Mike Finster started the 2023 season in dominating fashion. With a win at Tampa Palms Golf and Country Club, the Florida native launched the 2023 Golfweek seniors slate.
Finster, who had a 1 over 2 round performance in the second round, closed the championship with an even-par final round. Finster was hot on the front nine, with four birdies and a double bogey at the par-4 sixth.
Rusty Strawn was the defending Golfweek Player and U.S. Senior Amateur Champion. He started the day four shots behind Finster and was part of the last group that tried to chase down the 36-hole leader. Strawn managed to make three birdies on the front nine, but finished the round at 1 under and six behind Finster.
The final group made their way through the nine remaining rounds. However, Strawn couldn’t capitalize on Finster’s back-nine bogeys and finished the tournament at 3 over.
Finster played well all week as he negotiated difficult and unusual Florida conditions to reach his 54-hole, even par total. Finster was the only player, regardless of age, to shoot two rounds at par or higher.
Steve Humphrey took the Super Senior division crown. Humphrey, who shared the 36-hole lead alongside Mike Poe on Wednesday, was unassailable.
Humphrey made the turn at even par and remained calm while the rest of the leaders faltered. Humphrey added two birdies in the final stretch, completing a 10-shot win and the lowest round of this week.
Although the Super Senior division was decided fairly quickly, the Legends had to play all 54 holes in order to declare a winner.
Don Donatoni was the 36-hole leader, and the 2022 Legend player of the year. He set out to maintain his exceptional form into the 2023 calendar. Arkansas’ Bev Hargraves was looking to compete. She paced the Legends following Monday’s first round, trailing Donatoni by three strokes going into Wednesday’s final round.
Russell quit the fight after a double bogey at the par-4 15th. This left way for Donatoni, Hargraves and
With only four holes remaining, Hargraves was three shots behind Donatoni. 16, 15 and 18 to tie Donatoni’s lead of 10-over par.
Both men needed to fly, so the pair decided to share medalist honors. The act of sportsmanship earned them 1,000 points and they split the $900 first place purse.
Gene Bingman won the Super Legends 75+ age division. He also went wire-towire in his win. Bingman won by five shots, with rounds of 80, 82, and 78 keeping Jack Marin and Gil Stenholm out of the lead.
The next Golfweek Senior Division National Championship is scheduled for March 26-28 at Desert Willow Golf Resort, Palm Desert, California. Click here to register.
