For Mark Tucker, qualifying for the national Senior PGA Professional Championship is an annual objective. The PGA of America Member accomplished that goal by winning his fifth career Central New York PGA Senior Section Championship on July 22.

 

Tucker fired a tournament-best 69 in the final round to beat Eric Manning (Elm Tree GC) by two strokes and claim the Senior crown. The two-day tournament July 21-22 for Section players 50 and over was held at Timber Banks Golf Club.

 

After an opening round of 74, Tucker (Cazenovia Country Club) carded four birdies and played bogey-free golf for 17 straight holes for a 3-under-par 69 in the closing round. He finished at 1-under 143.

 

“I thought if I could keep it even par, because I thought even par would win this, and I did one better,” he said. “I’m very pleased.”

 

Tucker attributed his solid two-day performance on a hot putter. Tucker’s other Senior titles came in 2015, 2016, 2019 and 2021.

 

“I hit a lot of solid putts,” he said. “Even putts that didn’t go in were still solid. Everyone knows I’m not the best putter around. But I putted really well the last two days.”

 

Manning made a push to catch Tucker on the back 9 in the final round with three birdies. But Tucker stayed atop the leaderboard by staying bogey-free until the last hole.

 

“It would have been nice to go 18 without a bogey,” Tucker said. “All I needed was a 5 on the last hole. If I would have pulled that shot, the number could have gotten much higher and I didn’t want to let that happen.”

 

By winning the CNY PGA Senior title, Tucker earned a berth in the Senior PGA Professional Championship which will take place on October 23-26, at the PGA Golf Club (Wanamaker & Ryder Courses) in Port St. Lucie, Florida.

 

Manning, who won the event in 2022, had rounds of 75 and 70 for a 145 to finish in second. He also qualified for nationals as did defending champion Michael Deuel and first-round leader Dennis Colligan. Deuel (En-Joie GC) and Colligan (Cazenovia GC) finished tied for third at 147.

 

The alternates are Jeff Reader (Cazenovia GC), Tim Hume (McConnellsville GC), Jay Turcsik (Mark Twain GC) and Nick Serafino (Timber Banks)..

 

2008 Senior champion Bruce Martins (Elm Tree GC) won the Super Senior Division with a 153 total.

FINAL RESULTS