Scott Gutschewski wins 2023 Suncoast Classic in a playoff in Lakewood Ranch

After a stellar putting performance won him the 2023 LECOM Suncoast Classic, held April 20-23, at Lakewood National Golf Club, Scott Gutschewski minced no words. 

"I had a blast," the 46-year-old Gutschewski said to the crowd over the Lakewood National public address system. "But as great as it was, I hope I'm never back." 

The message induced laughs and cheers. It was not a shot at the course, which Gutschewski said was in great condition. It was instead a hope that, finally, he might have a chance to advance off the Korn Ferry Tour for good. 

Gutschewski won the Suncoast Classic in a playoff over 23-year-old Logan McAllister. The two golfers tied at 21 under par, and in the playoff, Gutschewski birdied the No. 18 hole from just off the green, forcing McAllister to do the same from an uphill angle.

McAllister could not.

In lieu of a big celebration, Gutschewski gave a stoic fist pump after the 47-foot birdie putt, and a genial smile. It was his third career victory, but his first since the 2008 Rex Hospital Open at the TPC Wakefield Plantation in Raleigh, North Carolina. 

"(I) just putted out of my mind," Gutschewski said. "Missed a short one on 8 today and yesterday, but other than that, I pretty much just made everything. It was kind of silly. But it was fun. It was a blast.

"I tend to overanalyze things, so I have kind of eliminated practice strokes. I just line it up and feel it, and go. My whole routine feels a lot faster." 

According to PGA Tour data, Gutschewski's putts per greens made in regulation was 1.636, the second-best mark at the Suncoast Classic behind Will Bateman (1.600). 

The putt Gutschewski made in the playoff was similar to a birdie putt he missed on No. 18 in regulation that would have given him the win. Gutschewski said he didn't try to position his playoff putt close to his regulation putt, but having a similar line was an advantage as he knew what mistakes to correct. Halfway to the hole, Gutschewski said, he knew it would sink. 

Gutschewski, who has bounced between the Korn Ferry Tour and the PGA Tour throughout his career, said he knows his age puts him in a different position than most Korn Ferry Tour winners. But he's excited about the win all the same, even if he's not exactly sure where it will lead him next. 

"I'm at a weird age, right?" Gutschewski said. "It's like, you want to keep playing, you maybe want to give the Champions Tour a shot, but at the same time, those guys are really good, too. It's not like you can go anywhere and it's just a bunch of pushovers. 

"But I really enjoy it. I enjoy playing. I feel like I can still be competitive. I guess that's kind of why I haven't hung it up. If I told you I hadn't thought about it, that would be a bald-faced lie."

Behind Gutschewski and McAllister, Chase Seiffert and Ben Silverman tied for third at 20 under par. Jake Knapp, Chris Gotterup and Kevin Dougherty — who led after rounds two and three — tied for fifth at 19 under par. 

In the first four years of the Suncoast Classic's existence, the sun would have been setting on Gutschewski as he accepted the tournament trophy and put on the LECOM-branded "White Jacket." This year, sunshine was out in full force. It was a side effect of the tournament moving from February to April, one that tournament director Justin Kristich was happy to see. Kristich has been a proponent of the move to April for years and got it approved this year. 

After watching the 2023 tournament play out, Kristich said he views the move as a success. 

"I'm happy," Kristich said. "With everything we had going on, it was smooth. Operationally, it was our best year by far. It was a big crowd today. It was nice to be able to finish while it is still light out. We didn't know for sure how the move (to April) would go, but we're sold now." 

Kristich said he could not comment on an incident that occurred during round two of the event, when a trio of golfers were penalized two strokes for riding in a golf cart from hole No. 18 to hole No. 1. The cart was driven by a volunteer. Per event rules, golfers cannot take transportation during a round unless there is a written exception for that route, which there was not. The golfers said they were aware of the rules, but felt like the cart had been waiting for them, which caused the confusion and penalty. 

While the Suncoast Classic's contract with Lakewood National is up as of the conclusion of the 2023 event, Kristich said he is hopeful that an extension with the club will be completed soon and is already looking forward to the 2024 event. Kristich said one consequence of moving the tournament from February to April is that the event misses on snowbirds who are still in town in February and need things to do during the week, which led to bigger crowds on Thursday and Friday. One of Kristich's missions for 2024 is to figure out a way to get those numbers back up, he said. 

For now, on the back of a successful 2023 event, he's satisfied. 

"The hope is always for an exciting finish (like this year's)," Kristich said. "A great culmination to the event makes everything that much better."