McCALL, Idaho - Gary Vanier’s game was just hot enough to overcome cold conditions in the mountains of central Idaho. The Tetonia, ID resident won the 2018 Idaho Senior Amateur Championship, shooting 74-72-73 (219) to best Scott Masingill by a stroke.
Vanier is the second player of the week to win back-to-back senior championships (following Karen Darrington a day before).
Vanier, Masingill, and Randal Cross were tied at 146 following the second round of play. Vanier’s front nine featured four birdies en route to a 3-under 33. Masingill (Payette) made the turn at even par, and Jay Sutton (Meridian) entered the conversation with a 1-under start.
As the leaders made their way to the closing stretch at hole 16, Vanier was one up on Masingill after a double-bogey on the 14th hole. Masingill, just off the green on 16, hit his chip with some pace. The ball struck the back of the cup with authority and dropped in for birdie. Vanier couldn’t answer with a birdie of his own and it was all square going into 17.
The dogleg left par-4 #17 spelled trouble for the leaders. Two errant drives found the wetlands to the left. Masingill was forced to lay up after a drop, while Vanier knocked his shot onto the green. Vanier two-putted to take a one shot lead at that point.
On 18, Vanier found the fairway and struck an excellent shot to a safe spot on the wildly sloped green. Masingill’s drive found just enough tall grass to make for a difficult approach. He was able to play out just short of the green, but the next shot from about 20 yards short came to rest far from the pin.
Masingill two-putted for bogey, and Vanier 3-putted for the one stroke victory. You can view the full results from the regular senior division here.
Paul Lodge (Caldwell) cruised to a victory in the Super Senior division with a final round 2-under 70, finishing 12 strokes ahead of 2nd place. Mike Rawls (Eagle) and Greg Tatham (Lewiston) tied for runner-up honors. Click here for full Super Senior results.