Winston-Salem, NC (April 7, 2011) - Summerfield's Steve Lambert fired a front-side 31 in the Senior Amateur Golf Tour event held at the Meadowlands Golf Club today. Although Lambert competes in the Championship Flight, ordinarily a score that low on the outward nine would have a player thinking he could cruise to an easy victory. Greensboro's Randy Coppedge had other ideas however. Coppedge had a strong front-side with a 35 and was a model of consistency posting the same score on the back. Lambert's 38 on the back proved to be just enough to hold off the hard-charging Coppedge by one shot - 69 to 70.
The A Flight and B Flight also saw great scoring from their winners. Gene Jones fired a 2-under 70 to beat Pinehurst's Steve Smith by 2 strokes in A Flight competition. The 70 Jones posted was more than 11 strokes better than his Tour scoring average this season. Jones, who entered today's event with an 8.6 Tour Handicap, stated "I’ve never shot under par in my life. I'm going to buy a lottery ticket, 'cause everything went right today".
Tom Whatley of Durham, with a 12.7 Tour index, was almost as impressive in the B Flight as Jones was in the A Flight. Whatley bettered his scoring average by more than 9 shots. It was the first win of the season for both players. "I putted really well today and the driver was working", said Whatley. "I only took 29 putts and that's really good for me". Raleigh's Doug Shank took second with an 80.
The low scoring continued in the C Flight as well as 17-handicapper Len Bullock was 8 strokes lower than his Tour scoring average with an 81 - two strokes better than Pinehurst's John Henely. Bullock's round was highlighted by a 40 foot downhill twister for a birdie on the 340 yard, par 4, 5th hole.
"The pros started their first Major Event of the season today at The Masters, well, we have our first one going next week at Pinewood CC in Asheboro", stated Tour Director Bruce Hallenbeck. "Look's like our guys are getting their games ready for the big one".
Any golfer over 50 interested in playing in a Senior Amateur Tour event can call Hallenbeck at 336-495-6556, or email him at behgolf@aol.com.
THE SENIOR AMATEUR GOLF TOUR
MEADOWLANDS GOLF CLUB EVENT
TOP FIVE SCORES BY FLIGHT
CHAMPIONSHIP (6,116 yards)
Steve Lambert, Summerfield 69
Randy Coppedge, Greensboro 70
John Franklin, Danville, VA 71
David Coolidge, Winston-Salem 76
Tim Hunter, Pinehurst 76
Mike Smith, Lewisville 76
A FLIGHT (6,116 yards)
Gene Jones, Thomasville 70
Steve Smith, Pinehurst 72
Sonny Rose, Rockingham 74
Marshall Wolfe, Clemmons 75
Mark Robinson, Winston-Salem 76
B FLIGHT (6,116 yards)
Tom Whatley, Durham 76
Doug Shank, Raleigh 80
John Doster, Winston-Salem 81
James Dockery, Southern Pines 84
Tal Brown, Bermuda Run 84
Dean Venable, Reidsville 84
C FLIGHT (6,116)
Len Bullock, Greensboro 81
John Henely, Pinehurst 83
Jerry Tilley, Pfafftown 84
TJ Warren, Greensboro 86
Brian Costine, Durham 89
John Hall, Raleigh 89
Jim Pritchett, Winston-Salem 89
Barry Whitesell, Greensboro 89