Fran Gacos Rallies To Win Senior Amateur For Fifth Time
It’s been a banner summer for Fran Gacos, capped off by Tuesday’s victory in the 36-hole 45th NJSGA Women’s Senior Amateur in come-from-behind fashion at the par-72, 5,561-yard Springdale Golf Club in Princeton.
Gacos, the defending champion, won the event for a fifth time, and captured the title by carding a two-over-par 74 for a total of 83-74-157 for a four-shot victory over Eleanor Berry of Women’s Golf Association of New Jersey (82-79-161) and Grace Sundman of Brooklake (77-84-161).
Heading into Tuesday’s final round, Gacos trailed first-day leader Karen Hansard of Neshanic Valley (76-92-168) by seven strokes.Gacos's round included three birdies and five bogeys.
In the other flights, Barbara Hulke of Roxiticus (86-85-171) took the Super Seniors over Linda Miller of Springfield Golf Center (96-91-187); Sundman (77-84-161) won First Flight over Sue Sardi of Cherry Valley (83-79-162); Jane Li of Mercer Oaks (91-88-179) won Second Flight over Gloria Shea of Deal (88-95-183), and Jacqueline O’Connor of Old York (94-89-183) won Third Flight over Laurel Harvey of Springdale (94-91-185).
Gacos won previous Senior Amateur championships in 2005, ’06, ’07, and ‘13 and was runner-up to Sherry Herman in 2008. From 2009-2012, Gacos was unavailable to cmpete in the event due to her commitments to play in USGA events.
This summer she has won the NJSGA Mid-Amateur, NJSGA Mixed Pinehurst with John Feindt of Copper Hill and was runner-up with Sue DeKalb in Women's Four-Ball. She also won the Garden State Women’s Association Senior Amateur Championship.
She will compete in two weeks in the NJSGA Tournament of Club Champions, an event she has previously won. She will also play with Pennslyvania Senior Amateur champion and former Curtis Cup captain Noreen Mohler in a qualifier for the U.S. Women’s Four-Ball at Bent Creek in Lititz, Pa. on Oct. 13.
“My mental game has gotten stronger. Every time I enter a tournament I feel I can win,” said Gacos, 58. “Today, I felt I had to shoot 75 or better to give myself a chance. I felt that if I can shoot 45 for nine holes, like I did Monday, anybody else could, too.
“I was a lot better with course management today. Having played the course yesterday, I played smarter. My short game was really good and my approach shots were a lot better,” she said.
After Monday’s round, she consulted with 96-year-old pro Mike Amorelli of Copper Hill who fixed her tee shot “in about five minutes. He said my swing was closed. He’s great for tweaking my flaws.”
Gacos wrested the lead from Hansard via a one-under-par 35 on the front nine.
“Anybody who is a golfer and is playing well, it justifies all the hard work you put into it. It’s great to have a victory and end the summer with a win,” said Gacos who played field hockey and softball at Hunterdon Central High School. “People forget I only started playing golf in my 30s.”
