Roy Vucinich of Moon Township, Pa., Jim Logue of Canton, Ohio and Nunzio Ciampi of Palm City, Fla., were the major winners in the 55th annual TaylorMade-adidas Golf PGA Quarter Century Championship.
Vucinich, a PGA Life Member, trailed first-round leader Mike Parrish of Madison, Ala., by one-stroke following the opening round of play, but fired a final-round four-under-par 68 to win among age groups 49-under through 60-64, on the Wanamaker Course at the PGA Golf Club.
"I got lucky yesterday to even break par, and I got it to two-under for the round," said Vucinich, a two-time Senior PGA Professional Player of the Year. "I have not been able to play much because of the bad weather in Pennsylvania, so to come out here and play well and be comfortable was really great."
Jerry Tucker of Stuart, Fla., who was the major winner in 2006, finished one-stroke behind Vucinich.
On the adjacent Ryder Course, Logue, 68, shot a final-round 67 to win age groups 65-69 through 90-over for the third consecutive year. Lynn Rosely of Grand Rapids, Mich., finished in second place overall, seven-strokes behind Logue.
"I was a little overwhelmed by my play the last two days," said Logue, former PGA head professional at Brookside Country Club in Canton, Ohio. "I only missed two greens over 36 holes and I really hit it well out there."
Ciampi, 72, shot a final-round 67 to win the Half Century Championship for the second consecutive year. Bob Ross of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., a PGA Life Member, finished in second place, four-strokes behind Ciampi.
"Today was just one of those days, it was very easy to shoot well," said Ciampi, who served as the PGA head professional at Glen Head Country Club in Glen Head, N.Y. for 44 years. "I was striking it well and had no bogeys."
The Half Century Division is designed for players who have been members of The PGA of America for at least 50 years.
This was the fifth Winter Championship victory for Logue and the third for Ciampi. Logue was the junior member of the winning Senior-Junior team in 1971, captured the Senior Stroke Play in 2005 and the Quarter Century the last two year's. Ciampi was the senior on the winning Senior-Junior two-some in 1987.
The PGA Quarter Century Championship, for PGA Professionals with a minimum of 25 years membership, drew 179 entries. It is the second of six tournaments that comprise the 55th annual TaylorMade-adidas Golf PGA Winter Championships.
TaylorMade-adidas Golf PGA Quarter Century Championship
The PGA Golf Club - Port St. Lucie, Fla.
(Division/Overall Winners Listed Below)
Wanamaker Course (par-72, 6,569 yards)
Overall - Roy Vucinich, Moon Township, Pa., $1,500, 70-68--138
50-54 - Chris Starkjohann, Encinitas, Calif., $1,200, 71-69--140
55-59 - Jerry Tucker, Stuart, Fla., $1,600, 70-69--139
60-64 - Roy Vucinich, Moon Township, Pa., 70-68--138
Ryder Course (par-72, 6,170 yards)
Overall - Jim Logue, Canton, Ohio, 67-67--134
65-69 - Jim Logue, Canton, Ohio, $1,725 67-67--134
70-74 - Nunzio Ciampi, Palm City, Fla., $1,850, 77-67--144
75-79 - Bill Erfurth, Northbrook, Ill., $1,400, 74-70--144
80-84 - Ray Montgomery, Fort Pierce, Fla., $400, 83-77—160
Half-Century - Nunzio Ciampi, Palm City, Fla., 77-67--144
Ryder Course (par-72, 4,999 yards)
85-89 - Bob Watson, Jupiter, Fla., $450, 79-80--159
90-up - Jack Wilkins, Chapel Hill, N.C., $450, 82-82-164
