Old North State Senior Open: Pat Thompson low am
03 Apr 2012
see also: Pat Thompson Rankings
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Pat Thompson
NEW LONDON, S.C. (April, 3, 2012) -- No more snow showers or temperatures in the low 40s during the early spring Old North State CPGA Senior Open held at Old North State Club in New London, NC. This year, the course was completely green and in perfect shape for Rick Lewallen, PGA of Kannapolis, NC to win the Overall Championship with a pair of 69s for a total 138.
Tuesday's final round featured an epic battle between two seasoned veterans, Rick Lewallen and Rick Morton, PGA of Jacksonville, NC. In the first round, Morton had 6 birdies and an eagle on the par-5 1st hole on his way to a 67. He then began Tuesday's round with birdies on 3 of the first 6 holes, but faltered late and finished with a 67-73=140. Lewallen stayed steady throughout the tournament and even got up and down for par after hitting his tee shot in the water hazard on the 18th hole to win the tournament by two strokes. The Overall PGA Professional division had a few regulars at the top of the leaderboard, including Robert Linville, PGA of Greensboro, NC and David Thore, PGA of Wilmington, NC.
The Overall Amateur contest had an interesting turn of events as Pat Thompson of Asheville, NC came from behind to win by one stroke over David Eaker of Forest City, NC. After the first round, Eaker led the amateurs and was tied for the Overall Championship with a bogey-free 67. Eaker struggled during round 2, however, carding no birdies and 4 bogeys for a 67-76=143. Thompson, on the other hand, turned around his first-round 74 with a 68 in Tuesday's round, finishing at 142. Eaker's 143 was good enough to give him second place alone. Close behind in third place was Ron Carpenter of Creedmoor, NC with a 73-71=144. The Overall Amateur contest had 57 competitors finish play on Tuesday.
Also getting in on the low-score action to win the Super Senior division was Larry Boswell of Jamestown, NC. During his opening-round 67, Boswell had 6 birdies and a bogey on quite possibly the best finishing hole in North Carolina, the par-5 18th. This gave him a 7-shot lead going into Tuesday's round, where he took the Overall Super Senior contest with a 71 and total 138, 5 shots better than the field. 2nd place in the Overall Super Senior went to Jim Pridgen of Jamestown, NC with a 74-69=143.