SARASOTA, Fla. – Four players raised the trophies at the inaugural Florida Hickory Open on Tuesday at Sara Bay Country Club. Will Peterson took home the win in the Men’s Open Division, while Bailey Wiegandt captured the Women’s Open victory. In the Stableford Division, husband and wife, Richard Grula and Natalie Wells were victorious.
The almost 100-year old Donald Ross course served as host to the inaugural Florida Hickory Open Championship, with the FSGA reintroducing hickory golf to its membership in 2020.
Men’s Open
Peterson went wire-to-wire to capture the win in Men’s Open Division, finishing the championship at 7-over 151. The Tampa native opened the championship with a first-round 72, the only even-par or better round of the championship, to take a two-shot lead over the field.
He carded a final-round 79 to take home the one-shot victory. FSGA president, Kevin Hammer took home a runner-up finish at 8-over 152, posting rounds of 74-78. James Leadbetter used rounds of 76-78 to earn low-professional honors with a third-place finish at 10-over 154.
Women’s Open
Wiegandt captured the win in the Women’s Open Divison, finishing the championship at 99-95–194 to earn the four-shot victory. Alice Brown finished as the low-professional in the Women’s Division, closing out the week at 100-98–198.
Men’s Stableford
Grula took home the win in the Men’s Stableford Division, ending the championship with 73 points. The Orlando native began the tournament with 36 points in the first round. He followed his first round up with 37 points in the final round to capture the six-point win.
Charles Johnson finished runner-up at 67 points, posting a tournament-high 39 points in the first round. Michael Shiff took third place at 32-34–66.
Women’s Stableford
Wells rolled in a key putt on the final hole of the day to secure the win in the Women’s Stableford Division at 56 points. The Winter Park native began the championship with 29 points to sit three points back of the leader, BJ Hayden.
Heading to the final hole of the championship in a tie for first, Wells carded a net eagle on the final hole of the day to take home the win with 27 points in the final round. Hayden finished in second place at 55 points, after a final-round 23 points.
Nancy Keating earned third place with 49 points.
