Gordon Marshall will take a one shot lead into the final round of play of the 54th Senior Amateur Championship at The Country Club of Naples in Naples. The final round will begin at 8:00 am on Thursday, April 16th.
Gordon Marshall, of Sarasota, opened with a two-under par 70, to find himself two shots off the lead entering the day. Williams rode the momentum of his one-under par round one back nine score to fire an even-par 72 on Wednesday. After making a double bogey on his eighth hole, Marshall would play the next ten holes in two-under par highlighted by an eagle on the par 5, 18th hole. Marshall is currently one of the three players entering the final round under-par. Round one leader, Buddy Alexander, fell to second place after posting a 75 on Wednesday. Tied with Alexander is Peter Wegmann, of Fort Lauderdale, with rounds of 70-73 for a tournament total 143.
Some big names are still in the mix for Thursday’s round including 2014 Senior Amateur Champion, Pete Williams, of Juno Beach, sitting tied for eighth, and 2013 Senior Amateur Champion, Doug LaCrosse, of Tampa, who is currently seven shots behind first place. Marshall, 2014 Senior Four-Ball Champion and Mid-Amateur Four-Ball South Champion, will face close competition in the final round. Sixty-three players advanced to play the final round, Thursday, posting 156 or better.
Since the number of entries received has always surpassed the capacity of the Championship, a qualifying stage was instituted in 2005. While 50 players earned exempt status through a variety of different means, just about 300 participants attempted to qualify at one of six sites across the state, as competitors played 18 holes of stroke play hoping to advance to the Championship. Participants must be 55 or older to participate in the Championship. Players who advanced to the Championship compete in 54-holes of stroke play with a cut to the low 60 and ties after 36 holes.
