LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla. - The 2023 Senior Two-Man Shoot-Out was blessed with fantastic weather and superb conditions Thursday and Friday on the Commander Course at Lakewood National Golf Club in Sarasota. After 54 holes of golf, Chad Frank and William Shufelt took home the trophy in the Senior Division while Bill Barnes and Richard Kerper emerged victorious in the Super-Senior Division after a one-hole playoff.
Senior Division
On Thursday morning, teams teed off competing in a modified alternate shot format. Bobby Bird and William Mallon’s round of 5-under, 67, provided the pair from Vero Beach with a two-shot lead over Miles McConnell, the 2023 Senior Amateur Champion, and Pete Williams, and a three-shot lead over Greg Hendrix and Kevin Sullivan.
The second round, taking place Thursday afternoon, came with a switch in format as players competed in a scramble. The change in format was accompanied by low scores across the field with a staggering 15 teams finishing the round at 7-under, 65, or better. No round was more impressive than Chad Frank and William Shufelt’s 14-under par, 58. This catapulted them into first place heading into Friday. Bird and Mallon were able to stay within striking distance after posting 8-under, 63, to sit just one shot behind the leaders. McConnell and Williams would begin the final round in third, four shots off the lead, after recording an 8-under par, 64, in the scramble.
Then, on Friday, the competitors would face off in a four-ball stroke-play format for the final round of the Championship. After beginning the day with a one-shot lead, Frank and Shufelt would use four birdies en-route to a front-nine total of 3-under par, 33, to extend their lead to three shots. Despite great playing, the teams of Bird/Mallon (16-under, 200) and McConnell/Williams (15-under, 201) ultimately fell short, making Frank and Shufelt (19-under, 197) the 2023 Senior Two-Man Shoot-Out champions. This is the first FSGA Championship victory for both Frank and Shufelt.
Super-Senior Division
The first round of competition in the Super-Senior Division concluded with Bert Kosup and James Starnes sitting alone atop the leaderboard. The duo from Fort Myers were the only team in the division to shoot under-par Thursday morning. Their score of 1-under par gave them a one-shot lead over Bill Barnes and Richard Kerper, and a two-shot lead over Walter Himelsbaugh, who was victorious at the 2022 Senior Two-Man Shootout, and Cory Walker.
Thursday afternoon’s scramble was tightly contested with 10 teams scoring 5-under par, 67, or better. The low score in the scramble belonged to Himelsbaugh and Walker. The pair from Leesburg and Ormond Beach, respectively, carded a 9-under, 63, that brought them into a tie for first place with Kosup and Starnes, whose score of 5-under, 67, was highlighted by a bogey-free front nine. Barnes and Kerper remained in contention just three shots back after their score of 7-under, 65.
Throughout the final round on Friday, the three teams at the top of the leaderboard continued to separate themselves from the rest of the field. When the leading groups made the turn onto the front nine (groups started on Hole #10), Kosup and Starnes held a one-shot lead over Himelsbaugh and Walker, and a five-shot lead over Barnes and Kerper. However, Barnes and Kerper were not ready to give up their hopes of winning just yet. The duo from Oldsmar and Bonita Springs, respectively, would string together a masterful 5-under, 31, on the front nine to race back up the leaderboard. At the completion of the round, all three teams vying for the top spot throughout the Championship were tied at 10-under par, 206. On the first playoff hole, Barnes and Kerper would emerge victorious with a birdie, completing an incredible comeback. This is Barnes’ second FSGA Championship win and Kerper’s third.
