10-time North Carolina Senior Amateur champion Paul Simson
Just moments after reporting the unsurprising news of another Rick Woulfe victory in Florida (at the Society of Seniors John Kline championship) we are prepared to let you know about another victory from a Carolinas legend named Paul Simson.
The man whose short game would stack up against DI collegiate golfers (heck, he might be able to still play DI golf on some teams) took home yet another North Carolina title today, winning the North Carolina Senior Amateur at River Landing (Landing Course) in Wallace, N.C.
The North Carolina Senior Amateur, and it's Peter V. Tufts trophy, has been played 35 times. Simson has won a remarkable 10 of those titles, and that's just a fraction of the various Carolinas and national/international titles he has his name on.
The Carolinas Golf Hall of Fame member sealed the victory at River Landing with a 4-under-par, 212 total finish -- four strokes clear of the senior field.
And that field -- which started at age 55 -- included players as much as 15 years younger than Simson, who turned 70 the day before the tournament started. But winning golf tournaments is never easy. Simson was well aware of his position as he made his way through today's final round, in which Wednesday rains gave way to Thursday breezes.
“Today was a little windier than I thought it would be, it kept the scores high. I was surprised no one really made a run,” said Simson. “I was feeling pretty comfortable in the middle of the back nine, come crunch time it was nice to have a two or three shot lead.”
Entering the final round Simson was grouped with the defending champion, Steve Harwell of Mooresville, N.C., tied at 6-under par. They were neck-and-neck through No. 5 at 1-over-par on the day. Simson started to pull ahead after a solid birdie on No. 6. and posted 37 on the front nine.
Simson only made one bogey on the back nine, finished his round at 2-over-par, 74 for a 4-under-par, 212 total. His playing partner Harwell claimed solo third at 1-over-par, 217.
This is Simson’s 42nd CGA Championship title. Despite having won this event ten times, the feeling has yet to get old. And why should it?
“They are all special to win. I celebrated my 70th birthday on Monday and you wonder when some of the expertise will begin to fade, but it hasn't and we will keep going,” said the legend.
William Banta of Jacksonville, N.C. claimed runner-up with an even-par, 216 overall finish. Banta came into the round tied for fifth, five shots off the lead and was able to catapult himself into second place after the low round of the day, 1-over-par, 73.
The 2014 North Carolina Amateur champion, James Pearson of Charlotte, N.C. tied for 4th with Kelly Stimart of Charlotte, N.C. after a 4-over-par, 220 overall finish.
-- The Carolinas G.A. contributed to this story
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North Carolina Senior Amateur
Must be a resident of North Carolina and a
member of a CGA member club. Maximum
handicap 9.9.
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