Kestner Captures the 7th MGA/Canon Senior Open Championship
WAYNE, N.J.-On a windy day in Wayne, New Jersey, fifty year old Darrell Kestner of Deepdale fired a final round even par 71 for a 36-hole total of four-under par 138 (67-71) to capture the 7th MGA/Canon Senior Open Championship at Preakness Hills Country Club in Wayne, NJ by an impressive four strokes over Bobby Heins of Old Oaks CC, in Purchase, NY.
Kestner, a former National Club Pro Champion, began his round one stroke behind Bobby Heins (66-76=142), his final round playing partner, after an opening round four-under par 67 yesterday. As the wind picked up today, so too did the scores, with only one player able to break par on the day.
Heins and Kestner both began the round well, with pars on the first three holes. They then shared the lead after Heins dropped a shot on the par four fourth. Kestner began to run away with the championship when his birdie on the par-five 5th against Heins’ bogey, gave him a two-shot lead. He went on to birdie the 8th hole and finished the front nine with a six shot lead. Kestner faltered slightly when a four-putt on the par four 15th left him with a triple bogey. “I lost my concentration on that hole,” Kestner said of his seven on the 15th, “but I knew I had a big enough lead that it wouldn’t cost me the tournament.”
“This course is very demanding off the tee,” said Kestner. He attributed his winning round to a solid driving game as he missed only one fairway for the day. Although that one missed fairway on the fifteenth cost him three strokes, it was his only over-par hole. Kestner said that he plans to make a run at the Champions tour this Winter when Q-school begins, since he believes his “game is better than it has been in years.”
Robert Housen, of Manasquan River, a six-time New Jersey State Amateur champion, finished as the tournament’s low amateur (70-73) and tied for third overall at 143 with Doug Steffen of Baltusrol (71-72). Joe Polizzano of Oronoque finished as the day’s second low amateur (73-72=145) at 7th overall.
The original 176-man field was cut to the low 40 scores plus ties after Tuesday's first round, with a total of 40 golfers, who shot 76 or better, advancing to today's 18-hole final round.
