Scenes from the event
69th JAGA Senior Amateur presented by Lennar champion Tim Cobb with the Frank Rogers Trophy.
Cobb, a former University of Memphis golfer, held a one-shot lead as third-round play began on May 5th. While he was steady throughout the final round, his closest pursuers were not. They included 2024 champion Richard Ames (80) of Eagle Landing Golf Club, who started one off Cobb’s lead, and defending champion Brent Dietz (77) of TPC Sawgrass, who was four back of the leader.
Ames and Dietz finished tied for second along with 2004 JAGA Jacksonville Amateur presented by Pinnacle Financial Partners champion Ken Moody (76) of Ponte Vedra Inn and Club at 226 (+10).
Cobb, a St. Johns Golf and Country Club member, expressed a great deal of satisfaction with his third-round play. “The course was difficult, particularly the greens, with some tough pin placements,” the champion said. “Three-putt avoidance was critical.
I was fortunate today in that I was pretty steady and the guys I was playing with ran into trouble…..I never knew how big my lead was until I walked off the final green.”
The 56-year-old technology consultant indicated his absence in other JAGA Senior Ams over the last five years has been due to work and competitive golf conflicts. Last spring, Cobb placed T3 at Marsh Landing Country Club. In April, he was T9 in the 65th Florida Senior Amateur Championship.
The Senior division tees were set at just over 6,500 yards.
Lennar, one of the nation’s leading homebuilders, came on board this year as the presenting sponsor of the JAGA Senior Amateur Championship, northeast Florida’s oldest continuously played golf tournament (since 1958). Lennar’s gated 55+ active adult community is set to host the championship through 2028.
The JAGA Senior Amateur also includes separate competitions for Super Seniors (ages 60-69) and Grand Seniors (ages 70+) played over 36 holes on Monday and Tuesday. A recap and the results of both follow:
Super-Seniors Recap (age 60-69)
The Super-Senior championship (ages 60-69) saw the return of a very familiar name to the JAGA winner’s circle, Robert Goettlicher, who did so in dramatic fashion. The three-time JAGA Jacksonville Amateur champion (1987, 1999 and 2000) took down first-round leader Tim Iley of Jax Beach Golf Club with an eagle on the first hole of sudden-death, the par-5 16th hole. The pair finished regulation play at 148 (+4).
Super Seniors champion Robert Goettlicher of Stillwater G&CC
Goettlicher, whose first-round 78 was seven off leader Iley’s pace, made four birdies and no bogies in his first 15 holes. He closed with two bogies on his last three for a round of 70, finishing six groups ahead of Iley.
Doug Conkey of Casa Linda Oaks Golf Club was derailed with a double-bogey on his final hole and finished T3 (+5) along with Tony Stirtzinger of Glen Kernan Club.
Goettlicher, 66, was one Northeast Florida’s most celebrated amateur players in the 1980s and 90s, winning numerous area events, competing in several Underwood Cups, and even snagging the prestigious North and South Amateur title at Pinehurst, N.C. in 1987, following in the footsteps of the three previous champions, Davis Love III, Jack Nicklaus II and Billy Andrade. A self-described “Navy brat” who grew up in Jacksonville, he served in the Navy himself, attempted to play professional golf, then turned his focus to real estate and construction-related businesses. He had been idle from competitive golf for most of the last 20 years until recently.
Iley, 63, is a former employee of both the PGA of America and PGA TOUR, who is now semi-retired but active as a consultant in the golf business. He is a key contributor to JAGA as one of its directors from Jax Beach GC.
The Super Senior tees were set at approximately 6,100 yards.
Grand Senior Recap (Age 70+)
Gary Blackwell of Jacksonville Golf and Country Club added another JAGA senior title to his resume, this time winning the Grand Senior division championship for the first time, also in convincing fashion like Senior winner Cobb, by seven shots. After a first-round 78, Blackwell pulled away from his closest pursuers with a two birdie, two bogey final round of 72. Paul Worley of Amelia River Club (81-76) grabbed second place, with defending champion Bruce Moskovciak (77-81) taking third. Blackwell is a past winner of multiple Super-Senior division titles.
Bill Casey of St. Johns G&CC captured the net competition with a score of 146 (+2).
Grand Seniors champion Gary Blackwell of Jacksonville G&CC
The Grand Seniors set-up was 5,700 yards.
Results for all three divisions may be found by clicking HERE
JAGA directors from Sawgrass Country Club, Jeff Johnstone and Gregg Deiboldt, shared tournament director duties for the championship.
NEXT UP FOR JAGA
June 23-24 NFJGT Greater Jacksonville Junior Championship at Eagle Harbor GC
July 19-21 65th JAGA Jacksonville Amateur Championship presented by Pinnacle Financial Partners at Sawgrass CC
July 20-22 First Coast Women’s Amateur presented by Brooks Rehabilitation at Jacksonville G&CC
For more information, go to JAGA’s website at www.jaxareagolf.org.
Established in 1954, JAGA enters its 73rd year in 2026. It is a not-for-profit corporation consisting of 42-member golf facilities located in Northeast Florida. JAGA’s mission is to promote golf, community and goodwill through tournaments and related events and activities. It conducts or supports 11 tournaments, including six championship events and five others that feature team formats. JAGA has a charitable arm that manages a scholarship program which currently provides college funding for 62 area students. Since its inception in 1974, the Scholarship Trust has awarded over $2.5 million in scholarships to more than 475 students.
Anyone interested in receiving JAGA’s monthly “Northeast Florida Golf News” and announcements about JAGA and its tournaments for free via email may do so by clicking here or going to the JAGA homepage (www.jaxareagolf.org) link that reads “Subscribe to JAGA Email” at the bottom of every page.
ABOUT LENNAR
Lennar Corporation, founded in 1954, is one of the nation’s leading builders of quality homes for all generations. Lennar builds affordable, move-up and active adult homes, primarily under the Lennar brand name. Lennar’s Financial Services segment provides mortgage financing, title and closing services primarily for buyers of Lennar’s home and, through AMF Commercial, originates mortgage loans secured primarily by commercial real estate properties throughout the United States. Lennar’s Multifamily segment is a nationwide developer of high-quality multifamily rental properties. LENx drives Lennar’s technology, innovation and strategic investments. For more information about Lennar, please visit Lennar.com.