Lea registered a 1-up victory over fellow 65-year-old John Casstevens of Glen Allen to claim the 65-69 age division, while Baber outlasted Bob Moyers, 74, of New Market in 21 holes to capture the 70-and-over division.

Facing a 4-holes down deficit after 11, Lea responded to claim five of the final seven holes to take the match. He won Nos. 12 and 14 with pars to get within two and then claimed the final three holes of the encounter to cap the comeback. Lea knocked in a 24-footer for birdie at the par-3 16th, then won 17 with a par to square the match and holed a four-and-a-half footer for par at the par-4 18th to complete the rally.

“I played the last seven holes as well as I played any the whole week,” says Lea, a VSGA member at Danville Golf Club. “I’m mighty satisfied and was fortunate to win the match.”

Lea won the 65-69 age division at the VSGA Senior Stroke Play in mid-June, but noted the friendly spirit of competition at the championship ultimately takes precedence for the players.

“The really nice thing is that once we’re all seniors, it’s good competition, but everyone is truly wishing each other all the best,” Lea says. “We’re glad to see each other and compliment each other on good shots and sympathize with the pain on the bad shots.” 

Baber, the winner of the 2007 VSGA Grand Masters Championship (ages 70-and-over), answered a 2-holes down deficit on the second nine and won Nos. 12-14 to take a 1-up lead. Moyers squared the match at the par-4 18th hole after Baber missed on his 20-foot par attempt. Baber then made par on the third extra hole, the par-3 third, where got up and down from just off the putting surface to win the division. At the 21st hole, Moyers’ tee shot came to rest in the greenside bunker and faced with a tough downhill shot to a tight hole location, his second skipped over the putting surface.

Baber won the 1960 VSGA Amateur Championship at The Homestead’s Cascades Course and the 50-year separation between wins at the State Amateur and Super Senior Amateur is a VSGA record with respect to the two events. The previous mark was 44 years held by Roanoke’s Connie Sellers, who won the 1951 State Am at the Cascades and the 1995 Super Senior Am at the same layout.

Ironically enough, Baber won the 1960 State Am on the third playoff hole, the 39th hole, and claimed this year’s Super Senior Am on the third extra hole as well. A VSGA member at Roanoke Country Club, Baber played 91 holes in taking this year’s 70-and-over title.

“I didn’t flog anybody. I just hung in there and grinded the whole way,” says Baber, 73. “It’s nice to win at my age. You never know if you’ll win again.”    

WILLIAMSBURG –– Results from final round matches at the 16th  VSGA Super Senior Championship at the Golden Horseshoe Golf Club’s Gold Course (6,102 yards for ages 65-69 and 5,707 yards for ages 70-and-over, par 36-35—71). The stroke play qualifying score is indicated.

AGES 65-69

Final Round of Match Play Result

(5) Harry Lea (Danville), 153 def. (3) John Casstevens (Glen Allen), 149, 1 up

AGES 70-AND-OVER

Final Round of Match Play Result

(8) Ned Baber (Roanoke), 151 def. (7) Bob Moyers (New Market), 150, 21 holes