Schroder wins SCGA Senior title

By golfclubsc on May 12, 2023 • ( Leave a comment )

Seneca’s Ron Schroder took the lead in the second round and went on to win the SCGA Senior championship. (GolfClub Photo)

When you can count on your driver to put your tee shot in the middle of the fairway just about every time, you’re going to be pretty tough to beat,

Ron Schroder had a near perfect tournament off the tee and it set up his winning performance at the 2023 SCGA Senior Championship.

“This week my driver was excellent, said Schroder. “I was in the middle of the fairway 99% of the time and it takes the pressure off your second shot,” said the new senior champion,

Schroder shared the first round lead with Rich Weston from Pawleys Island. Both golfers carded 2-under par rounds of 70.

Three Pines did not give up many birdies in the championship as only seven under par rounds were recorded in the 54 hole event.

Schroder had his second sub par round when he shot a 1-under par 71 in the second round to take the outright lead by three shots over Eddie Hargett
.

With the lead going into the final round, Schroder stuck to his game plan, making sure he kept his approach shots below the hole.

“You don’t want to get above the hole. The greens here (Three Pines) are so good and so fast. Staying below the hole, you can be more aggressive,” said Schroder.

Schroder birdied two of his first four holes to stretch his lead at the turn.

The leader let a few shots get away form him on the back nine to finish at 1-over par 73 and the only under par total, 1-under, for the tournament,

Schroder grew up in Aiken, but his job took him from South Carolina to England and then to New Mexico, before returning to live in Seneca.

During his days in New Mexico he won the state senior twice and never imagined he could win the same title when he moved back to the Palmetto State.

Before being away form the state Schroder played golf with his pals Walter Todd and Eddie Hargett,
As it turned out, the two were the players he had to beat to win his senior title.

“My buddies are both great players, really great players, I never thought I could beat them, but I did, it is pretty satisfying,” he said.

Hargett and Chris Koon from Simpsonville finished in a tie for second 3-shots behind Schroder.

\Four golfers tied for fourth place including Todd, Duff Wagner from Taylors, former champion Steve Liebler from Irmo and defending champion Stan Sill from Spartanburg.