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