Golfweek Senior Nat'l Championship: Doug Hanzel, Jack Hall share First Round lead
Doug Hanzel
(Golfweek Photo)
HOWEY IN THE HILLS, FL (January 16, 2017) -- In November Doug Hanzel and Jack Hall teamed for their second straight Georgia Senior Four-Ball title, now jusr over two months later they are competing against each other and tied for the Golfweek Senior National Championship lead. After the first round of play on the El Campeon Golf Course at Mission Inn Resort & Club the duo are 1-over following 73's and they lead Jim Starnes and Scott Smith by a stroke.
Hanzel started his round in fine form with a birdie on No. 1 but gave the stroke back quickly with a second hole bogey. Playing in his first AmateurGolf.com Ranking event of 2017, Hanzel next bogeyed the 8th before returning to even-par with a 16th hole birdie. Hanzel then finished his round with an unceremonious bogey on No. 18.
The Savannah, GA resident finished 2016 as top-ranked senior in the AmateurGolf.com Rankings after winning five-times.
Similar to Hanzel, Jack Hall got off to a good start with a first hole birdie as he posted a two birdie, three bogey day. Hall carded back-to-back bogeys on Nos. 4 and 5 and another on the 11th while mixing in a 9th hole birdie.
Hall ended 2016 as the seventh ranked senior in the AmateurGolf.com Rankings with his signature moment coming in the form of a win at the Gasparilla Senior.
Behind the 2-over and tied for second place pair of Starnes and Smith it is Michael Arnold at 3-over rounding out the top-5.
In the Super Senior Division Ed Pierce has opened up a two-stroke lead. Pierce tallied a 1-over 73 with four birdies and five bogeys. Pierce carded consecutive birdies on the 15th and 16th holes.
Don Russell, Ron Eilers and Richard Blackburn are tied for second at 3-over. Bill Zylstra and Don Marsh sit at 4-over and in fifth place.
Jim Pfrogner has set the Legends Division pace with a 2-over 74. During his round Pfrongner rolled in birdies on Nos. 8, 13 and 14.
Marty O'Connell (+5) is second, Edward Craig (+6) is third while four others are tied for fourth at 8-over.
ABOUT THE
Golfweek Senior POY Classic
Premier tournament featuring the world’s elite senior
amateurs age 55 and up, in
three separate divisions: Senior (age 55-64), Super
Senior (age 65-69), Legends
(age 70-74) and Super Legends (age 75+). Max
handicap 8.0.
The tournament honors Golfweek's top three
nationally ranked players in the Senior,
Super Senior and Legends division. The "Yancey
Ford Award" is also presented,
honoring an individual who has made significant
lifetime contributions to amateur
golf.
Formerly known as the Golfweek Senior National
Championship.
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