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Palmer Holds on for Victory

Bill Palmer survived a hard charging Mike Gravley and a sudden death playoff to win his second SCGA Senior Championship in four years at the Oldfield Club in Okatie, SC. Palmer’s three day total of seven under par 209 was enough to capture the title once again.

Starting the day with a four shot lead, Bluffton’s Bill Palmer knew he was in for a battle when after two holes Greer’s Mike Gravley had cut the lead to one with two birdies and a Palmer bogey. The battle continued throughout the day with both players trading pars and birdies. When the two reached the par five 18th hole, Palmer held a slim one shot lead at eight under par for the tournament. After hitting his approach shot long and failing to get up and down for par, Palmer and Gravley were tied after 54 holes.

On the first playoff hole, the 424 yard par four 9th hole, Mike Gravley hit his tee shot out of bounds and Palmer, the 59 year old Belfair member, made par to clinch the Championship. Palmer was the only player out of the field to shoot under par for all three rounds and Gravley’s final round 66 was the low score for the event.

Finishing third was Port Royal’s John Smunk at 214. Smunk’s brother, Defending Champion Bill Smunk finished fourth at 215.

The 2010 SCGA Senior Championship was played on the par 72 - 6,594 yard Oldfield Club layout in Okatie, SC. The field consisted of 116 players over the age of 55 and was cut to the low 60 and ties after the first two days of play. The Senior Championship is one of 19 Major Championships conducted by the South Carolina Golf Association and is in its 52nd year of existence.

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