Backlund wins the State Senior Amateur for the fourth time - 2014, 2015, 2022 and 2023

PADUCAH, KY (August 15, 2022) – Two days of competition at the Country Club of Paducah culminated in another Clark's Pump-N-Shop Kentucky Senior Amateur win for 66-year-old Gary Backlund of Mt. Sterling. This marks the fourth event win for Backlund and the second time he has taken home the W.E. "Slim" Nelson Trophy in back-to-back years - 2022 and 2023 and 2014 and 2015.

Backlund put together two steady performances to add a fourth event title to his resume, with a score of 72-72-144. His scores on both days were identical, shooting 37 on the front and 35 on the back each round. His even-par rounds featured seven bogeys, seven birdies, and 22 pars. 

Joining Backlund in the winner's circle for the Masters Division is Paducah's Jim Brown. He played two incredible rounds, besting yesterday's 71 with a 69 today to post a 4-under total. He carded eight birdies against just four bogeys over the tournament. For the Legends Division, Happy Rakestraw is victorious after near-identical rounds of 77 each day. Both rounds featured nothing worse than a bogey, and he matched each 77 with 12 pars and one birdie per day.

The championship’s net winners begin with Rodney Chancey in the Senior Division, who tallied 139 (-5) for a three-stroke victory. In the Masters Division, Brown claims another victory with a total of 6-under par to win by one. The Legends Division saw Sammy Levinson beat the net competition by one with a 156 total.

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The Kentucky Golf Association extends its thanks to Director of Golf, Chad Martin, PGA, and the entire staff at the Country Club of Paducah for their assistance in hosting this tournament. The KGA also lends its appreciation to each player who participated in the event.

The KGA returns on August 28th to South Park Country Club in Fairdale for the fifth Amateur Series event of the season. Registration for the event is still open and can be completed by clicking HERE. The Clark’s Pump-N-Shop Championship Series continues in just under a month with the Women’s State Senior Amateur on September 13-14 at Woodson Bend Resort in Bronston.
 
About the Kentucky Golf Association:
The Kentucky Golf Association (KGA) is one of the three organizations encompassed under Golf House Kentucky, in addition to the Kentucky Golf Foundation (KGF) and Kentucky PGA Section (KPGA). The Kentucky Golf Association represents the amateur body of Kentucky’s golfers working with the United States Golf Association (USGA). The KGA provides a wide range of services, including handicapping, USGA course and slope ratings, and tournament management software to its Member Clubs. The KGA also operates the state’s premier amateur tournaments, in addition to USGA National Championship qualifiers. Alongside the KGF and KPGA, the KGA strives to promote the benefits and enjoyment of golf while continuing to grow the sport across the Commonwealth.
 
Media Contact:
Abby Ligons | Golf House Kentucky | aligons@kygolf.org | (502) 792-9703