Gutschewski Captures Suncoast Classic Championship

Lakewood, Fla. – Former Nebraska golfer Scott Gutschewski captured his first win in nearly 15 years at the LECOM Suncoast Classic at Lakewood National Golf Club Sunday as a member of the Korn Ferry Tour. 

Gutschewski finished with a 72-hole score of 21-under 263 to secure his third career professional victory. At 46-years-old, Gutschewski became the 10th oldest player to win a Korn Ferry Event in the tour’s history. It also ends the second-longest gap between wins in tour history (14 years, 10 months, 15 days). Before today, his last win came at The Rex Hospital Open in North Carolina on June 8, 2008.  

“Hard to put into words right now,” he said in an interview right after the victory. “Well, it’s been a long time.”

After Gutschewski and 23-year-old Logan McCallister were tied through 72 holes, the two went to a sudden death playoff at the 18th hole. After leaving his approach short, Gutschewski calmly nailed a 40-foot birdie putt for the win.

After he opened his first two rounds with a 67 (-4) and 66 (-5), Gutschewski catapulted to the top of the leaderboard with a nine-under 62 Saturday to put him atop the leaderboard, a position he wouldn’t relinquish in the final round Sunday.

The Korn Ferry Tour, annually invites 50 of its top golfers to the PGA TOUR. With the win, Gutschewski moved up to 9th in the current points standings. He will look to earn an appearance in professional golf’s top circuit for the seventh time in his 23-year career as the 2023 season kicks into gear this spring. He previously appeared on the PGA TOUR in 2005-07, 2009, 2011, and 2022. 

A three-time letterwinner at Nebraska, Gutschewski helped lead the Big Red to its best finish at NCAA Championships in school history in 1999 when they finished in 14th place.