NEWS

Anderson and Mason win PGA Senior Stroke Play Championship titles

By The PGA of America
Published on

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. – J.C. Anderson of O'Fallon, Mo., and James Mason of Dillard, Ga., took different routes to win titles in the 29th PGA Senior Stroke Play Championship, Thursday (Jan. 10) at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla.

Anderson, 51, a PGA instructor at Mid Rivers Golf Links in St. Peters, Mo., was the winner by a stroke for age groups 50-54 and 55-59 on the Wanamaker Course, finishing with 70-207. He edged Charles Bolling of Glen Cove, N.Y., who bogeyed the final hole for 71-208. They had been tied at seven under par 137 entering the final round. In 54 holes, Anderson had an eagle, 14 birdies and seven bogeys. Bolling won his 55-59 age division.

On the adjacent Ryder Course, Mason, a PGA teaching professional at Orchard Golf Club in Clarksville, Ga., who turned 62 on Tuesday, won by seven shots for age groups 60-64 through 85-and-older. He led throughout the three-round Championship, closing with 66-199. Mason opened Tuesday with a 65 on the Ryder Course and added a 68 on the Wanamaker Course for 133 and a three-stroke lead going into the final round. He totaled 20 birdies and had one bogey each day.

Anderson and Mason each received a $1,500 bonus in addition to their age group earnings. The rest of the $67,800 purse was distributed among eight age groups. Anderson received an additional $2,300, Mason another $2,000. Mason collected $1,600 for winning his age group here (Jan. 4) in the PGA Quarter Century Championship. Anderson is three years short of being eligible for the PGA Quarter Century Club which requires PGA membership for 25 years.

The PGA Winter Championships continue next week with the 55th PGA Senior-Junior Team Championship, Monday through Thursday. All three courses will be in play the first three days with 50 teams starting at each venue. The 54-hole to the low 40 and ties will precede the final round on the Wanamaker Course.

The age group leaders in the Senior Stroke Play:

Wanamaker Course, 6,600 yards, par 72
Overall:
J.C. Anderson, O'Fallon, Mo., $1,500 67-70-70—207

50-54:
J.C. Anderson, O'Fallon, Mo., $2,300 67-70-70—207

55-59:
Charles Bolling, Glen Cove, N.Y., $2,050 68-69-71—208

Ryder, 6,090 yards, par 72
Overall:
James Mason, Dillard, Ga., $1,500 65-68-66—199

60-64:
James Mason, Dillard, Ga., $2,000 65-68-66—199

65-69:
Fred Gibson, Orlando, Fla., $1,650 66-70-70—206

70-74:
Jim Logue, Canton, Ohio, $1,500 67-73-74—214

75-79:
Al Kelley, Eustis, Fla., $1,150 75-78-72—225

80-84:
Paul Kelly, Port St. Lucie, Fla., $840 74-75-78—227

Ryder Course, 5,000 yards, par 72
85-older:
Bob Watson, Jupiter, Fla., $300 86-85-90—261

Hole-in-One: Bob Thatcher, Port St. Lucie, Fla., Ryder Course, No. 5, 138 yards, 7-iron