Stu Harris Claims 2024 RDGA Wilson Fitch Senior Championship Title in Exciting Final Round at Penfield Country Club

RDGA President David Uhazie, left, presents the RDGA Wilson Fitch Senior Division Championship trophy to Stuart Harris.

By DAVE EATON

PENFIELD, NY – Seven summers ago, Oak Hill member Stu Harris made his presence known in the local senior amateur scene, winning both the RDGA Senior Championship and the RDGA Senior Match Play Championship during the 2017 season.

Since then, Harris has, more often than not, found himself in contention in whatever local senior event he has played in. He followed up his success in 2017 by winning a second Senior Division title in the Championship in 2019 – and adding a Super Senior Division title last year, after turning 60 in 2022.

But on Tuesday, August 13, Harris nailed down the big prize for a second time – winning the 2024 RDGA Wilson Fitch Senior Championship crown in a hard-fought final round while going head-to-head with Stafford’s Jim Scorse for the second consecutive year.

As it has since 2011, this year’s RDGA Wilson Fitch Senior Championship featured competition in four age-based flights, with the overall Championship being determined as the low 36-hole scorer from among the Senior (ages 60-64), Super Senior (ages 55-59) and Masters (ages 65-69) divisions, which all play from the SAME TEES, while the Legends (ages 70-plus) division plays from a shorter set of tees.

Hosted this year by Penfield Country Club – for the first time since 2004 – the two-day, 36-hole RDGA Wilson Fitch Senior Championship got under way on Monday morning, August 12, with a strong field of 74 of the to men’s senior amateurs, spread across the four senior Divisions in the event.

CLICK HERE for complete results from the 2024 RDGA Wilson Fitch Senior Championship!

A Top Field of Local Seniors Tee it Up

The 2024 District Senior Championship opened with three-time RDGA Senior Champion Jim Scorse posting a 1-under-par 70 – one of only two rounds under par for the entire Championship – with a round that included four birdies and three bogeys. At the halfway point of the competition, Scorse looked to be in control, holding a 2-shot lead over Harris in the Overall Senior standings heading into Tuesday’s second round.

Also in contention through Round 1 was Canandaigua’s Wade Sarkis, in third place at 74, and a five-way tie for fourth place at 75 between Kevin Webb, Ken Ogden, Rich Luther, Tim Disanto and Chris Sorci.

As Tuesday’s second and final round got under way, the situation seemed to stabilize, as both Scorse and Harris posted one birdie and one bogey on the front nine, with Scorse continuing to lead by two as play headed to the back nine. As the other contenders tried – but failed – to keep up with the two leaders, the home stretch of the 2024 RDGA Senior Championship was shaping up to be an exciting two-horse race – and the result did not disappoint.

When Harris and Scorse both birdied the par-5 10th hole, the situation looked to be “game on.” However, the wheels were about to come off the Scorse victory train. First, on the par-4 11th hole and again on the par-4 13th hole, Scorse lost control of his driver, hitting wayward drives that resulted in two uncharacteristic double bogies on the back nine of a championship final round. He would manage to get a stroke back on the short par-4 17th hole when he almost drove the green and carded a birdie – but by then, his lead had evaporated.

For his part, Harris kept his game together, playing steady golf most of the round, with the exception of one hiccup – a double bogey 5 on the par-3 16th hole. But by the time both players arrived at the 18th tee, they were tied for the lead.

Despite his difficulties off the tee, many veteran observers would have bet that Scorse was better than even odds to win, being tied on the final hole of a championship. However, his driver once again failed him, as he found trees off the fairway at 18. Scorse rallied to hole out with just a double bogey 6 – but the damage was done. Harris continued his steady play by finishing with a par – claiming a two-shot victory over Scorse with rounds of 72-72 for a 2-over-par 144 total for the Championship.

Harris Celebrates a (Sort of) Homecoming at Penfield

With the victory, Harris was able to answer the final round battle that he lost with Scorse a year ago, in the 2023 Senior Championship at Canandaigua, although there, the two competitors were not paired together in the final round. Harris also becomes the fourth player to win multiple RDGA Senior Championship titles since the format last expanded in 2011.

Afterwards, Harris reflected on his victory while being paired with Scorse in a head-to-head matchup down the stretch.

“It was a dogfight, it was great. I really enjoyed playing with Jim,” he said. “I don’t get to play with him too much because he’s usually a little further up the leaderboard than I am, so it was nice to get a shot at him today and come out on top.”

With steady play throughout this year’s Senior Championship, Harris – although now an Oak Hill member – credited a bit of “home course” knowledge for his victory – especially on the Penfield greens, which were playing tough throughout the Championship.

“In the early 2000s, I was a member here for three years – and I won the club championship one year, so I think that helped me a lot with the greens because they’re tough to read,” he said. “I think I had two three-putts yesterday but none today.”

Divisional Competitions Result in Titles For Four Age Groups

While the first three age Divisions (Seniors, ages 55-59, Super Seniors, ages 60 to 64 and Masters, ages 65-69) were competing together from Penfield’s White Tees, the Legends Division (ages 70 and up) was playing from the Gold Tees and competing for the first of the four Division titles.

In the Legends Division, Stafford’s Matt Haefele became the fourth multiple winner in the Division. Haefele posted back-to-back rounds of even-par 71 for a 142 total over 36 holes to claim his second Legends title since 2020. Haefele finished one shot ahead of past RDGA Senior Champion Mark Battle of Ravenwood, posting scores of 73-70–143 in his first year playing in the Legends Division – his second round score being the only round under par for the Division throughout the entire Championship.

In the other three Division races – all playing from the Penfield White tees – Oak Hill’s Stu Harris won the Super Senior Division title for the second year in a row, on his way to the overall Championship; Clifton Springs’ Kevin Webb won the Masters Division title with rounds of 75-76; and Jim Scorse captured the Senior Division crown for the fourth time in five years.

CLICK HERE for the complete results from the 2024 RDGA Wilson Fitch Senior Championship at Penfield Country Club!

The Rochester District Golf Association wishes to thank the staff and members of Penfield Country Club for their hospitality during this year’s RDGA Wilson Fitch Senior Championship, as well as General Manager Lee Castro, PGA Head Professional Mike D’Agostino and Superintendent Doug Vanderlee. CLICK HERE for additional information about this fantastic private golf facility.

The Rochester District Golf Association is led by Executive Director Tim Vangellow and is a proud Allied Golf Association of the USGA, serving Rochester area golfers since 1929.