Heins Victorious in Westchester Senior Open
HASTINGS-ON-HUDSON, N.Y. (August 7, 2023) – Bobby Heins of Old Oaks added another title to his illustrious career, carding a 3-under 68 to capture the 3rd Westchester Senior Open Championship Presented by Lexus at The Saint Andrew’s Golf Club. Heins edged host club professional Greg Bisconti by a shot, with the duo finishing as the lone two players with sub-par scores.
Heins, who shot lower than his age by four shots, made the turn at 3-under par after tallying birdies on Nos. 1, 4 and 7 as he took advantage of a dialed in driver and soft conditions after morning rains that postponed play by 30 minutes.
“I only missed one fairway so that made it a lot easier because I could put my hand on the ball and dry it off,” said Heins, who missed just one fairway and one green on the round. “Today part of the problem is not so much the lies because we were putting them right back in the same lie, but you can get the water off the ball it helps a little with control. The greens played a little easier because of the rain. They were perfect, but there’s still plenty of slopes out here.”
Heins, a six-time Westchester Open, two-time Met Open champion and past winner of the New York State Open, added a birdie on the par-5 12th and made bogey on the par-4 18th to finish at level par 35 on the back for his 68 total.
“This is what happens when you’re 72, you go out and see what works today,” said Heins. “Sometimes you find it and sometimes it just doesn’t happen and then you go to the next tournament.”
For Heins, this was his second straight year in contention. After dropping a couple shots coming in last year to finish second, he was looking to finish stronger. He did that and it paid off with the victory.
“I wanted to clean up my finish a little bit, and I did this year so it was good,” he said.
Defending champion Shaun Powers of Fairview, James McCann of Spook Rock, Phil Wildermuth of Pelham, and Craig Thomas of Metropolis all posted even-par 71s to tie for third. Michael Karger of Century shot 5-over 76 to earn low amateur honors for the second consecutive year.