Gene Elliott, Norwalk, IA
RESULTS: 41st Ralph Bogart Tournament
JUPITER, Fla. – Celebrating its 25th anniversary, Abacoa Golf Club put on quite a show in hosting the 41st Ralph Bogart Tournament conducted by the Society of Seniors. Players enjoyed top playing conditions and great weather throughout the week with temperatures around 80 degrees each day, with winds at about 10-20mph to keep scoring in check.
Senior Division
Playing in his first Society of Seniors event, Gene Elliott, of Norwalk, IA, walked away with a two-stroke victory in the Senior division over Claud Cooper, of Birmingham, AL. Elliott and Cooper were the only two players to shoot under par in each of the three rounds of competition. Elliott fired rounds of 70-68-71 for 7-under total of 209, while Cooper posted 69-71-71 for a 5-under total of 211 on the Joe Lee design that opened in 1999.
After opening with a 2-under 70 that featured seven birdies and some others, Elliott settled down in the second round with a bogey-free 4-under 68 to take control. Cooper drew within striking distance a few times during the final round, but Elliott did just enough to keep him at arm’s length.
“I had zero expectations coming into the event,” said Elliott. “I knew it was a good venue and I was looking forward to playing and sleeping in my own bed here in the area.”
Asked about leaderboard watching, Elliott said, “I checked the scores after nine and knew Claud and I were close. I was up one, then up two. I thought my birdie was going to fall on No. 14 and would have been a nice cushion to have. I played solid golf down the stretch, hit greens, and made pars. It was a great event and Abacoa did a great job hosting.”
Finishing in third place was Kevin VandenBerg, of Pulaski, NY, at 3-under par, 213 total.
James Pearson, Charlotte, NC
Super Senior Division
Three rounds weren’t enough to decide a winner in the Super Senior division. James Pearson, of Charlotte, NC, and Terry Tyson, of Perrysburg, OH, finished regulation tied at 1-over par, 217 for the tournament. Pearson finished with a 2-over 74 in the final round, while Tyson posted the only red figure of the Super Senior division on day three with a 2-under 70 to draw even with the overnight leader.
The duo would head back to No. 18 at Abacoa for a sudden-death playoff. With both players driving the ball well, they made two routine pars on the first playoff hole, and it was back to the 18th tee.
On the second playoff hole, Pearson’s second shot found the penalty area with Tyson about 10 feet for birdie. Pearson made a great recovery shot from the penalty area and made a ten-footer to save par while Tyson’s birdie just missed.
On the third hole, it was role reversal as Tyson’s second found the penalty area and Pearson found the green. Tyson played a great shot and had a good chance for par from about 8 feet. Pearson would two-putt for par, as Tyson’s par effort slid by, giving Pearson the crown.
“I got a new driver that has been working well,” said Pearson. “I just played steady each day and tried to minimize mistakes. I had a three-putt from about 100 feet today but putted nicely otherwise.”
Pearson, who also won the Fall Classic at Pine Needles in October, added, “I made a great birdie on No. 7 [his next-to-last hole] and thought I need another one to win in regulation, but couldn’t get it done on No. 8. On the second playoff hole, I hit my approach in the water, but then got up-and-down out of there to extend it, so that felt good. Hats off to Terry on his fine play.”
Jim Starnes, of Ft. Myers, FL, finished in third place, just one stroke out of the playoff after rounds of 72-74-72 for a 2-over total of 218.
Steve Humphrey, of Ocala, FL, who finished fourth at 4-over, caught fire with four birdies in a row just before a late double-bogey derailed his comeback. Humphrey jarred his tee shot on No. 4 for an ace during Tuesday’s second round.
Stephen Fox, Pinehurst, NC
Legend Division
It came down to a duel between the overnight leader, Don Donatoni, of West Chester, PA, and first round leader, Stephen Fox, of Pinehurst, NC. Donatoni slept on a three-shot lead heading into the final round, but Fox came out swinging and made birdie on his second hole of the day, and after an early bogey by Donatoni, it was game on.
Fox kept a clean card for the duration of the final round, posting two birdies and sixteen pars en route to the only red number in the Legend division on day three. Donatoni, who posted his competitive career-low round with an 8-under 64 in the second round on Tuesday, went cold during the final round in which he could only manage one birdie from short-range on No. 18, which was his eighth hole of the day in the shotgun start.
Fox put together rounds of 67-75-70 to finish at 4-under 212 total and edged Donatoni by one stroke.
“I played well in the first round and then kind of went through the motions on Tuesday,” said Fox.
Fox added, “Today was much better. Don and I had a tight battle out there and I knew it would be tough to beat him. I got off to a good start with a two-shot swing after three holes, and I’m happy with the way I finished the round bogey-free. It’s always nice to come away with a win against tough competition. Hats off to Abacoa for being such amazing hosts.”
As a consolation prize, Donatoni did secure 2024 Legend Division Player of the Year honors.
Pete Allen, of Southport, NC, finished in third place with a solid showing of 74-74-73, 221 total (+5).
Joel Hirsch, Highland Park, IL
Super Legend Division
Drive for show and putt for dough was the theme for Super Legend division winner Joel Hirsch, of Highland Park, IL, as he credited some hot putting as his key to success. Hirsch made eight birdies during round two in which he posted 5-under 67 to grab the lead. He would go on to play steady golf in the final round in posting 74-67-74 total of 215 (-1) to win by two strokes over Sam Robinson, of Ponte Vedra, FL.
“I really putted well this week,” said Hirsch. “Yesterday, I kind of kept notes on how long my putts were, and I estimated something like 292 feet of putts made. It was crazy. Things got interesting today when I made a few bogeys in the middle of the round, but I was happy to birdie No. 16 to get a little breathing room.”
“I appreciate everything the Society does in hosting events and Abacoa for welcoming us,” added Hirsch.
Frank Polizzi, of Plymouth Meeting, PA, finished in third place with scores of 72-73-74 total of 219 (+3).
Special thanks to Robbie Dew, Rob Young and their team at Abacoa Golf Club for being wonderful hosts for the tournament. Thanks as well to Callaway Golf for their continued support and sponsorship of the Society of Seniors.
Our first event of 2025 will be the 17th Jack Hesler Tournament to be held at Mission Resort in Howey-in-the-Hills, FL on January 20-23.
Event GGID: 24SOS10
