Eric Lowrey put on a record-setting performance to take the Florida State Title and open up a commanding lead in the Player Rankings!!
At the beatiful Deer Creek Golf Club in Deerfield Beach, Florida, Lowrey defeated Mike and Su Saperstein with a stellar back 9.
The players started on hole #10, and Su started strong with an effective birdie on #11. She then delivered a 7 wood to 10 feet on #14 for a real-birdie 2 and the early lead. At the turn the score was Su 8.5, Mike 5, and Lowrey 3.
But that is where Lowrey's show began. It would be a display of complete golf: consistent drives, extremely sharp iron play, solid chipping, and clutch putting.
He matched Su's effective birdie on #1 with a 10 foot putt for a birdie 3. He mde a par 4 on #3 then a 3 on #4 as the match tightened: Su 12.33, Lowrey 10.33, Mike 6.33.
And his torrid pace continued: a par 5 on #6, a six-foot comeback putt for another par 3 on #8, then a sweet 7 foot bender for par on #9 and an easy win: Lowrey 17.17, Su 12.67, Mike 7.17.
Lowrey shot a 38 on the back 9, breaking the previous record -- which had stood for over 7 and a half years -- by 2 shots! He tied his own record for most pars-or-better in a 9 with 6; he had 5 pars and 1 birdie.
This round overshadowed the rest of the short-but-sweet Florida state title. The first two rounds were each played on September 20, in wonderful hot weather at the Palm Aire Golf Club Cypress Course. In the first round, Su had a big early lead but Lowrey was more consistent down the stretch and pulled out the match with a bogey 5 on #18. The second round was won by Mike, but it wouldn't be enough to take the series.
With the series win, Lowrey regains his first current Major Title. He also has solidified his hold on #1, by opening up an unprecidented 90-point lead over Mike Saperstein in the Player Rankings.
