Kirk Stauffer
Kirk Stauffer admitted that he hadn’t been putting “all that great” this summer.
That is until the final round of the Western New York PGA Senior Championship last Friday at Irondequoit Country Club.
After shooting an opening-round 72 on the first day to stand in a three-way tie for second, two shots behind Tim Fries of Glen Oak Golf Club, Stauffer went out in 3-under 33 on the strength of birdies on holes 6, 7 and 9 and then broke open a close race with birdies on 15, 16 and 17 to finish with 33-33-66 for a two-day total of 72-66-138 (6-under par) and a three-shot victory over Fries, who finished at 70-71-141.
The win was the 10th WNYPGA Senior Championship for Stauffer, Chautauqua Golf Club’s director of golf, and his seventh in a row.
“It never gets old,” said Stauffer, 63. “I was very fortunate to be riding a hot putter over that week.”
With the win, Stauffer qualifies for the Senior PGA Professional Championship, which will be played Sept. 26-29 at Sun River Resort in Sun River, Oregon. The championship is played in a 72-hole format, using two golf courses. Last week’s victory also moved Stauffer into a commanding lead in the WNYPGA Senior Player of the Year standings, an honor he has won 12 previous times, including the last 10.
Earlier in the season, the Bradford, Pennsylvania resident also qualified for the 2025 PGA Professional Championship, which is scheduled for April 27-30 at PGA National Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida by finishing tied for second at the WNYPGA Section Championship.
“I’ve been very consistent (this summer),” Stauffer said. “I’ve been hitting the ball really well, but the putter hasn’t cooperated all that much. I changed back to a blade putter. I think I made the right choice.”