Peter Van Ingen wins SOS Spring Classic legends division

The third round of the Society of Senior Legends event was more a coronation than a gripping test of fortitude for Peter Van Ingen. He arrived at Abacoa Golf Club with a comfortable seven-shot lead following rounds of 67 and 69. A closing 75 was enough to win by five shots with a score of 5-under par.

Van Ingen ripped off five straight birdies on hole Nos. 2-6 in the first round, and he tallied 11 birdies overall in those first two rounds.

While an eight-shot lead feels nearly insurmountable, when a legend like Don Donatoni (Malvern, Pa.) is in the rearview the result isn't guaranteed until the tournament is over. Donatoni and Van Ingen traded barbs on the front nine, with each player shooting even-par 36 with birdies and bogies scattered across their scorecards.

In the end, Donatoni finished the event at even par with Bill Barnes (Bonita Spring, Fla.) and rounded out the top three with a score of two-over par.

In the grand master division, Pete McDade of Lakeland, Florida and Ron Johnson of Arroyo Grande, California started the day tied for the lead at one-under par. A slow start for Johnson on the front nine results in a 38, whereas McDade made two birdies and bogey to gain a three-shot lead heading into the back nine. When McDade made birdie on the tenth, the four-shot lead became too much for Johnson to make up.

Mcdade finished the tournament at two-under par, edging Johnson by two shots. Gil Stenholm (Burr Ridge, Ill.) shot the low round of the event (68) to leap into a tie for second.