ASGA Senior Stroke Play Championship

By Arkansas State Golf Association

(Page visually enhanced for Sr. Reading)

PINE BLUFF --- Jack Jordan of Monticello holed out his second shot on the par-4 18th hole for an eagle and a 1-stroke victory in the Arkansas State Golf Association Senior Stroke Play Championship Thursday at Pine Bluff Country Club.

Jordan holed out the shot with a 5-iron from the middle of the fairway and 174 yards away. His ball landed on the green, just past a hump in the 2-tiered green, took two bounces and rolled into the hole in the back right portion of the green.

"It was just one of those things that happens once in a million," said Jordan. "I was one shot behind and all I was trying to do was get the ball in the middle of the green. When it left the club, I just thought thank goodness I hit it solid, and that ball just drew in there perfectly. I couldn't see it go in, but I knew it was going to be close."

Jordan came to the 18th hole one stroke behind C.W. Knauts of Piggott. Knauts hit his drive in the right rough on the final hole, and after Jordan holed out for an eagle, he punched up short and left of the green. Knauts' attempt at a chip-in birdie, which would have forced a sudden death playoff, came up just short of the hole.

"I don't feel any unusual hurt," said Knauts. "It's just one of those things in golf. I holed out twice against Jack (Jordan) in the match play finals in 1997 over at Harbor Oaks Golf Club (in Pine Bluff) to win that one, so he got even with me."

Jordan shot 1-under 70 on Thursday and finished the 54-hole championship with a 5-over par total of 218, one stroke in front of Knauts and six better than third-place Buck Barbee of Bryant.

The title marks the second consecutive year that Jordan has won the ASGA Senior Stroke Play Championship.

"It's just such an honor to win this tournament two years in a row," said Jordan. "People who don't see these guys play don't have any idea how well they play. It's just an honor to win it two years in a row with this kind of a field."

In addition to the overall championship, three age division flight winners were crowned. Jordan won the seniors division for players age 55-64, E.B. Gee Jr. of Blytheville won the super seniors division for players age 65-74, and Robbie Robinson of Hot Springs Village won the masters division for players age 75 and older.