After a roller-coaster final round at the Gasparilla Invitational, Canadian Charles Fitzsimmons survived a two-hole, three-man playoff to claim the title Sunday at Palma Ceia Golf Club in Tampa, Florida.
Fitzsimmons, a two-time Canadian Mid-Amateur champion, signed for a final-round 1-under-par 69 to finish tied with Park Ulrich (67) and Miles McConnell (68) at 1-over 211.
Eight players held the lead, or a share of it, at various points in the final round. McConnell seemingly had the tournament in hand after the 16th hole, but bogeys at Nos. 17 and 18 dropped him into a tie with Ulrich, who birdied 18 and had already signed his card. Fitzsimmons, playing in the next-to-last grouping and right behind McConnell, birdied the final hole to force the three-man overtime.
The trio returned to the 477-yard par-5 18th hole, which gave up a tournament-high 90 birdies for the 54-hole event. Ulrich’s par could not keep up with birdies by McConnell and Fitzsimmons.
Fitzsimmons birdied the hole for a third consecutive time, canning a 5-foot putt on the second playoff hole, to take home one of the most unique trophies in amateur golf.
"I'm not sure I ever had a better putting week," said Fitzsimmons, 36, a mental-performance coach from King City, Ontario, who works mostly with golfers but also some hockey players. "The theme of the week was short game. My short game was on point all week."
McConnell, a 57-year-old Tampa resident and the reigning Florida Senior Amateur champion, did get some minor consolation. He was recognized as low senior, outdistancing Bob Royak by five shots.
McConnell shared the first-round lead Friday with ageless Doug Hanzel at 3-under 67 in ideal weather. Those conditions changed dramatically for Saturday’s second round, with winds gusting 20 mph and more. Only two under-par scores were recorded as Derek Busby took the 36-hole lead at 1-under 139. Busby shot 77 to finish T20.
RESULTS
Staff report