampa (Fla.) Palms Country Club. At 2-under 214, he was the only player in the field to finish in the red, earning a two-stroke victory over Matt Sughrue, who closed with a 69 to finish at even par.

Bob Royak, the 2019 U.S. Senior Amateur champion, was three back at 1-over 217 (72-75-70) while 36-hole leader Billy Mitchell slipped to fourth after a final round 78 left him at 3-over 219. Gene Elliott, AmateurGolf.com's Senior Player of the Year who won both the U.S. and Royal & Ancient Senior Amateurs a year ago, rounded out the top five at 7-over 223.

The 55-year-old McConnell began the day three strokes behind Mitchell, who stormed to the top of the leaderboard on Monday after a brilliant second round 68 that left him at 3-under heading into the final day's play.

McConnell's final round got off to an adventurous start, with a pair of birdies on holes one and three bookending a double on the par-3 third. With Mitchell struggling to a front nine 39, McConnell got things in order with birdies on the fifth and ninth holes to make the turn in 34.

Two more birdies followed on holes 14 and 15 to move him to 4-under on the day, which proved enough cushion to withstand bogeys on 16 and 17 to seal the title.

McConnell has played in seven USGA events, including four U.S. Amateurs. He reached the 1987 Amateur quarterfinals, losing to eventual champion Billy Mayfair in 20 holes. In 2018, he won the Florida State Golf Association Mid-Senior and reached the Round of 32 in the U.S. Mid-Amateur.

With the victory, McConnell earns 1,200 points in Golfweek's 2022 Player of the Year race.

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Super Senior, Legend and Super Legend Divisions

Duke Delcher won the Super Senior Division with a 14-over score of 230 (76-79-75) while Pete Allen (+6; 222) and Dennis Adkins (+12; 228) claimed the Legend and Super Legend Divisions.

Elliott presented with the Yancy Ford Award

On Monday night, Gene Elliott was presented with the Yancy Ford Award, presented annually by Golfweek to an individual who has made significant contributions to senior-amateur golf. The 60-year-old native of Bettendorf, Iowa has competed on the highest level of amateur golf his entire career, winning the U.S., British and Canadian Senior Amateur championships. In addition, he helped resuscitate the Iowa Golf Association in the late 1990s and grow the IGA into the thriving organization it is today.