Richard Donegan
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — Richard Donegan of Okeechobee birdied the second extra hole Sunday to win Palm Beach County’s ninth annual Advanced Automated Stroke Play Championship at BallenIsles Country Club.
A rising senior on the University of Florida golf team, Donegan outlasted first-round leader Jared Meyers of North Palm Beach after they tied at one under par 143 on the East course. They halved the par-4 18th hole, then Donegan put his second shot at the par-5 17th on the front fringe, chipped to tap-in range and made the putt for the win.
“It’s always nice to win and I played pretty well for two days,” Donegan said.
He had three birdies and an eagle in an opening round of 72, five birdies in Sunday’s 71. He was a stroke behind Meyers with two holes to go when rain and lightning interrupted play for about 15 minutes.
Other age group winners were John Wegmann of Southwest Ranches, ages 50-59, with 71-144; and Marc Rosenbaum of Hollywood, 60-older, 74-143. Wegmann closed with the only sub-par score in his flight with two birdies and a bogey. He made one birdie and two bogeys in Saturday’s 73.
“I hit the ball better yesterday but got nothing out of it,” Wegmann said.
Wegmann, 51, won the open division at Mayacoo Lakes two years ago.
Rosenbaum said he hit the ball great both days but putted better Saturday.
“The rain today made a difference today,” he said.
Donegan has made half as many starts in PBCGA events, three, as Meyers has victories, six. Meyers was a shot ahead with two holes trmaining when play was briefly suspended. He still had to sink a 20-foot bogey putt at the 18th hole to get into the playoff. Donegan, 21, won the Florida high school championship for Okeechobee High in 2011, played one year at Florida Atlantic University before transferring to Florida where he has won twice. He also took the Florida State Public Links title earlier this year at Celebration CC.
ABOUT THE
Palm Beach County Stroke Play
36-hole stroke play championship with open, senior
(50-59), and super senior (60+) divisions open to
members and nonmembers of the PBCGA.
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