Roy Vucinich shoots his age as oldest member of Senior PGA Professional Championship field

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (Sept. 30, 2017) – PGA Life Member Roy Vucinich of Moon Township, Pennsylvania, the oldest member of the field, matched his age with a 2-under-par 70 Saturday in the 29th Senior PGA Professional Championship presented by Mercedes-Benz.

Vucinich, who made his 13th appearance in the Championship, turned in the low round among two 70-year-olds dueling in the third round. Fellow competitor David Lundstrom, a PGA Life Member from Victoria, Texas, had a 72 to land at even-par 216 through 54 holes.

Vucinich, who is at 2-over-par 218, joined Lundstrom in making the second cut to the low 70 scorers and ties among a 264-member field. Their goal Sunday is to be one of the low 35 scorers and earn a berth in the 79th KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship, May 22-27, 2018 at Harbor Shores in Benton Harbor, Michigan.

MORE: Senior PPC leaderboard | Round 3 photos | Full coverage

“I don’t shoot my age that often, maybe in casual rounds back home,” said Vucinich, the two-time Senior PGA Professional Player of the Year (1997-98), who tied for fourth in the 2002 Senior PGA Championship. “It was fun today.”

Longevity in competition, Vucinich says, has always been his goal. His Tour career ended in 2009, but the former PGA Head Professional at Allegheny Country Club (1974-99) has been blessed with good health and competes in Tri-State PGA events and as many national PGA events as possible. His home club granted Vucinich Pro Emeritus status in 2000, and he pays the members back with free tips. “You never forget to do that,” said Vucinich. “They are too good to me there.”

Vucinich stretches every morning six days a week “to gets the kinks out.” And the results of his workouts show on the course. “My physical therapist, Pat Sheehy of Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania, has really helped me out,” Vucinich said. “I still enjoy competing.”

It’s in Vucinich’s DNA to be a competitor, regardless of where he settles. He once shot 59 in a Tri-State PGA competition at age 59.

On this Saturday in the Arizona desert, age and score were in harmony for Vucinich.