Paul Tesori had a productive week off from his full-time job as one of the PGA Tour’s veteran caddies.
Tesori shot 68-67 in his first two rounds and made a clutch par from 100 yards out at the last to win the 49th Florida Senior Open on May 1 at the Mayacoo Lakes Country Club in West Palm Beach.
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Tesori, a St. Augustine High graduate and former University of Florida standout who earned a PGA Tour card in 1996 before an injury derailed his playing career, shot 70 in the final round and at 8-under-par 205 defeated Steve Vecellio and Paul Scaletta by one shot.
Paul Tesori of St. Augustine (left) talks strategy with Cameron Young durign the 2023 John Deere Classic in Silvis, Ill. Tesori won the 49th Florida Senior Amateur on May 1 in West Palm Beach.
Tesori, the first amateur to win the Florida Senior Open since Mike Weeks in 2016, has caddied for World Golf Hall of Fame member Vijay Singh, worked with Webb Simpson for all seven of his PGA Tour titles, including the 2012 U.S. Open and 2018 Players Championship victories and has also carried bags for Cameron Young, Jerry Kelly, Tom Kim, Adam Schenk and Chris Couch.
Tesori caddied his 25th Players Championship in March for Schenk and has reunited with Simpson this season.
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Simpson wasn’t eligible for The Players, or this week’s PGA Tour Signature event, the Cadillac Championship, at Doral.
The seeds of a working relationship: Tesori, Simpson a faith-based match
After bogeys at Nos. 6 and 7 in the final round of the Senior Amateur, Tesori played his last 10 holes at 2-under with no additional bogeys.
He was tied with Scarletta on the final hole, but Scarletta hit his drive into a hazard and made a double bogey, and Tesori made a 6-foot par putt after pulling his drive left, pitching out, then knocking his third shot on the green with a full wedge.
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Tesori began playing Florida State Golf Association events in 2016 and has won eight FSGA Winter Series Mid-Amateur tournaments. This is his first statewide victory. His previous best was a tie for third with Chad James in the 2023 FSGA Mid-Amateur Four-Ball North Championship.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Paul Tesori wins Florida Senior Open
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