- SOS photo
The newly renovated Columbus (Ohio) Country Club was a perfect setting for the second
edition of the National Super Senior Championship. The star-studded 84-man field
included 20 of the top 20 Society of Seniors super seniors, 16 of the top 20 Golfweek
super seniors, and five of the top ten WAGR super seniors.
Among the high profile contestants were Paul Simson (Raleigh, N.C.), a two-time U.S.
Senior Amateur Champion and three-time British Senior Champion, and Chip
Lutz (Jupiter, Fla.), a three-time British Senior Champion and a former U.S. Senior
Champion. Other notables included Rick Woulfe (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.), the number three WAGR-ranked super senior and seven-time SOS champion, and Jeff Burda (Modesto, Calif.), WAGR’s number four ranked super senior and three-time SOS champion.
Simson lost the 2020 National Super Senior Championship to Lutz by a
single shot. The epic duel was held at the Forest Creek Golf Club in Pinehurst, as the
Society of Seniors celebrated the inaugural NSSC. But this year was a different story, as Simson was determined to set the pace for a better outcome over the slick greens and near-perfect fairways at CCC.
Simson’s opening round three-under 69 was one shot better than Jeff Burda, two
shots clear of Dave Pulk (Williamsburg, Va.) at 71 and six shots better than his old
foe, Lutz. Burda raced to the lead after round two with a 69 of his own to find himself at the
top of the leaderboard at 139. Pulk was next at 142 after a second straight 71.
Simson stumbled a bit, posting a 75 for a 144 two-round total, while Lutz was able to claw
his way up the standings with a fine two-under 70 and a 145 total.
When Columbus Country Club hosted the 1964 PGA Championship, only one player reached
the 530-yard par-five final hole. The player’s name was Jack Nicklaus at the peak of
his game. Young Mr. Nicklaus figured he needed an eagle or at least a birdie to get
within reach of eventual winner Bobby Nichols.
Fast-forward 57 years, as the 70-year-old Simson was able to put his second shot on the putting surface. Paul’s resulting three-putt was still good enough for a final-round 73 and a one-over 217 total for the title. The hard-charging Lutz was next at 218 with a nice finishing 73. Also at 218 was Burda, closing with a 79. Dave Pulk finished fourth by himself at 220. Tied for fifth at 222 were Yandell and long-time Florida Gators golf coach and 1986 U.S. Amateur champion Buddy Alexander.
The weather was perfect all week as was the golf course. The week included three
holes-in-one: Paul Schlachter (Bridgeville, Pa.) on the 145 yard 13th; Tim Pope (Spartanburg, S.C.) on the tricky 160-yard 7th; and Charlie Yandell (Cashiers, N.C.) on the
long 200-yard 17th. Congrats to all.
ABOUT THE
Society of Seniors National Super Senior
First played in 2020, this is a 54-hole individual
stroke play open to any golfer who is at least 65
years of age (as of event start date) and who meets
the qualifying criteria laid out by the Society of Seniors. The event
will include
invitations to an elite field of Super Senior players
that are top point holders on the WAGR points list,
the Society of Seniors points list and Golfweek’s
Super Senior Points.
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