Jason Gobleck wins the title of Senior PGA Professional in Connecticut; Earned a place in the 33rd Senior PGA Professional Championship
Before today’s finals of the 70th Senior Connecticut PGA Championship, Jason Gobleck admitted he was a little nervous. The 51-year-old golf coach and teacher at the Lyman Orchards Golf Center said he was not used to playing in the end group.
After an even par round of 70 yesterday, Gobleck started today at Madison Country Club, one stroke behind Mike Martin of Tashua Knolls, the leader of the first round.
“I was a bit out of my comfort zone,” said Gobleck. “I think the 15-foot birdie putt on hole number two calmed me down.”
Well, if that wasn’t enough to calm your nerves, Gobleck rattled off five straight birdies, starting with number five, and finished the run with a 12-foot birdie putt straight up the hill on par 3, ninth, and posted a Six-Under-Par 29 on the top nine.
“To be honest, that made me even more nervous,” admitted Gobleck. “I don’t think I’ve ever made five birdies in a row.”
With a lead of six strokes and nine holes to be played, Gobleck played consistently on the second nine. His only hiccup was on the par 5, hole 14, where he went out and had to go up and down for a double bowey. He rebounded to 15 on birdie and finished on a round of 66 for a total of 4 under par 136 and a margin of 5 strokes for his first tournament win in the Connecticut section since moving from the Metropolitan Section in 2019.
Ironically, Gobleck and his wife moved into a house in Madison just four houses from the 14th tee in Madison. “My wife rode her bike today to watch me play,” said Gobleck. “I think it’s the first time in 20 years that she can watch me play.”
Martin made a 72 final round and finished second in the 141st PGA Life Member and six-time Senior Champion Fran Marrello (74-68-142) finished third, a stroke better than Jan Wivestad (Crestbrook Park GC – 73-72-145) who was fourth .
With their finish, Gobleck, Martin, Marrello and Wivestad will qualify for the 33rd Senior PGA Professional Championship, which will be held from October 21 to 24, 2021 at the PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida.
The Senior PGA Professional Championship brings together a field of 264 participants who represent the 41 statewide sections of the PGA of America and have a total of $ 300,000 in prize money.
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