The Society’s Ralph Bogart Tournament is the second oldest event in the organization’s history. Only the Dale Morey Championship and the Ed Tutwiler 4-Ball pre-date this year ender. In 1984, the Bogey was first played at the St. Andrews CC in Palm Beach. SOS founder Dale Morey teamed with Don Whalen to capture the inaugural title. In 2017, 34 years later, the event was played at the beautiful Harbour Ridge Yacht and Country Club, Palm City, FL.
Harbour Ridge gets its name from the bluffs that created the harbour and the ridge made along the River Ridge golf course. The Club’s emblem, the eagle, was selected for its beauty and majesty and as a symbol of the Club’s commitment to protecting Florida’s natural resources. Eagles still soar and make their home in the area. The River Ridge course, designed by Pete Dye and re-designed by PB Dye, is splendid in all areas. Offering dramatic tee shots, spacious fairways and beautifully manicured greens. An outstanding setting for tournament golf.
When Rick Woulfe arrived at Harbour Ridge Tuesday morning for round one, he was feeling good about his chances, having qualified for the US Senior Open on the River Course recently. But his opening round 76 left him in a seven-way tie for sixth. Firing opening 1-under 71’s were Allen Peake, Macon, GA and David Steingart, Edina, MN. 2016 POY Keith Decker, Martinsville, VA was next at even par 72, followed by Happy Rakestraw, Somerset, KY at 74 and Randy Yoder, Chattanooga, TN alone at 75.
Peake’s second round 74 and Decker’s 73 were knotted at 145 strokes and deadlocked with the hard charging Woulfe (76-69). Rakestraw continued his fine play with a one-under 71, alone at 146.
Woulfe and Decker traded the lead several times during the front side of the final round, with Woulfe grabbing the lead after Decker bogied the 11th and 13th holes. Peake birdied 15th an 16th and when Woulfe bogied 17, the two were tied. Peake’s bogey on the par five 18th was the difference as Woulfe coasted in with a par. His 217 total was one shot better than Peake and two shots better than Decker.
In the Super Senior division, Joe Hackler, Boynton Beach fired rounds of 71-73-74 (218) to hold off 2015 Bogart Champion Tom Elfers, Estero, FL with rounds of 74-73-73 (220). Alone in third was Bob Allshouse, Greensburg, PA (221).
A final round 3-under par 69 leapfrogged Jim DuBois, Coral Springs, FL to the top of the Grand Masters division. Starting the final round seven shots behind Gary Johnson, Chaska, MN, DuBois bogied the opening hole, but added four birdies. Bill Robischon, Tequesta, FL Tom Knapp, Tequesta, FL, Robert Currey, Jupiter, FL and Johnson ended up in a six-way tie for 2nd at 219.