Super-Senior Amateur Match Play Championship

Valrico, Fla. - Ninety-six players made the trip to Buckhorn Springs Golf & Country Club, but only three were able to walk away with a trophy in their hands. David Anthony, Tom Grady, and Pete McDade won the championship division, 70-74 division and 75 & over division respectively.

Championship Division

David Anthony's two-over stroke play round gave him the 9th seed where he would need to beat some tough competitors to walk away with the championship.

Although Anthony was the 9th seed, he did not play like it. Not one of his matches went to the 18th hole. The Jacksonville native took down the 8 seed, Sam Saunders in the first round 2&1 before beating the 1 seed Kevin Spittle 2&1 as well. Anthony then catches fire in the semifinals beating Bill Moore 5&4.

On Thursday morning, David Anthony took on Ken Palladino and in the words of Palladino, he “ran into a buzzsaw” Anthony made birdies all morning and wound up with a 5 up lead with six to play. Standing on the 13th tee, Palladino knew he needed to make a move. He hit his approach shot on 13 to 25 feet and drained the putt. The next hole being a par 5, he wound up hitting his second shot just short of the green. Anthony then proceeds to stick his second shot to 15 feet, setting up a two putt for birdie to win the championship. “I played some great golf all week,” Anthony said. “[Ken] is a great player and I knew I needed to play great golf to beat him”. David Anthony walked away with his first Super-Senior Match Play Championship title.

70-74 Division

Tom Grady got off to a start that gave him plenty of confidence heading into match play. Although he did not need to play the stroke play portion since he won the 70-74 division last year, he posted a respectable round of two-over.

Tom battled it out with Keith Keister in the first round and it took him all 18 holes to beat him with a final score of 1 up. Grady found his groove in the semifinals beating Rick Smith 5&4. The Bradenton native found himself in a heated match against Bobby Lundquist in the finals. Grady was 1 down standing on 17 tee needing to make a move. He proceeded to win the last two holes to secure a 1 up victory against Lundquist. “He is an amazing competitor and I have a lot of respect for him,” Grady said after battling it out with Lundquist.

75 & Over Division

Pete McDade took the course on Monday morning after winning the previous year’s 75 & over division. After a round of two-under in the stroke play qualifying, he secured his spot as the one seed in the 75 & over division. 

His longest match of the week would wind up being the first one. McDade wound up beating David Hyduke on the 17th hole to grab a 3&1 win. His next two victories proved to be pure domination where he beat Jim Dubois in the semifinals 4&3 and Thomas Jung in the championship 5&4. 

Championship Format

• 18 holes of individual stroke play on Monday to determine match play seeds for all divisions as follows:
• Championship Division - low 15 players advance to the Championship bracket
• defending Champion receives the #1 seed if electing to play in same division
• a tie for last qualifier's place will be decided immediately by a hole-by-hole playoff in the Championship bracket only.
• any players not making the Championship bracket, will be flighted into brackets of 8 based on seeding round score (USGA tie-break will be used)
• 70-74 Age Division and 75 & Over Age Division - players will be flighted into brackets of 8 based on seeding round score (USGA tie-break will be used)
  • defending Champions will receive the #1 seed in the Championship Bracket of their age division, if defending in that division
• In the event of a tied match, the stipulated round is deemed to extend to as many holes as are required for a match to be won.
• All brackets are single elimination match play
• All players are guaranteed at least two rounds of golf (one stroke play and one match play)
• Maximum Field Size - 96 players

Eligibility

• Male amateur golfer at least 65 years of age as of the first day of the Championship
• Entrant is required to be an Adult Member of the FSGA and have Florida GHIN not exceeding 15.0

Entry Fee

• $225

Entries are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis until the field is full. Entries are then placed on an alternates list in order of receipt and contacted if, and when, a spot becomes available.

Late entries are subject to a $10 late entry fee should the entrant gain acceptance into the field

Schedule of Events

Monday, June 12th

• Stroke Play Seeding Round - 8:30 AM shotgun start
• A tie for last qualifying place(s) will be decided immediately by a hole-by-hole playoff in the Championship Division only 
• Complimentary players' lunch buffet in the main clubhouse

Tuesday, June 13th

• 7:30 AM - 12:20 PM 1st tee start - Round of 16 matches for Championship Division and quarterfinal matches for all other divisions
• 12:20 PM - 1:00 PM - Quarterfinal matches for Championship Division

Wednesday, June 14th

• 7:30 AM - 9:30 AM - Semifinal matches - all divisions

Thursday, June 15th

• 7:30 AM - 8:18 AM - Final matches - all divisions

Course Set-Up & Age Divisions

All players will be placed in the age division commensurate with their age as of the first day of Championship (unless choosing to enter the Championship Division).

The course will be set-up at approximately:

• 6,100 - 6,300 yards - Championship Division (any aged player may choose to enter)
• 5,900 - 6,100 yards - 70-74 Age Division
• 5,500 - 5,700 yards - 75 & Over Age Division

Practice Rounds

Practice rounds are available for $40.00 + tax on a space available basis at the following times:

• One week prior to the event, limited to after 12:00 PM on the weekend prior

Please call (813) 689-7766 to reserve a practice round.

Carts

Carts are included for all competitive rounds. Players are responsible for practice round fees.

Defending Champions

Terry Werner brought home the hardware from Cown Colony Golf Club in the Super-Senior Match Play Championship. Meanwhile, Tom Grady and Pete McDade won the 70-74 and 75 and Over divisions, respectively. Click here for the previous year's results. 

Exemptions Earned from this Tournament

Winner (Championship Division)

• Next Year's Senior Amateur Championship

Other Policies

• Spectators and Spectator Cart Policy -  Click here.
• Caddies - Caddies are NOT permitted in FSGA Championships and FSGA qualifying rounds per the FSGA Code of Conduct; except at the Florida Open, Florida Women's Open & Senior Open, and the Florida Senior Open - Click here
• Championship Pace of Play Policy - Click here.
• Local Rules and Terms of the Competition - Click here.
• Championship Policies - Click here to read the withdrawal, dress code, and other policies.
• Procedures for Alternates - Click here for information on how alternates may gain entry into this Championship.
• Conditions/ Schedule - The FSGA Championships Committee/on-site Rules Committee reserves the right to alter any of the conditions, provisions and/or schedules. The decision of the Championships Committee/on-site Rules Committee in any matter will be final.

Host Hotel

There is currently no host hotel for this event.

Payment

Buckhorn Springs accepts cash, checks, and all major credit cards as forms of payment. 

Directions

Buckhorn Springs Golf & Country Club
2721 S Miller Rd
Valrico, FL, 33596
813-689-7766

Click here for directions.