Holly Springs, NC  (June 9, 2011)  -  Two Senior Amateur Tour veterans posted their lowest Tour scores of the past 3 years in securing wins in the Senior Amateur Golf Tour event held today at The Club at 12 Oaks.  Most of the field experienced difficulty with the challenging layout of the Jack Nicklaus designed course, but Durham's Jerry Widdowson and Raleigh's John Hall were undaunted in their efforts to secure a victory.  As it turned out, both needed every good shot they hit, each winning by 1 stroke margins.

Playing in the B Flight, Widdowson fashioned a 77, one better than fellow Durham resident Edward Burton.  Meanwhile in C Flight action, Hall's 84 edged Darrell Hagwood, also from Raleigh, who posted an 85.  The C Flight was also the most hotly contested bracket as the first 4 players were separated by a mere 3 strokes.

James McMillan continued his brilliant play of late with a playoff victory over Pinehurst's Steve Smith in the A Flight after both shot regulation 77s.  Starting at the 10th hole in the sudden-death affair, both players registered pars, but McMillan was able to snatch the top prize with a birdie on the 173 yard, par 3, 11th hole.  The win was nothing new for McMillan, who had captured 1st place points four times earlier this season.

77 seemed to be the magic number today as that was also the winning score for Pinehurst's Chuck Taubersmith in the Championship Flight (although the Champ Flight played from about 600 yards farther back than the other 3 flights).  Tour rookie Jose Vigil of Raeford was 3 strokes back in 2nd place.

"Jerry Widdowson has been a Tour member for a number of years and has played a pretty full schedule each season", said Tour Director Bruce Hallenbeck.  "John Hall is a 12-year veteran.  It's great to see these guys still successful and winning on-Tour".

The next Senior Amateur Tour event will be held June 16 at Little River Farms in the Pinehurst area.  Openings are still available for that event for any amateur golfer over 50.  For information on playing in any Senior Tour event, contact Hallenbeck at 336-495-6556, or email him at behgolf@aol.com.

THE SENIOR AMATEUR GOLF TOUR

THE CLUB AT 12 OAKS EVENT

TOP FIVE SCORES BY FLIGHT

CHAMPIONSHIP  (6,571 yards)

Chuck Taubersmith, Pinehurst  77

Jose Vigil, Raeford  80

Johnny Adams, Cary  81

Foster Price, Raleigh  84

Doug Michal, Raleigh  84

A  FLIGHT  (5,987 yards)

James McMillan, Laurinburg  77

Steve Smith, Pinehurst  77

Dale Casy, Zebulon  78

Jon Blossom, Fayetteville  79

Gene Greenawalt, Carthage  79

B  FLIGHT  (5,987 yards)

Jerry Widdowson, Durham  77

Edward Burton, Durham  78

Gus Alford, Zebulon  80

Grady Strickland, Chapel Hill  80

Tom West, Holly Springs  80

Dexter Barbee, Burlington  80

C  FLIGHT  (5,987 ayrds)

John Hall, Raleigh  84

Darrell Hagwood, Raleigh  85

Jimmy Dollar, Franklinton  86

Bill Wilkinson, Rolesville  87

Richard Glick, Raleigh  89

Brad Becken, Chapel Hill  89

Mayor Sindo, Charlotte  89

Dan Harness, Raleigh  89