Jack Shoenfelt Wins South Florida PGA Senior Section Championship Presented by Cadillac
WEST PALM BEACH (Aug. 24, 2021) – Jack Shoenfelt played his first 10 holes in 4-under to get the lead Tuesday and held on to win the South Florida PGA Senior Section Championship Presented by Cadillac at Banyan Cay Resort & Club.
Shoenfelt, the owner of Oriole Golf and Tennis Center in Margate, started the day two shots off the lead, but surged into a tie with Michael Valicenti of Mayacoo Lakes with birdies at 1, 7, 9 and 10. Shoenfelt had six pars and a bogey from there for a 69 that left him at 5-under 139.
Tied for second a shot back was Alan Morin (68-140), an Assistant PGA Professional at The Club at Ibis, and Valicenti (71-140).
“I’m thrilled, surprised,” Shoenfelt said. “I had a feeling( he might win), but I wasn’t sure. I didn’t think there was any way that 5-under would hold up. This is the biggest win of my career. There haven’t been many.”
Five-under held up the winds made even the short holes at Banyan Cay play tight. Morin was 6-under for his round, but bogeyed two of his last three holes. Valicenti also had two late bogeys.
“It was tough out there,” Shoenfelt said.
Mike San Filippo of Hobe Sound, who won the event three times (2005, ’16 and ’17), shot 72 and tied for fourth with Roger Kennedy Jr. (73-141).
The top eight finishers not otherwise eligible earned spots in the 33rd Senior PGA Professional Championship Presented by Cadillac Oct. 21-24 at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie.
That included two who tied for fourth place: Director of Golf Eric Veilleux at the Bear’s Club (72-142), Director of Golf Gene Fieger of the Club Pelican Bay (71-142); and five players who tied for eighth: Daniel Heaslip (67) of Windstar Naples Bay, David Witt (69) of Talis Park, Mike Strlekar (71) of Woodfield, Mark Mielke (72) of High Ridge and John Lee (74) of Imperial Golf Club. Jerry Tucker of Stuart (70-144) is first alternate.
“It’s great to finally qualify,” said the 56-year-olf Shoenfelt. “I had tried like four times, but was also 17th, 25th … never good enough.”
Tuesday, he was better than them all.
The South Florida PGA Senior Section Championship is presented by Cadillac. Supporting partners are John Deere and Golf Channel.
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