Dale Fuller (Carolinas Golf Association Photo)
Dale Fuller of Raleigh, N.C., took home the 38th North Carolina Senior Amateur Championship at Holly Ridge Golf Links in Archdale, N.C. Fuller shot rounds of 71-69-69 to finish at 7-under, winning by three strokes to claim his first CGA title.
In Round one, Fuller carded five birdies and finished at 1-under 71 for the day. Round one leader
Marc Cox of Greensboro, N.C., came in with a round of 4-under 68 to claim the top spot on the leaderboard after 18 holes, putting Fuller three shots back from the lead.
In Round two, Fuller improved his score from the day prior and recorded four birdies, 13 pars, and only one bogey to 69, 3-under for the day. This put Fuller at a two-day total of 4-under-par, making him co-leader with Cox, who shot an even-par in Round 2 as they headed into the Final Round the next day.
When asked what he’s done well this week to put him in a good position going into the Final Round, Fuller said “I drove it really well. I was just really solid tee to green, and was able to make a few putts.”
Regarding how he felt as a co-leader heading into the last 18 holes on Thursday, Fuller shared, “I felt good. I felt as good as I had been driving the golf ball; I thought if I just hit my irons well, I could give myself some opportunities, and I did on the front side. And then I just got comfortable - really comfortable - hitting shots.”
In Fuller’s Final Round, he started the morning strong with birdies on holes No. 2, 4, and 7 to put him at 3-under for the day early on. Through nine holes, Fuller was 7-under-par with momentum going into his final nine holes of the championship. Fuller remained at 7-under through 13 holes with a few more steady pars and held the lead by three strokes over Paul Simson of Raleigh, N.C., and Daniel Neveu of Pinehurst, N.C., who sat tied for second at 4-under. Simson won the 2023 North & South Super Senior.
“I think we’re always nervous. We all want to win. But I’m really comfortable with how I’m striking the golf ball right now, so that helped take some of the nervousness away,” Fuller explained regarding his mental game during the Final Round.
Fuller finished par, par, birdie, par to take home the win. After dropping a comfortable par putt on hole 18, he officially claimed his first CGA title.
“It feels good," Fuller said. "This is my first CGA win, so it feels great. It’s been a long time coming; I thought I should’ve already had one, but I’m very proud to be the champion here for sure.”
Neveu finished in second place by himself at 4-under for the week. Tied in third place are Simson, Tee Burton of Shelby, N.C., and Jonathan Sielsky of Huntersville, N.C., with a three-day total of 3-under.
View results for North Carolina Senior Amateur
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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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