Salem Country Club’s Kirk Hanefeld shot 71-69-140 and finished tied for sixth, the best finish among local entrants, at the NEPGA Seniors championships at Agawam Hunt Club in East Providence.
Hanefeld, a two-time winner (2015, 2020) of this event, finished five shots behind second-time winner John Hickson of Northport Golf Club, who defeated three-time winner Dale Abraham of Cape Arundel in a sudden death playoff after the pair finished tied with scores of 135, three under par. Hickson won the playoff with a par on the first extra hole and took home the $1500 first prize.
Beverly’s David Dionne was the next best local competitor at 141, followed by Bass Rocks’s Todd Scarafoni at 145, Kernwood’s Frank Dully at 150, Golf Country’s Joe Rocha at 154 and Salem’s Kevin Wood at 162.
Hanefeld, as an exempt two-time champion at the age of 70, will lead the NEPGA contingent of nine qualifiers into the Senior PGA Professional Championship October 22-25 at Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club in Gold Canyon, Ariz.