Around the Green
The latest golf-related news, notes, and feature stories from the TGA.
Charlie Jabbia Leads South Senior Amateur by Two Strokes
Winds out of the north greeted the players to chilly temperatures for the beginning of the first round of the South Senior Amateur, presented by CLUB CHAMPION. As the round progressed, the clouds gave way to sunny skies at Sugar Land’s Sugar Creek Country Club with Charlie Jabbia and Walt Pratorius leading the Senior division and Super Senior division, respectively.
The Senior division is comprised of 60 players (55 years and older) while the Super Senior division has 24 players (65 years and older) for this year’s regional championship.
Jabbia, of Beaumont, posted the only round under par with a 1-under par 71. Jabbia was able to birdie all four of the par five holes on the Trent/Jones layout, with his only blemishes a double bogey on the par four 14th and a bogey on the par four 18th holes. Jabbia will enter the final round with a two stroke lead over Kent Samuel, of The Woodlands.
Samuel was able to pick up birdies on the par five 1st and par four 11th holes, yet also collected three bogeys along the way en route to an opening round 1-over par 73. Sitting alone is third place after the first round is San Antonio’s Pat Youngs at 3-over par 75. Five players are five strokes out of the lead at 4-over par 76, including defending champion Mike Booker.
In the Super Senior division Katy’s Walt Pratorius holds a narrow one stroke lead at 3-over par 75. Pratorius was able to pick up two birdies to help off-set the double bogey and two bogeys along the way. Defending champion in the Super Senior division Peter Kirchner, Don Grider and LD Clopton are one stroke back at 4-over par 76 heading into the final round.
With tee times scheduled to begin at 8:00am tomorrow, the South Senior Amateur is destined for a fantastic finish.
