Eric Gudgel and Terry Hughes captured the 31st OGA Senior Stroke Play Championship and 22nd OGA Super Senior Stroke Play Championship, respectively, at Stillwater Country Club on August 24-25.
Gudgel, a Stillwater native, put together rounds of 64-72 to finish at 4-under-par 136 and win the Senior Division by two strokes over Kirk Maynord of Norman. Gudgel’s opening-round 64 gave him the lead heading into Tuesday’s final round, but Maynord’s 4-under 68 put the pressure on throughout the day.
The championship came down to a dramatic finish on the 18th hole. Gudgel found himself in trouble in the trees after mistakenly playing a wrong ball. After going back to find and play his original, he was able to advance it onto the back-right fringe of the green. Facing a 40-foot putt from just off the green for his fifth stroke, Gudgel calmly rolled the putt into the hole to finish with a bogey and secure the championship. The clutch finish capped an impressive two-day performance and earned Gudgel his first OGA Senior Stroke Play title.
Maynord finished runner-up at 2-under 138, while Michael Hughett of Owasso placed third at 1-over 141. Bill Bishop of Oklahoma City finished fourth at 2-over 142, followed by Blake Gibson of Yukon at 3-over 143.
In the Super Senior Division, Terry Hughes of Bartlesville ran away with the championship after posting rounds of 69-67 to finish at 4-under-par 136. Hughes fired a final-round 5-under 67 to pull away from the field and win by four strokes over Lewis Stephenson of Edmond, who finished at even-par 140. Stillwater’s Robert Moore and Bixby’s Terry Collier tied for third at 2-over 142. This is Hughes’ third straight title in this event.
The Oklahoma Golf Association would like to thank Stillwater Country Club and its entire staff for hosting the 31st Senior and 22nd Super Senior Stroke Play Championships and for providing excellent conditions for the competitors throughout the event.