DALLAS, Texas – On a much cooler day out at Trinity Forest Golf Club Jason Enloe finished off his impressive three-day performance with a solid round of even-par 72 holding off Chris Kamin by one shot in the Mid-Master division. In the Senior division Rusty Strawn of McDonough, Georgia went wire-to-wire as he held strong on the back nine to secure himself the win. In the Super Senior division, Jeff Burda of La Quinta California cruised to victory posting a final round 74 and finishing at three-over for the tournament giving him back-to-back titles in the event. Finally, in the Legends division despite the rocky finish Ed Brooks of Fort Worth, Texas steered clear of the competition finishing at eight-over-par for the tournament four better than second place.
In the Mid Master division, Trinity Forest member Jason Enloe secured the victory over his former Nationwide Tour peer in what was a nerve-racking finish. “I kinda struggled most of the day really…it became pretty tight the last four or five holes…on my 18th hole he (Chris) hit a good seven wood which forced me to play a more aggressive shot and I hit a good putt from twenty feet, it was a fun put and I made it to close it out.”(Enloe) The former pro was at the top of the leaderboard the entire week taking sole possession in yesterday's second round and never wavering as it was a back in fourth battle all day. “I miss pro golf a little bit, it's nice to get the juices flowing under the gun again.” Enloe, the former SMU Head Men's golf coach hadn't been playing too much tournament golf as of late but showed he could still get it done in competition as the course showed its teeth throughout the day. “I'm just so appreciative of my great friends at Benchmark that allow me to play in these events and to play like this for my home club.”
In the Senior division, Rusty Strawn posted another strong performance firing a 74 in what was a much harder golf course today. After starting his week with a 4 under 68 and a three-shot lead in the tournament that gap closed as it came down to the final hole for Strawn to secure the victory. “It was much more difficult, it was hard to get the ball close to the hole from the fairways, I hit every fairway today, but I just couldn't get the ball close.” On the last hole, every player in the group walked off the green confused as they couldn't believe how their putts broke in certain directions. “On the first putt I blew it eight feet by and ended up making bogey and I still ended up winning by one, so we’ll take it.” Right behind Strawn was Mike McCoy of Norwalk, Iowa and Jerry Slagle of Southlake, Texas who shot 72 and 73 respectively. The best round in the Senior division went to Jack Hall of Savannah, Georgia who played himself into a tie in fifth place with a two-under par 70.
In the Super Senior division, Jeff Burda expanded on that one-shot lead firing a two-over 74 and expanding his final lead total to five shots on Randy King. The defending Champion defended his title in this event tying for the lowest round in the Super Senior division on the day as he went out in 36 and closed his round with five pars in a row. Jeff Burda also the winner of the Senior division in 2014, who played his college golf at Notre Dame, has been playing well recently, having won both the Society of Seniors Senior Masters in Indian Wells, California and the Golf Week Senior Amateur in La Quinta, California. He now adds this title to his 2022 win total and will look to expand his trophy case as he continues his tournament schedule.
In the Legends division, Ed Brooks stood strong despite the ups and the downs in his final round. Starting two over thru his first two he got it back to even thanks to birdies on the twelfth and fourteenth holes. Making the turn in 36 he birdied again on hole two, his actual eleventh hole of the day, and number five but bogies on four, a quad on six, and a double on nine saw his lead shrink to four as he came to the scorering tent. Despite the tough finish, the lead was never in doubt, his 77 was still the low round of the day in the Legends division and Brooks found himself in the winner's circle once again. The Mira Vista Country Club member and notable name in the state added this trophy to his extensive collection. Behind Brooks, Kurt Bernhisel of Salt Lake City, Utah finished in solo second at twelve over for the tournament. Two players finished in a tie for third place at fourteen over, Lester Devitt of Concord, Massachusetts, and Denny Alexander of Fort Worth, Texas.
In total 78 players made the cut, there were seventeen rounds under par and the low round of the tournament was Jerry Slagle of Southlake, Texas who posted a 67 in the second round.
The first Trans-Mississippi Senior Championship was held in 2000 at White Bear Yacht Club. In 2011, the TMGA expanded the championship to include a Super Senior division (players aged 65 and older). As the association and event continued to grow, a Legends division (players aged 70 and older) was added in 2013. Five years later, the TMGA created a Mid-Master division (players aged 40 and older) and it has continued to attract some of the best amateurs from around the country.
For more information on the 2022 Trans-Mississippi Senior & Mid-Master Championship, including complete scoring, Tournament Results.