Estero Country Club, the beautiful, member-owned private country club in Estero, Florida – home to the Gordon Lewis-designed championship golf course and an Audubon Certified Sanctuary – recently hosted its Inaugural 2024 Estero Senior Amateur Invitational tournament from April 29-May 2, inviting players aged 55 and above.
According to Andrew Plesz, PGA Head Professional, there was a field of 82 golfers competing in the three-day 54-hole event. Participants played from tees according to their age group, Senior (55-64), Super Senior (65-69), Legends (70-74), and Super Senior (75+). The field included some well know senior amateur players and professional athletes, including John Armstrong, who won the Golfweek U.S. Super-Senior National Championship in 2017 and Don Edwards, the All-Star goaltender for the Sabres, who spent 13 years in the National Hockey League.
Andrew Plesz added, “In all of Southwest Florida, there are few events outside of State Championships that bring these types of players together. This is what makes our tournament so special.”
Division champions included: Bev Hargraves, from Little Rock, AR who outplayed John Armstrong, from Ft Myers, FL in the Legends Division. Hargraves three-day total of 213, 3 under par earned him a three-stroke victory in Legends Division. Thomas Grady, from Bradenton, FL won the Super Legends division on the first playoff hole against ECC member Greg McCall who both had totals of 225. George Wilson, from Naples, FL was the top finisher in the Super Seniors Division finishing with a 6-shot victory over the next best. In the Senior Division, Trent Gregory, from Wake Forest, NC was the medalist in the Senior Division with a 1 under par 215 total.
According to General Manager Daniel J. Newman, “The tournament was both a gathering of seasoned golfers and an opportunity to spotlight Estero Country Club to golfers from around the country. During the tournament, I heard numerous participants say this was the best Senior Tournament they had played in years. Such acclaim is a testament to the caliber of the players and the meticulous planning, dedication, and hard work of everyone involved.”
Golf Course Superintendent Andrew Maccagnano and his staff provided meticulous care and attention to detail in preparing the course, resulting in pristine fairways and immaculate greens. Executive Chef Brandon Wheelock and the Food & Beverage staff provided culinary delights for the dinner that followed the event, attended by members and guests.
Added Newman, “The Club appreciates the dedication and foresight of current Club President Mark Bonner, former Board Member Mark Mitchell, and Don Edwards for putting this tournament together, as well as the tireless efforts of Andrew Plesz for ensuring that every aspect of the tournament ran seamlessly, from registration to tee-offs and everything in between. Their commitment to excellence truly set the stage for a memorable event.”
Estero Country Club (ECC) (www.EsteroCC.com) is a member-owned private county club located within the Vines community in Estero, Florida, south of Fort Myers. ECC is an Audubon Certified Sanctuary with a 7,072-yard,18-hole Gordon Lewis-designed championship course with six sets of tees and a comprehensive teaching program. Surrounded by lush tropical acres and sparkling lakes, the course enjoyed a multi-million-dollar restoration in 2018.
Resort-style amenities include an award-winning clubhouse, named Number 5 in the prestigious listing of 2022 Top Ranked Clubhouses, presented annually by Club + Resort Business, with formal dining, an expanded indoor/outdoor casual dining venue with seating overlooking the golf course and outdoor terrace social areas with fire tables. Fitness aficionados enjoy the new fitness center, five Har-Tru clay tennis courts, two pickle ball courts, and two bocce courts with full programming support. Connect via social media at Twitter, Facebook & Instagram.
