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Women's Senior Amateur Championship

Fort Lauderdale Country Club - Plantation

April 4-5, 2017

Phillips-Durst and Parker Take Home Senior Titles!

The top senior women competed in two rounds of stroke play at Fort Lauderdale Country Club to determine who would be crowned Senior Amateur Champion. The Championship division saw a tight leaderboard after round one with Taffy Brower capturing the lead by one stroke. Brower, of Boynton Beach, is a tough competitor who not only won the Senior Amateur Championship in 2008, but was inducted into the FSGA Hall of Fame in 2014 due to her impressive accomplishments in golf. Taffy played a consistent round of golf carding three bogies and a birdie for a 38-36—74. Following close being Brower’s two over-par, was Laura Carson and Anita Venner tied for second at three over-par. A pair of 77’s from Sarah Phillips-Durst and Kathy Glennon moved them to tied for fourth place heading into the final round. 

A change in the leaderboard occurred after round two when Sarah Phillips-Durst overcame a three stroke deficit to steal first place. Phillips-Durst, of Tallahassee, carded the tournament low, one over-par 73, to win her first FSGA Championship by one stroke! Three birdies in her final round propelled Sarah to a 150 total and victory! Vero Beach resident, Laura Carson, carded back to back birdies on holes four and five to finish in second place alone with a 151 total. Past Players’ of the Year, Gigi Higgins and Taffy Brower, finished tied for third with a 153 total. Brower struggled to a round two 79 while Higgins reversed Brower’s rounds carding a 79-74. 2015 Champion, Lisa Schlesinger, and 2016 Champion, Mary Jane Hiestand, tied with Kathy Glennon for sixth place (156 total). 

Reggie Parker, who was crowned Amateur Champion seven years ago, held a strong seven stroke lead after round one in the Super-Senior division. Parker, of Hobe Sound, fired a consistent 38-38 for a four over-par 76. 2015 Super-Senior Champion, Nancy Chaffee, stood solo in second place with a round one 83. Parker’s lead could not be broken in round two. Despite Chaffee and Parker posting the same score of 81 in the final round, Reggie never let her seven stroke lead falter. Parker was crowned wire-to-wire Champion with a 157 total followed by Nancy Chaffee, of Avon Park, in second place at 164. Vilma Sapp, of Weston, shot identical rounds of 84 to round out the top three.

Tee Information

Tee

Yardage / Info

Senior Championship

5,712 yds. 72.9/124

Super-Senior Champ

5,254 yds. 70.2/120

Senior Field

5,254 yds. 70.2/120

Super-Senior Field

4,802 yds. 67.7/115

Par: 72

Weather Information

Description

Temp

Sunny

Breezy

85 °F

Sunny

Light Breeze

82 °F

Tournament Results

PosPosition Name Rd.1 Rd.2 TotalTotal Score Points
1 Sarah Phillips-Durst 77 73 150 5000
2 Laura Carson 75 76 151 3500
T3 Gigi Higgins 79 74 153 2250
T3 Taffy Brower 74 79 153 2250
5 Beatriz Arenas 80 75 155 1750
+ View Full Results

~North Course~

Built in 1957, Fort Lauderdale Country Club's North Course is a classic Dick Wilson influenced track designed by Red Lawrence with all the golf components. The 18-hole championship course features undulating greens and unique bunkers that challenge golfers of all abilities. The Women's Senior Amateur offers great competition between the top senior women amateurs in the state. For a look at the 2016 Championship Results Click Here.

Championship Format

  • 36 holes of individual stroke play
  • 84 total competitors
  • Four Divisions - Senior Championship, Senior Field, Super-Senior Championship and Super-Senior Field Division.
  • Players must select their division at the time of entry, provided they meet the eligibility requirements.
  • The overall Champions will be the individuals from the Senior and Super-Senior Championship Divisions with the lowest 36-hole total score.

Eligibility

  • Female amateur golfer
  • At least 50 years of age as of the first day of the Championship
  • At least 65 years of age as of the first day of the Championship to select to play in the Super-Senior Division at time of entry
  • A valid Florida GHIN Handicap Index not exceeding 34.0
  • Entrant is required to be a member of the FSGA

Entry Fee

$190 - Entry fee includes all competitive rounds of golf, tee gift, a player luncheon after the final round, and gift certificate prizes. Late entries will be accepted subject to a $10 late entry fee should the entrant gain acceptance into the field.

Schedule of Events

Tuesday, April 4th

  • 7:00 AM - 9:00 AM – Tournament Registration
  • 8:00 AM - 9:57 AM – Round One tee times off of #1 and #10 tees

Wednesday, April 5th

  • 9:00 AM - Final Round Shotgun
  • 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM (approx.) – Player's Awards luncheon - Included with entry fee

Entry Priority

Entries will be accepted based upon the order of receipt. Entries received after the competitive field is full will be placed on an alternates list. Alternates will be contacted in the order of receipt of entry, if and when, a spot becomes available.

Divisions and Approximate Yardages

There will be both a Championship (Gross) and Field (Gross & Net) Division in each age bracket.  Players must select which Division and Field they wish to compete in upon entry.  No player may play in both age brackets or Divisions within age brackets. 

  • Senior Championship Division - 5,600-5,800 yards approx. (Gross Only)
  • Senior Field Division - 5,300-5,500 yards approx. (Gross & Net)
  • Super-Senior Championship Division - 5,300-5,500 yards approx. (Gross Only)
  • Super-Senior Field Division - 4,700-4,900 yards approx. (Gross & Net)

Suggested Handicap Guidelines

The following should be considered when selecting divisions:

  • Senior Championship Division - 12.0 and Under
  • Senior Field Division - 13.0 and Over
  • Super-Senior Championship Division - 12.0 and Under
  • Super-Senior Field Division - 13.0 and Over

Committee Discretion: The Championship Committee reserves the right to move any player out of the Senior Field or Super-Senior Field Divisions if their handicap is significantly lower than the majority of the competitors in that division, and their scoring history does not reflect the need to play from either of those divisions. 

Handicaps

  • All valid Florida GHIN Handicap Indexes used will be from the March 15, 2017 revision. 
  • Each player must have a valid Florida GHIN Handicap Index not exceeding 34.0.
  • Players in the Field Divisions will play to 100% of their course handicap.

It is the responsibility of any player that maintains a Handicap Index lower than her current Florida GHIN Handicap Index to inform the FSGA for resolution. Failure to do so will result in disqualification.

Flighting

The Championship Divisions are gross only and will not be flighted.  

The Field Divisions will be pre-flighted based on individual handicaps and the number of competitors.  

Generally, divisions of more than 14 individuals will be flighted, however the Committee reserves the right to flight based on the number of individuals and/or the range of combined individual handicaps or scores. 


Breaking Ties

Championship Division - The overall Senior and Super-Senior Champions will be the individuals from their respective Championship Division with the lowest total score.  In the event of a tie for first place, there will be a hole-by-hole sudden death playoff on a hole designated by the Committee to determine the Champion. All other tie breaks will be broken by the USGA scorecard match. The last 9 holes will be considered holes 10-18, the last 6 holes will be holes 13-18, the last 3 holes will be holes 16-18 and the last hole will be hole 18. In the case that players are still tied after the 18th hole, the winner will be determined by lot.

Other Divisions – All ties in each flight of the Senior and Super-Senior Field Divisions will be broken by the USGA scorecard match. The last 9 holes will be considered holes 10-18, the last 6 holes will be holes 13-18, the last 3 holes will be holes 16-18 and the last hole will be hole 18. In the case that players are still tied after the 18th hole, the winner will be determined by lot.

Field Divisions will pay gross first, then net.

Practice Rounds

Practice rounds are available one week prior to the Championship and after 2:00 PM the weekend prior on a space available basis. Practice rounds are NOT available on March 30th. Players may play ONE practice round at the rate of $30.00 + tax and includes a cart and range balls prior to the round. Please call (954) 587-8040 to arrange your practice round. If you wish to play an additional practice round, the rate is $105.00 + tax. The proper place to practice your golf swing is on the driving range, hitting multiple shots on the course is unacceptable.

Defending Senior Champion

Mary Jane Hiestand, two-time winner of the Championship in 2013 and 2014, opened with a 3-over-par 74 in Round One, sitting on top of the leaderboard with only a one stroke lead. Going into the final round, conditions were tougher with challenging winds early in the morning. It was a tight race to the finish, but Hiestand managed to hold on to capture the win by one-stroke, recording a tournament total of 157. Hiestand commented on her second round stating, "I just never got my rhythm today and struggled in the wind. Yesterday my tempo was so much better and it seemed so easy to play the course as it was meant to be played." 



Defending Super-Senior Champion

In the Super-Senior Championship Division, Patricia Hughes-Gelardi, of Palm Beach Gardens, went wire-to-wire to win her first ever Women's Championship, holding a five-stroke lead going into the final round - the only player in her division to score in the 70s in Round One. She ended up winning the Championship by seven strokes, with a tournament total of 169. 

Other Policies

  • Spectator and Spectator Cart Policy - Click here.
  • Caddies - Caddies are allowed in all FSGA Championships except Junior events. However, a player must not use a parent, step-parent or guardian as a caddie. The caddie MUST walk and the player’s clubs must remain on the golf cart.
  • Championship Pace of Play Policy - Click here.
  • Local Rules and Conditions of 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 and Accommodations

Hampton Inn Ft. Lauderdale - Commercial Blvd.
4499 W Commercial Blvd.
Tamarac, FL 33319
(954) 735-7575

Click here to book online

$159 +tax per night - Must book by March 16th

Payment

Fort Lauderdale Country Club only accepts Visa/MasterCard and American Express for payment. 

Directions - Fort Lauderdale Country Club 

415 Country Club Circle
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33317
(954) 587-8040

Click here for map