2024 Florida Senior Games Tees off with nearly 200 Golfers on the Links
Even in the Sunshine State, golfers face frost delays.
Such was the case on the opening day of the 2024 Florida Senior Games, presented by Humana.
The 187 golfers, the most since 2012, had to wait out an hour frost delay as they were greeted with temperatures in the mid-30s Monday morning at the Lake Jovita Golf Course and Country Club.
Before long, layers were peeled off under a bright sunshine and clear, blue sky.
Leading the way for the men’s group of 129 golfers was Roy Thomas Kidd, of Daytona Beach, who shot a 74, for the lowest overall men’s score and a gold medal in the Men’s 75-79 age group.
Kidd’s score could have been a lot lower.
“I three-putted five times,” he said. ‘But I also had five birdies. I turned a 68 into a 74. I birdied the last two holes to finish with a 74.”
The lowest women’s score, of the 58 women on the course, was turned in by Theresa Delcamp, of Lady Lake, with a 78 to win the 60-64 age group gold medal.
Delcamp was the 2021 Senior Women’s Player of the Year by the Golf Association of Michigan.
Nine golfers had scores of under 80 on a day when the greens were running fast, according to long-time Florida Senior Games golfer Broward Sapp, of Crawfordville.
“There’s not going to be a lot of scores under 80,” said Sapp, who shot an 86, in the 65-69 age group.
Those reaching the under 80 pinnacle included Michael Bailey, 78 , Crawfordville (50-54 age group), Jason McClain, 76, Lakeland (60-64 age group), Don DeLoach, 75, Tallahassee (65-69 age group), David Wilder, 77, Lakeland (70-74 age group), Kidd, 74, Daytona Beach (75-79 age group), Nick Kent, 79, The Villages (75-79 age group), Clarence Wiechowski, 79, Palm Beach Gardens (75-79 age group), Donna McClymonds, 78, Portersville, PA (50-54 age group) and Delcamp, 78, Lady Lake (60-64 age group).
For complete results from today’s Golf event, please visit www.floridaseniorgames.com/golf.
Three days of Pickleball begins Tuesday at the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus of Pasco County with Men’s Singles and Women’s Doubles competition, beginning at 8:00 a.m.. Nearly 600 athletes will be on the courts at the Wiregrass Ranch facility through Thursday.
The 2024 Florida Senior Games, presented by Humana, features nearly 2,400 athletes competing in 22 sports between now and December 15, in Florida’s Sports Coast/Pasco County, as well as Alachua, Polk and Pinellas County. Over 300 athletes have already competed in Softball and Racquetball competitions.
The 33rd Annual Florida Senior Games is a qualifier for the 2025 National Senior Games, to be held in Des Moines, Iowa, July 24-August 4, 2025.
Next Five Days Schedule for the 2024 Florida Senior Games, presented by Humana
Tuesday, December 3
Pickleball (Men’s Singles and Women’s Doubles), Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus of Pasco County, Wesley Chapel
Wednesday, December 4
Pickleball (Women’s Singles and Men’s Doubles), Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus of Pasco County, Wesley Chapel
Thursday, December 5
Pickleball (Mixed Doubles), Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus of Pasco County, Wesley Chapel
Friday, December 6
Tennis (Men’s and Women’s Singles), Sarah Vande Berg Tennis and Wellness Center, Zephryhills
Saturday, December 7
Archery – Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus, Wesley Chapel
Bag Toss –Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus, Wesley Chapel
3-on-3 Basketball –Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus, Wesley Chapel
Basketball Shooting – Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus, Wesley Chapel
Dominos – Champions Hall, North Lauderdale
Powerlifting – Hyatt Regency Wesley Chapel
Saturday Spectacular (Celebration of Athletes) – Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus, Wesley Chapel
Swimming – Temple Terrace Aquatic Center
Table Tennis (50-69 Men’s and Women’s Age Groups) – Mebane Middle School, Alachua
Tennis (Men’s and Women’s Singles) – Sarah Vande Berg Tennis and Wellness Center, Zephyrhills
Volleyball (Women’s Competition) – Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus, Wesley Chapel