Lucky #13

This year we introduced a brand new event to the schedule - the Super Senior Amateur Championship, which took place September 8 at Cohasset. Because of that, we eliminated the Super Senior Divisional Championship from the MGA Senior Am. But that didn't stop one 70-year-old from putting his foot on the gas pedal and holding off the field en route to his first MGA Championship.

Introducing, ladies and gentlemen, the #13 best MGA Moment of the year: Dave Houghton's Senior Amateur win at Oyster Harbors.

Houghton, who plays out of The Captains GC in Brewster, claimed his first individual championship - at 70 years young - with a fantastic first round score of 2-under on Oyster Harbors' venerated Donald Ross layout, and then coasted to a three shot victory on day 2.

He could not win a super-senior division title this year, so Dave Houghton (Captains GC) went ahead and claimed the overall prize.

At the age of 70 years old, Houghton captured the 2014 Massachusetts Senior Amateur Championship on Tuesday at Oyster Harbors Club with a two-round score of 2-over par 146. It marks his first individual MGA Championship title.

“It is nice to have finally won an individual trophy,” said Houghton, the fifth oldest competitor in the field this week. “I have won numerous things in the past, but it means a lot to win the State Senior Amateur and get my name on there with all of those great players.”

“I am exhausted, but it’s really great,” said Houghton. “It means everything to me.”

Houghton posted what he called an “exceptional” round on Monday to jump out to a two-stroke lead over the field. He backed that up with some impressive play on Tuesday, while the rest of field struggled to handle the frequent gusts of wind and the treacherous Donald Ross greens.

Helping his cause was that – for a second day in a row – Houghton got off to a fast start. On day one, he was 4-under par through his first six holes en route to a 2-under par 70.

One day later, he made birdie on the 4th and 6th holes to go 2-under par for the day. That early burst helped Houghton weather a tough stretch of holes where he made three bogies and one double bogie on his next six holes.

“I three putted 7, 8 and 9 so that was a shock,” said Houghton. “I couldn’t seem to get the ball to go in the hole. I was looking at everyone else around me, and I was a couple of shots up so I said come on let’s get it going on the back side.”

A birdie on the 480-yard, par 5 16th hole – his final birdie of the day – allowed him to cruise to a three-stroke victory over Steve Camara (Ferncroft CC), Gary Palmer (Segregansett CC) and William Boucher (Framingham CC), who finished T2.

“The greens were just so difficult to keep the ball on,” said Houghton. “I never seemed to have the right club in my hand, but I made some good up and downs."

He most certainly did that and much more. And a result of his effort this week he has solidified himself as the most super senior of all.

“I love the golf course and love to play on the Cape,” said Houghton. “it’ great to be here with all of these guys and compete with them.”

Coming at ya early next week: number 12! Have a good weekend everyone!