Steve Lacher bags the Bradenton Men’s Senior title – Golf update
Steve Lacher had to suffer an early setback in the first nine holes, when his five-shot lead from the previous day vanished into thin air. However, Lacher kept forging his way ahead and birdied the 10th and was able to successfully force a playoff
and finally won the 14th annual City of Bradenton Men’s Senior Championship at River Run Golf Links. Lacher defeated Jim Stone by making it through par at the first playoff hole.
“I’ve played a lot of golf tournaments for a long, long time. And I was more nervous (Sunday) than I think I’ve ever been in a golf tournament,” he said. “I think it’s that thing you shoot 64 and you come out and you are expected to shoot another good score
or something ... I’m expected to win.”
Lacher had finished one shot behind the defending champion Ray Wenck last year. Wenck finished for third place this time around, two shots behind Lacher and Stone. Wenck has twice won the tournament in the past. The scenario brought back the memories of
the 1996 Masters when Greg Norman kept struggling and Faldo destroyed his hopes of laying his hands on the green jacket. Lacher, on Sunday, however, took early control of his fast deteriorating score. Stone, Wenck and Lacher hit superb shots for the 17th,
as Stone equaled the par but Wenck and Lacher missed their respective birdie attempts. Stone lost his lead on the 18th when his shot stumbled into the trees. He suffered a one-stroke penalty and bogeyed another shot afterwards.
“I knew right where to hit it, but I had been leaving putts a foot short all day long,” Stone said. “That was my biggest problem. I just couldn’t get the speed right (Sunday) and left that one short, too.”
Stone tried to attempt a pull-hook for the first playoff hole played at No.1 but it went wayward and he ultimately suffered double bogeys for it. Lacher made no mistakes this time and parred the hole for victory. The title is another feather in the cap of
Lacher who is the winner of City of Sarasota Men’s Amateur, Venice city and the Charlotte County Amateur titles as well.
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