Puccia Earns First District Title; Wins 2018 RDGA Senior Championship at Irondequoit
Steve Puccia, center, accepts the trophy for the 2018 RDGA Senior Championship from RDGA President Mark Battle, left, and RDGA Executive Director Tim Vangellow, right, during the closing ceremonies at Irondequoit Country Club on Wednesday, August 29.
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CLICK HERE for the complete LEADERBOARDS from the 2018 RDGA Senior Championship
CLICK HERE for a PHOTO GALLERY from the 2018 RDGA Senior Championship
CLICK HERE for a post-tournament INTERVIEW with 2018 Champion Steve Puccia
CLICK HERE for a feature article on tournament host IRONDEQUOIT COUNTRY CLUB
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The two-day, 36-hole 2018 RDGA Senior Championship concluded on Wednesday, August 29, with final round action at Irondequoit Country Club.
Winning the overall RDGA Senior Championship title (by posting the low 36-hole score between the Senior (55-59) and Super Senior (60-64) divisions), was Steve Puccia of Penfield Country Club. Puccia put together rounds of 72-75 over the two-day championship for a 3-over-par total of 147 to win the 2018 RDGA Senior Championship by two shots over George Kavanagh and Jim Mason.
Puccia - whose brother, Frank Puccia, is also the Head Superintendent at Irondequoit Country Club - rose to the top of the leaderboard in the first round of play, posting an even-par 72, which was tied for the low round of the tournament. So - did having his brother in charge of course conditions help Puccia solve the notoriously fast greens at Irondequoit?
"I don't know about solving the greens," said Puccia, "but I will say that I putted beautifully the first day - I think I had 26 putts - and in this game, just like the pro tour, the guys who putt well usually win. That was a very satisfying round."
Following the Championship, most players praised the course conditions - while being very challenging - as being very fair and Puccia was first in line to give his compliments.
"It was an honor to play here, his course is phenomenal," Puccia said of his brother Frank's efforts as Superintendent. "Everybody who has ever played here at Irondequoit can tell you that."
Kavanagh, who won the 2016 RDGA Senior Championship, posted rounds of 75-74 for a 5-over-par 149 total to finish in second place, finishing in a tie with fellow Oak Hill member Mason, who also posted scores of 75-74--149. Although the overall RDGA Senior Championship title went to Puccia, who actually played in the Super Senior Division (playing from the same tees as the Senior Division), Kavanagh and Mason entered a sudden death playoff to determine the winner of the Senior Division.
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In the playoff, Kavanagh drained a 7-foot birdie putt to claim the Senior Division title.
For Puccia, the District Senior Championship represents his first major amateur title of any kind. The key to his victory rested in the fact that he was able to adapt to the changeable weather conditions throughout the two-day event, as well as the fast greens. Having friends and family on hand - including his brother, the Superintendent - was a bonus.
Upon being presented with the RDGA Senior Championship trophy, Puccia was also presented with a brand new golf bag from local equipment manufacturer and new RDGA Corporate Partner, Izzo Golf.
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| Puccia will have his choice of identification custom-embroidered onto the bag by Izzo. |
Izzo Golf representative Megan Cacchione
presents a new Izzo golf bag to Steve Puccia.
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Aside from the overall competition, which was contested between both the Senior and Super Senior Divisions (who played from the Black Tees at 6,600 yards), winners were also recognized in each of the four age flights in the Championship: Senior (ages 55 to 59); Super Senior (ages 60 to 64), Masters (ages 65 to 69), and Legends (ages 70-plus). Golfers in the Masters Flight played from the Green Tees (6,300 yards); golfers in the Legends Flight played from the White Tees (6,000 yards).
- Winning the 2018 Senior (55-59) Flight was Oak Hill's George Kavanagh, who won a playoff with Jim Mason.
- Winning the 2018 Super Senior (60-64) Flight was Steve Puccia of Penfield Country Club.
- Winning the 2018 Masters (65-69) Flight was Matthew Haefele of Stafford Country Club.
- Winning the 2018 Legends (70-plus) Flight was Jack Mahan of Oak Hill Country Club.
In addition to the RDGA Senior Championship trophy, Puccia - as well as Kavanagh and Mason - also earned exemptions into the 2019 RDGA District Championship John H. Ryan Jr. Memorial, which will be hosted by Penfield Country Club next July.
The RDGA wishes to thank the membership and staff of Irondequoit Country Club - especially PGA Head Professional Steve Bordner and General Manager Alan Cohen - for their hospitality and assistance in hosting this RDGA Championship event.
The individual flight winners from the 2018 RDGA Senior Championships included, from left to right: George Kavanagh, Seniors (ages 55-59); Steve Puccia, Super Seniors (60-64); Matthew Haefele, Masters (65-69); and Jack Mahan, Legends (70-plus).