After five qualifiers across the state, the 2005 Senior Championship field is now complete with 156 players competing for the title at Golden Ocala Golf and Equestrian Club on April 12-14.
Included in the field are four past Senior Champions. Defending Champion, Bruce Scamehorn, of Winter Haven, will join two-time Senior Champion Joseph Cristillo, from Crystal River, as well as 2001 Champion Jim Applegate, of Palm City, and 1995 Champion Chuck Smith, of Naples. The 2004 Player-of-the-Year, Rick Woulfe, of Fort Lauderdale, is playing in his first Senior Championship. Woulfe earned an exemption into the Senior Championship after placing seventh in last year’s Amateur Championship. Mike Walters is also exempt into the Senior Championship after reaching the semifinals in the 2004 US Senior Amateur Championship and later this year, will be competing in the US Senior Open. Walters and Scamehorn shared Senior Player-of-the-Year honors in 2004. Curt Madson, of Mount Dora, reached the 2002 US Senior Amateur semifinals and David Boesel, from Winter Park, who reached the 2003 US Senior Amateur semifinals, will be featured in the Senior Amateur field. In the Super Senior division, four former Champions will go for another title. Moot Thomas, of Ocala, the 2004 Super Senior division Champion, joins past Champions Seymour Gardner, from Miami, Bob Harris, of Boynton Beach, and Charles Highley, of Fort Lauderdale.
Since the number of entries received has always surpassed the capacity of the Championship, a qualifying stage was instituted this year. While 92 players earned exempt status through a variety of different means, over 240 competitors attempted to qualify to complete the 156 player field. Players competed in 18 holes of stroke play hoping to advance to the Championship. Participants must be 55 or older to participate in the Championship and enter one of the age divisions, 55-64 and 65 & over. Competitors play 54 holes of stroke play over the course of the three-day event. On Tuesday and Wednesday, tee-times begin at 8:00 am and Thursday will be two shotgun starts at 8:00 am and 12:45 pm.
Designed by Ron Garl, Golden Ocala Golf and Equestrian Club was one of the first tribute courses with replicas of famous holes from around the world. There are eight replicas--Augusta National’s Amen Corner 12th-13th & 16th, St. Andrews’ 1st & Road Hole 17th, Royal Troon’s Postage Stamp 8th, Muirfield’s 9th, and Baltusrol’s 4th--plus ten original holes.
Please see www.fsga.org for a complete list of pairings, tee-times and results.
