Senior Four-Ball Championship

Madsen & Walters Win Senior Four-Ball Championship

Curt Madsen and Mike Walters teamed up to win the Florida State Senior Four-Ball Championship at Calusa Pines Golf Club in Naples. This is their first Senior Four-Ball title as partners while Madsen has won three previous Senior Four-Ball Championships and Walters won the Championship last year.  

Madsen, of Mount Dora, and Walters, of Tampa, fired a two-round total of 131 to secure the title. The pair shot a 64 in the first round and a 67 in the final round to finish 13-under par for the Championship. Madsen won the Senior Four-Ball three consecutive years, 1996, 1997 and 1998, with partner Ron LeClair as Walters wins his second Senior Four-Ball title after winning last year with partner Don Lucas. This year, Walters advanced to the U.S. Senior Amateur semi-finals whereas Madsen was a 2002 semi-finalist. The 2004 State Senior Champion, Bruce Scamehorn, of Winter Haven, and partner David Boesel, of Winter Park, placed second shooting a two-round total of 134. The pair led after the first round with a 9-under par 63 and shot a 71 in the second round to finish 3-back from the Champions. Keen Shackelford, of West Palm Beach, and Lenny Loyd, of Port St. Lucie, took third place when they posted a 67-69—136.   

“Calusa Pines is clearly one of the finest new courses in the country,” says Jim Demick, FSGA Executive Director. “The competitors enjoyed this course and everything it had to offer.”  

The Senior Four-Ball Championship featured 48 teams playing 36 holes of four-ball stroke play. In four-ball stroke play, two competitors play as partners, each playing his own ball.  The lower score of the partners is the score for the hole. The field is flighted after 18 holes. To be eligible, players must be 55 years of age or older.

  ALL PLAYERS WILL USE CADDIES

Calusa Pines is an exclusive golf club designed for walking and embraces the tradition of a player and his caddie navigating the layout together. The team of Hurdzan/Fry designed the par 72 layout that will play from 7,150 yards down to 5,100 yards from any of four to five sets of tees per hole. The holes are characterized as having generous landing areas, MacKenzie style bunkering and sophisticated putting greens. Calusa Pines boasts the highest elevation in Collier County, some of the largest trees, and among the most environmentally friendly fishing lakes in the region.

ELIGIBILITY

Must be age 55 or older as of October 25, 2004, and both entrants must be members of the FSGA.

ENTRY FEE

$210 per team. ($200 for online entry.) Includes one practice round and all tournament rounds and prizes. Note: Entry fee does NOT include the cost of caddies. Entry fee has been reduced as a result of required additional expense for caddies.

CHAMPIONSHIP FORMAT

36 holes of four-ball stroke play.

FLIGHTS

After 18 holes.

CADDIES

All players will be required to use a club caddie for the practice round and tournament rounds. The cost of a caddie is $40 per round per player plus gratuity ($20 recommended). Those players 62 years of age or older as of October 25, 2004 or players with a medical exemption will be allowed to use a cart but they will also be required to use a club caddie. Players may not carry their bag or bring their own caddie. Those players eligible and requiring use of a cart must contact Peter Dachisen at the FSGA office at (813) 632-3742.

DEFENDING CHAMPIONS

Don Lucas, Lithia, and Mike Walters, Tampa, carded 70-62--132 to claim the title at Sara Bay Country Club in Sarasota.

ACCOMMODATIONS

Arrangements have been made at the Hampton Inn Naples for $59 per night. Call (239) 596-1299 by September 24 and identify yourself as a FSGA competitor. Additional arrangements have been made at the Ritz-Carlton for $149 per night for a resort view and $159 per night for a golf view. Call (800) 241-3333 by October 8.