NEWS
Jeff Hudson wins second consecutive Lehigh Valley Senior Amateur Medal Play title
June 13, 2016
BETHLEHEM TWP. — Jeff Hudson stayed confident with his driver off the tee, and it paid off with another victory.
Hudson, a 51-year-old Upper Saucon Township resident, played a steady final-round of 1-under-par 36-34–70 Sunday to win his second consecutive Lehigh Valley Senior Amateur Medal Play Championship at Green Pond Country Club.
Locked in a tight final round battle with home course golfer Tom Woodring of Forks Township, Hudson shot a 36-hole score of even-par 72-70–142 to win the 23rd edition of the tournament by two strokes.
Woodring, the 1992 Lehigh Valley Amateur winner, was second at 72-72–144. Dominic Carr of Lower Macungie Township, who won the event in 2014, was third with a 74-71–145.
“Considering the great field, it feels great to win,” said Hudson, who is the President of Skee-Ball Inc. “You need to be be under-par or even-par here to win.”
Unlike last year when Hudson put his driver in the bag in favor of a 3-wood, Hudson stayed with the big club off the tee with good accuracy. On Sunday, he hit 14 greens in regulation and used 31 putts in a methodical performance.
“I had a bunch of 20-footers for birdie today,” Hudson said. “The two I made were from 12 feet on the first hole and a nice downhill four-footer on the 16th.”
Beginning the final round trailing two-time Lehigh Valley Amateur champion Sal Picone by one stroke, Hudson shot even-par 36 on the front nine to grab a share of the lead with Woodring at 1-over-par; two strokes ahead of Carr and Picone.
On the back nine, Woodring — playing one group ahead of Hudson — birdied the par-4 11th hole to grab a one stroke lead.
However, Hudson made six consecutive pars and a birdie on the 16th hole to take a two-stroke lead; while Woodring bogeyed the 14th and 15th holes. Hudson parred the final two holes to wrap up the victory.
Hudson became the fourth golfer in tournament history to win the event consecutively; joining Darrell Lawson (1995-1997), Tom Lusto (2002-2003), and Ed Kluemper (2011-2013).
The victory further elevates Hudson’s reputation as one of the region’s finest amateur golfers over the past 15 years.
During his career, Hudson has also won the 2004 Lehigh Valley Amateur, 2014 Lehigh Valley Tournament of Champions, 2014 Lehigh Valley Mid-Amateur, 2006 Allentown City Match Play title, and 2004 Bethlehem Golf Club Amateur Stroke Play Championship.
Since turning 50 in September of 2014, Hudson has found senior amateur golf tournaments to his liking, “Par-3’s are shorter, and I don’t have to hit long irons,” Hudson said. “There are more wedges, 9-irons, 8-irons; rather than 4-irons and 5-irons.”
23rd annual Lehigh Valley Senior Amateur Medal Play Championship
Green Pond Country Club (par 71)
Final 36-hole scores:
1. Jeff Hudson 72-70-142 (even-par);
2. Tom Woodring 72-72-144;
3. Dominic Carr 74-71-145;
4-T. David Blichar 76-72-148, Ike Haluska 75-73-148;
6-T. Tom Lusto 74-75-149, Bill Briggs 73-76-149 Ed Kluemper 73-76-149;
9. Sal Picone 71-79-150;
10. Rob Zampella 73-79-152;
11-T. Tom Coakley 79-74-153, John McCurry 75-78-153;
13-T. Tom Egolf 79-75-154, Joseph Zelechoski 78-76-154, Alan Orchard 76-78-154;
16. Tommy Arnold 80-75-155;
17. William Ricci 72-84-156;
18. Jim Gleason, 81-76-157;
19-T. Judd Pape 82-76-158, Andrew Lykon 82-76-158, Alex Falcinelli 79-79-158;
22-T. Anthony Enos 83-76-159, Fernando Perez 78-81-159;
24-T. Julio Isidoro 81-79-160, Robert Schultz 80-80-160;
26. Geoff Jones 85-78-163;
27. Bob Johnson 84-81-165;
28. Elliot Sheftel 83-83-166;
29. Tom Stitt 86-81-167;
30. Rich Fryer 80-88-168;
31. Dell Bobier 93-79-172;
32-T. Michael Gonsky 89-84-173, Mark Harmon 86-87-173, Robert Schubach 85-88-173;
35. Ed Schulz 95-90-185;
36. David Clark 97-91-188.
Age Group Winners:
50-55 — Jeff Hudson
56-61 — Tom Woodring
62-67 — Tom Lusto
68-and-over — John McCurry
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