Schauger Wins BDGA Senior Championship
GRAND ISLAND, N.Y. – On his home course, Jeffrey Schauger held on to win the BDGA Senior Championship. The River Oaks Golf Club member shot four-over for the tournament, clear by just one stroke.
Related: Results
Schauger was part of the first group, and only two-some, to tee off during round one. He immediately birdied the par-4 first hole. A bogey on 7, a par 5, meant an even-par start on the front nine. Schauger stumbled on holes 11 and 12 but made up for it with a 2 on hole 14, a par 3, as well as a birdie on 17, a par 5. A bogey on 18 meant an opening round of 73, one-over.
Schauger finished day one with a three stroke advantage over Jim Sweeney (Brookfield CC) as only five total players shot in the 70s that day.
Schauger started the final round just like the first as he birdied hole one. He also birdied holes six and seven as he held a five shot lead over Sweeney with nine holes to play.
Schauger began to stumble on the 13th hole as he double-bogeyed. Sweeney, on the other hand, birdied. Schauger bogeyed 16 and 17 whole, an eagle from Sweeney meant the lead was down to one entering the final hole. Both players bogeyed, meaning Schauger finished victorious with a final round of 75 and final score of four-over.
Sweeney finished in second place after a final round of 73. PJ Alterio (Niagara Falls CC) finished in third. Brian Kumiega (Country Club of Buffalo) finished in fourth place while Axel Ackerman (NYSGA eClub - Western NY) ended in fifth.
John Gaffney, of Brookfield Country Club, took home the title in the Legends Division (60+). He was a stroke behind David Malcolm (East Aurora CC) with two holes to play. Gaffney remained behind as both players eagled the par 5. On the final hole, a par 4, Malcolm bogeyed with Gaffney parred to force a playoff with both contestants at five-over. The two equalled scores on the first playoff hole but Gaffney claimed the championship on the second playoff hole.
Keith Anderson (Brookfield CC) finished in third place, missing out on the playoff by one stroke. Frank Delsignore (River Oaks GC) came in fourth at seven-over. Danny Irwin (Crag Burn GC) was the fifth place-finisher, a stroke behind Delsignore.
Robert DeWitt, of Transit Valley Country Club, dominated that Masters Division (70+). His final round of 67 featured two eagles and three birdies which meant a 10-stroke victory at six-under. Craig McIntyre (Transit Valley CC) finished second and Fred Gigliotti (Niagara Frontier CC) took home third place at seven-over.
