Doug Hanzel (Savannah, Ga.) shot a final-round 71 at Pine Needles Golf Club to erase a four-shot deficit and win the Society of Seniors (SOS) Dale Morey Championship in Southern Pines, N.C.
Hanzel, who started the day four behind the overnight leader
John Wright (Fairhope, Ala.), was two shots back with four holes to play, but gained three shots coming in, pulling even with a par on the par-17th and taking the title with a birdie on the par-18th. He finished with a 4-over 218 total.
For Hanzel, the win was his second straight in SOS events, having won the John Kline Championship by ten shots earlier this month. It continues a torrid run through the 2019 season, in which Hanzel has also lifted the trophy at the Jones Cup, Senior Porter Cup, Timuquana Senior, and Florida Azalea Senior.
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Hanzel with SOS President
Ed Shaffran (SOS photo) |
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Super Senior winner
Stephen Fox (SOS photo) |
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Grand Masters winner
Ron Johnson (SOS photo) |
He is on pace to win his fourth AmateurGolf.com Senior Player-of-the-Year honor, which he won in 2013, 2016 and 2017.
Wright closed with a 76 to finish as the joint runner-up with
Keith Decker (Martinsville, Va.), who shot an even-par 71 in the final round.
Eddie Hargett (Blythewood, S.C.) and
Mark Knecht (Paducah, Ky.) rounded out the top five, closing with 71 and 73, respectively.
Stephen Maddalena (Jackson, Mich.) had the round of the tournament, a 4-under 67, to finish solo sixth.
In the Super Senior division, Stephen Fox (Barboursville, W.V.) completed a wire-to-wire win with a 1-over 72, finishing at 3-over 217, seven shots ahead of Don Russell (Tequesta, Fla.).
In the Grand Masters division, Ron Johnson (Walnut Creek, Calif.) outdueled Rick Kline (Pinehurst, N.C.) for a two-shot win at even par after both players entered the round tied at the top.
ROUND TWO RECAP
John Wright (Fairhope, Ala.) shot a 2-under 70 at Mid Pines Golf Club to take a four-shot lead into the final round of the Society of Seniors (SOS) Dale Morey Championship in Southern Pines, N.C.
Wright started the day one shot behind four co-leaders, including Doug Hanzel (Savannah, Ga.), the three-time AmateurGolf.com Senior Player of the Year. But five birdies on his final nine (each started on the 10th hole) put Wright into the lead as Hanzel stumbled coming in.
Both players were tied at 2 over for the tournament with two holes to play, but Wright went birdie-birdie while Hanzel finished bogey-bogey.
Wright sits at even-par 143, four shots ahead of Hanzel.
Five players, including round one co-leaders Keith Decker (Martinsville, Va.) and Greg Sanders (Anchorage, Ak.), are tied for third at 5-over 148.
In the Super Senior division, Stephen Fox (Barboursville, W.V.) extended his lead to five shots with a 75 that puts him at 2-over 145. Don Russell (Tequesta, Fla.), Jay Blumenfeld (Parsippany, N.J.) and Peter Van Ingen (New York, N.Y.) are tied for second at 7-over 150.
In the Grand Masters division, Rick Kline (Pinehurst, N.C.) shot a 2-under 69 at Pine Needles GC to pull into a tie with round one co-leader Ron Johnson (Walnut Creek, Calif.). The pair are four shots clear of Jack Marin (Durham, N.C.) and Gary Strickfaden (Southern Pines, N.C.).
The 54-hole event will conclude on Wednesday.
ROUND ONE RECAP
Four players shot 1-over 72 to lead the Society of Seniors (SOS) Dale Morey Championship at Pine Needles GC in Southern Pines, N.C.
Among the leaders is Doug Hanzel (Savannah, Ga.), who is trying to earn a fourth AmateurGolf.com Senior Player of the Year honor. The former U.S. Senior champion was the POY in 2013, 2016 and 2017 and comes into the week as the top-ranked senior with five national wins in 2019.
Craig Hurlbert (Magnolia, Texas), Greg Sanders (Anchorage, Ak.) and Keith Decker (Martinsville, Va.) also shot 72 on Monday.
29 players are within five shots of the lead as the tournament heads to Mid Pines Golf Club for round two of the championship.
In the Super Senior division, Stephen Fox (Barboursville, W.V.) shot the day's only under-par round, a 1-under 70, to take a three-shot lead over Don Russell (Tequesta, Fla.).
In the Grand Masters division, which was played at Mid Pines, Ron Johnson (Walnut Creek, Calif.) shot a 2-under 70 to take a one-shot lead over Gary Strickfaden (Southern Pines, N.C.). This division will play their second round at Southern Pines.