New Jersey instructor Frank Esposito Jr. wins Senior PGA Professional
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Frank Esposito Jr. won the Senior PGA Professional National Championship on Sunday, closing with a 1-under 71 for a four-stroke victory.
The 51-year-old Esposito, the PGA head professional at Brooklake in Florham Park, New Jersey, holed a 25-foot birdie putt on the final hole on PGA Golf Club's Wanamaker Course. He finished at 16-under 272 and earned $20,000.
"Winning this is great. It really is," Esposito said. "I didn't know what to expect. It means a lot to me, especially out here. The hard part was the waiting, the anticipation. I was ready to go. I'm not usually great doing it (playing with the lead). But, I was at peace out there. It was fun to have the lead the whole way."
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The top 35 earned spots in the Senior PGA Championship in May at French Lick (Indiana) Resort.
James Mason of Dillard, Georgia, had a 70 to tie for second with Steve Schneiter of Sandy, Utah, and Rick Schuller of Chester, Virginia. Schneiter shot 69, and Schuller had a 70.
Jerry Haas of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, the golf coach at Wake Forest and brother of Champions Tour player Jay Haas, was fifth at 11 after a 70.