Allen Barber, Yorktown, VA notched his first SOS win with two-shot victory in the 2017 Dale Morey SOS Championships at the Innisbrook Golf Resort. The wire-to-wire win came as the senior division played the famous Copperhead Course day one and three with a quick tour of the Island Course in between.

Barber’s opening 68 was four shots better than Jackson, Michigan’s Steve Maddalena, and five better than 2016 SOS Senior Player Of The Year, Keith Decker, Martinsville, VA. Knotted at 2-over 74 after round one were Richard Kerper, Oldsmar, FL, Emile Vaughan, Pike Road, Al, Steve Hudson, Birmingham, AL and John Fritz, Mint Hill, NC.

As the senior group moved to the Island Course, Decker, with 27 Virginia State GA victories and three SOS titles on his resume, roared back into contention with even par 72 and a 145 total. Barber struggled to a four-over 76, but still found himself perched at the top at 144. Maddalena’s second round 76 landed him alone in third at 148.

The return to Copperhead for the final round proved rocky for Barber, carding a lone birdie and seven bogies reroute to 77 and 221. His final two holes were solid pars, good for the victory.

Maddalena and Decker shared second at 223. Kerper was fourth with 224.

In the Super Senior Division, playing the Island Course on days one and three, it was Don Donatoni, Malvern, PA posting rounds of 77-76-72 (225) good for a single shot victory over Chattanooga’s Neil Spitalny (75-75-76—226.

For Donatoni, a two-time Pennsylvania State Senior Champion, the win was his first SOS title

A six hole playoff was necessary for Jerry Hutton, Long Beach, CA to claw a victory in the Grand Masters division over George Washburn, Frederick, MD.

Hutton was able to follow his opening 72 on the Island Course with a respectable 74 on Copperhead. His 146 stroke total was three better than Washburn, Frank Guise, Westlake, OH, and Mike Nixon, Nashville, TN.

Washburn, the 2017 Hesler Grand Master Champion posted the low final round of 73 (222) on the Island, to tie Hutton, who finished with 76 (222).

Hutton’s putter remained hot during the playoff, finally ending the struggle on the sixth hole for the win.