Doug Hanzel
LEWISTON, N.Y. — Doug Hanzel added to his illustrious career as a senior amateur with a win at the Senior Porter Cup on Friday.
After posting a spectacular 65 at Niagara Falls Country Club on day two, Hanzel took a three-stroke lead to Friday's final round, which he held over 18-hole leader Chris Kertsos of Canada. Hanzel doubled his lead by day's end, securing a six-shot win with a final-round 70.
Hanzel, of Savannah, Ga., won the 2013 U.S. Senior Amateur, and since, has taken home titles at other major events such as the Dixie Senior Amateur, "The Vinny", and Jones Cup Senior in 2014, as well as the Florida Azalea Senior, Timuquana Senior Cup, and Georgia Senior Amateur in 2015. This victory is Hanzel's first Senior Porter Cup win.
Kertsos, who fired 68 in round one to lead Hanzel by a stroke, fired a more-than-respectable 69 on Thursday, but he couldn't keep up with Hanzel's gem. Kertsos held second place by five over fellow Canadian Dan Partland heading to the last day, and with 73 in the third round from both Kertsos and Partland, he maintained that five-stroke advantage.
Partland took third, two ahead of Mike Krulich of Blacksburg, Va. whose 71 was one of the lower scores of the final round.
One of two defending champions, Steve Hudson of Birmingham, Ala., was crowned co-champion in 2014 alongside Mike Jackson. Jackson is not in this year's field, while Hudson tied for ninth place after a disappointing 77 on the last day.
In the Super Senior division, John Blank and Skip Snow shared the 36-hole lead at 144. While Blank fired 69 on Thursday to jump into a tie at the top, an 80 on Friday sent him sliding backward to a seventh place finish, while Snow, the 2011 Super Senior winner, posted 79 and grabbed sixth.
The winner was Mickey Jones, who blasted into the lead with 68 on the last day. Mike Rice and Berger Warner tied for second at 218, three back of Jones, who entered the day with a three-shot deficit.
ABOUT THE
Senior Porter Cup
The Senior Porter Cup is an invitational
amateur
event conducted at stroke play over 54 holes.
The
Tournament Committee reserves the right to
invite players of national and international
reputation to participate. Contestants are
selected
on the basis of their competitive record and
accomplishments in major amateur and senior
amateur tournaments. Players must be at least
55
years of age prior to beginning of tournament.
The Senior division was added to the annual
Porter Cup Invitational in 1992 and has been
played as as a separate tournament since
2008.
View Complete Tournament Information