LONGWOOD, Fla. – The Legacy Club at Alaqua Lakes played host to the fifth event of the 2022-2023 FSGA Winter Series season. The two-day, stroke-play tournament was a tight contest throughout, but ultimately Ryan Prokay (Mid-Amateur), Lloyd Fisher (Senior), and Dan Bogdan (Super-Senior) elevated their play above the rest of the competition to secure victories.
Mid-Amateur
After 18 holes, Ryan Prokay, of Bradenton, sat alone atop the leaderboard after shooting an impressive 1-under 71, the only under-par round played on Monday across all three divisions. The round-one leader was able to build a three-shot advantage thanks to two birdies and an eagle on the par-5 seventh hole. Christopher Anderson, 2-over 74, and Adam Moncrief, 5-over 77, ended the first round in second and third, respectively.
Then, in round two, while the rest of the Mid-Amateur division did their best to score low and catch up to Prokay, the eventual winner kept his foot on the gas, recording five birdies en route to a tournament-low score of 4-under 68. This wire-to-wire victory adds another chapter to what has been an incredible 2022-2023 Winter Series season for Prokay (71-68—139). Through five Winter Series events, the Bradenton native has earned three wins, as well as an additional second place finish. Anderson (74-77—151) and Moncrief (77-79—156) maintained their positions on Tuesday to round out the top-three finishers.
Senior
At the conclusion of the first round, the Senior division featured a four-way gridlock at the top of the leaderboard. Bill Koch, of Jacksonville, Chad Ibbotson, of Sanford, Matthew Avril, of Vero Beach, and Steve Pitts, of Ponte Vedra Beach, were all tied for the top spot after shooting 3-over, 75. In addition to these four, six additional golfers would complete 18 holes within three strokes of the leaders.
Round two saw drastic movement at the top of the leaderboard as all four round-one leaders would not find themselves in any of the top three spots at the end of the day. Instead, Lloyd Fisher, of Lecanto, Earl Lanoue, of Tampa, and Steve Riviere, of Sorrento, were tied at 5-over 149, resulting in a sudden-death playoff. Fisher and Riviere, who began the day three shots back of the lead, both carded scores of 1-under 71 to force the playoff with Lanoue, who finished 1-over 73 on Tuesday.
On the first playoff hole, Fisher found himself in a precarious position in the trees, yet was miraculously able to control his game and record a par. This was good enough to defeat his opponents and give the Lecanto native his second victory, and third top-three finish, of the 2022-2023 Winter Series season.
Super-Senior
Like the Senior division, the Super-Senior division was still very much up for grabs after 18 holes. Cory Walker, of Ormond Beach, and Dan Bogdan, of Casselberry, were tied at the top of the leaderboard after shooting even-par 72, while Walter Himelsbaugh, of Leesburg, was just one shot back thanks to a score of 1-over 73. Walker and Himelsbaugh followed similar paths in round one as each golfer birdied three holes, whereas Bogdan played more consistent golf, carding par on all but two holes.
The second round proved to be a more difficult challenge for the Super-Senior division as no player scored better than 4-over 76. However, Bogdan (72-77—149) did just enough to maintain a lead over his competitors, and eventually captured a three-stroke victory. The wire-to-wire triumph was the Casselberry native’s first win of the 2022-2023 Winter Series season, while Himelsbaugh (73-79—152) and Tom Hyland (76-76—152), of Palm Coast, finished in a tie for second.
