In Mid October, wild fires scorched the Napa Valley area, leaving many of the surrounding homes at Silverado Resort in complete ruin. The courses and resort remained virtually untouched, but the devastation to the homes and the immediate community will take years to rebuild.

Overwhelmingly, the SOS members entered in the Founders Cup endorsed the decision to play, in an effort to support the local economy.

Silverado Resort’s two Johnny Miller redesigned courses, North and South, were originally built prior to 1970 and have served as host to PGA and Senior PGA events over the past 40 years.

Bill Charpek, Red Bank, NJ, opened with a three-under par 68 on the South Course, good for a three-shot lead over Jeff Burda, Modesto, CA and Steve Hudson, Birmingham, AL. Tied at fourth after round one at even par 72 was Jonathan Valuck, Oklahoma City and Mark Knecht, Paducah, KY.

Charpek, the 2015 and 2017 New Jersey State Senior Am Champion, added a second round 72 as play moved to the North Course. Charpek’s 140 total was five shots clear of five-time SOS Champion Hudson and seven shots ahead of Knecht.

The North Course was again played for round three, with rain and chilly temps for most of the day. Charpek’s double-bogey opening hole cut his lead to three over a charging Hudson. From that point it was birdies and bogeys as the two players exchanged the lead several times.

Charpek closed with at 6-over 78 (218) to capture the crown by a single shot over Hudson (219) and Knecht (219).

In the Super Senior division, Jim Rollefson, Naples, FL had to go one extra hole to defeat Evan Long, Charlotte, NC as both finished regulation play at 220 strokes. Rollefson’s come from behind win was at the expense of first and second round leader Gary Kirwan, McKinney, TX (220) and first and second round second place challenger Phillip Anamizu, Honolulu, HI (223).

In the Grand Masters division, it was Walnut Creek, CA’s Ron Johnson grabbing the lead after round two from Frank Abbott, Las Vegas, NV and never looking back.

Abbott, the 2017 SOS Senior Masters GM Champion matched Johnson’s opening one over 73, but his second round 78 placed him in a four way tie at 151with a group including: 2017 SOS Grand Masters Champion Jerry Hutton, Long Beach, CA, John Walker, Scottsdale, AZ and Rick Kline, Pinehurst, NC.

Johnson’s second round 74 placed him at 147, four shots clear of the knot. His final round 76 (223) was three shots clear of Kline, who posted a final 75 (226).