Doug Hanzel, Savannah, GA, Super Senior division winner, and Jeff Frazier, Mechanicsburg, PA, Senior Division winner at the 44th Dale Morey Championship hosted by The Landings Golf & Athletic Club in Savannah.
RESULTS: 44th Dale Morey Championship
SAVANNAH, Ga. – It was a picture-perfect week in the Lowcountry, as players enjoyed spectacular fall weather over three days of competition on the Deer Creek Course at The Landings Golf & Athletic Club.
Jeff Frazier (Mechanicsburg, Pa.) finished at 6-under-par 210 over 54 holes to capture the Senior division, finishing two strokes clear of Ed Kerr (Windsor, Colo.) and Lee Porter (Pinehurst, N.C.), who shared runner-up honors.
Frazier opened with a 3-under 69 to share the first-round lead with Kerr and Jon Veneziano before taking control of the championship with a second-round 67. The 5-under effort gave Frazier a four-shot advantage heading into Wednesday’s final round.
Porter made his move with rounds of 73-68-71 to finish at 4-under 212, while Kerr remained in contention throughout the championship with rounds of 69-71-72 to reach the same total. William Mallon (Vero Beach, Fla.) and Chad Ibbotson (Sanford, Fla.) both closed with rounds of 71 to share fourth at 1-under 215 with 2024 champion, Stan Humphries (Monroe, La.), who posted rounds of 75-70-70.
Jeff Frazier tees off on No. 18 at Deer Creek at The Landings
With a four-shot cushion to start the final round, Frazier planned to remain aggressive. Once the round got underway, however, protecting the lead began to influence his strategy.
“I tried to tell myself to go attack and make birdies,” Frazier said. “But I found myself shooting for the open side of the green and not taking any chances. I laid up on every possible thing that I probably could have. Even on the last hole, I hit hybrid off the tee. It was like playing a little prevent defense.”
That approach was put to the test on the back nine.
“It got tight, and then I just started grinding out pars,” Frazier said. “Ed cut it to one shot when he birdied 14 and 15. Then he three-putted 16, and that gave me a two-shot cushion. I still had that tee shot on 17, and I hit it on the green, and I felt pretty good at that point.”
The victory follows a stellar year for Frazier in Golf Association of Philadelphia competition. He captured the GAP Senior Amateur and Senior Silver Cross and won the O. Gordon Brewer Cup for the fourth time in his career. The Brewer Cup victory also completed a historic sweep of GAP’s four Senior Majors this season, making Frazier the first player to accomplish the feat since the Brewer Cup was introduced in 2008.
For a player accustomed to golf in the Northeast, Frazier also quickly adapted to the different conditions at Deer Creek and came away impressed with both the course and the hospitality throughout the week.
“The course was in great condition,” Frazier said. “The greens were smooth, and the course was manicured really well. I really, really enjoyed this place. They treated us well all week long. This is a phenomenal place.”
Doug Hanzel tees off on No. 1 at Deer Creek
Home club standout Doug Hanzel (Savannah, Ga.) added another title to his burgeoning trophy case with a dominant performance in the Super Senior division. Hanzel, the 2013 U. S. Senior Amateur Champion, posted three consecutive rounds under par to finish at a tournament-best 11-under 205, six strokes ahead of runner-up Allen Peake (Macon, Ga.).
Hanzel began the final round just one shot ahead of Peake, the opening-round leader, but quickly created separation on Wednesday. Playing on his home course brought an additional level of expectation, but Hanzel relied on a disciplined game plan and remarkably consistent ball-striking to pull away with a closing 2-under 70. Peake finished with a 75 to take runner-up honors at 5-under 211.
“There were expectations. It puts a little extra pressure on things,” Hanzel said. “But I had a pretty good game plan and kept focused pretty well. I hit it good, putted it good, so it was a pretty steady week for me.”
Rather than overpower Deer Creek, Hanzel relied on his knowledge of the course and played for position throughout the final round.
“I was playing position golf,” Hanzel said. “I didn’t hit a lot of drivers, but I put it in position for second shots. I was hitting my irons pretty good distance-wise, so I gave myself a lot of good looks and just kept the ball in front of me.”
The strategy produced impressive consistency. Hanzel was the only player in the field to finish all three rounds under par.
“I just played good all three days,” Hanzel said. “I hit 16 greens each day, so I just played very steady.”
Michael O’Donnell (Brookhaven, Ga.) took third at 1-under 215 following rounds of 74-70-71. Defending Super Senior champion Stevie Cannady (Pooler, Ga.) finished tied for fourth at 1-over 217 with Dub Huckabee (Midland, Texas). Cannady posted rounds of 70-71-76, while Huckabee closed with a 70 after rounds of 71 and 76.
A member of the Georgia State Golf Association Hall of Fame, Hanzel is now a four-time Dale Morey champion. Three of those victories have come at The Landings, with his other title coming at Pine Needles & Mid Pines.
Playing at home certainly has its advantages, and Hanzel acknowledged that his familiarity with Deer Creek provided an edge.
“Sleeping in your own bed is really nice,” Hanzel said. “I probably have a one or two-shot advantage playing my home course because I know where the trouble is. I know where not to hit it. I know the grain. It helps.”
The victory also added another chapter to Hanzel’s long history with the Society of Seniors.
“I love Society events because they’re run very well and you have great fields,” Hanzel said.
The Society of Seniors extends its special thanks to the entire staff and membership at The Landings Golf & Athletic Club for hosting the championship, and to Callaway Golf for its continued sponsorship and support of the Society of Seniors.
Event GGID: 26SOS6
