C FLIGHTER POPS ACE IN SENIOR AMATEUR TOUR EVENT
Holly Springs, NC - (March 21, 2013) Raleigh's Dan Harness made it worthwhile to come out on a chilly, windy day to compete in The Senior Amateur Golf Tour Devils Ridge Country Club event today with just one swing of his club. Playing the 130 yard, par 3, 8th hole Harness arched a shot toward the right side of the green. As soon as it hit the bank on the green and started moving toward the hole, playing partner Marty Carpenter of Southern Pines said "That's probably going to win the closest-to-the-pin (prize)". It not only succeeded in winning that prize, but also dropped smoothly into the cup for Harness' 2nd career hole-in-one, and his 1st on the Senior Amateur Tour.
"That shot was the one bright spot of the whole day for me" quipped Harness afterward. "It was a tough day otherwise". Harness was somewhat modest, as his 95 under tough conditions did wind up in the upper 50% of the 30 man C Flight.
Another milestone was reached in the A Flight as Joe Cox of Apex assured himself of a Tour win in three consecutive seasons with an 81 for the victory. Cox edged Fuquay-Varina's Mark McKenna and Zebulon's Dale Casey by a single stroke.
Smithfield's Randy Robbins made it 2 wins in-a-row in the B Flight. After notching a win at last week's Foxfire Country Club event, Robbins' 79 was the only score under 80 in the flight. David Niehaus of Whispering Pines was 2 shots back with an 81.
Playing from the Blue tees in the Championship Flight, Raleigh's Mark Craige turned in the lowest number of the day with a 75. Johnny Adams of Cary was second with a 77. "In the cold and wind that was one heckuva score from those tees", stated Tour Director Bruce Hallenbeck.
What surely would have been the lead story in the C Flight if not for Harness' "ace" was Jim Tesch's winning score of 83. He was 4 strokes clear of his nearest competitor, High Point's Richard Hartley, and one of only 3 guys to break 90 in the Flight (Southern Pines' Marty Carpenter being the other).
Next week brings the season's 1st Major event for the 2013 season at Brier Creek Country Club. That event offers double points for all finishes, and an automatic invitation to the year-ending National Championship event held in Pinehurst in November for all 4 flight winners. Any amateur golfer over 50 is welcome to join the Tour and compete next week and all season long "on-Tour". If interested, call Hallenbeck at 336-495-6556 or email him at behgolf@aol.com.
THE SENIOR AMATEUR GOLF TOUR
DEVILS RIDGE COUNTRY CLUB EVENT
TOP FIVE SCORES BY FLIGHT
CHAMPIONSHIP (6430 yds)
Mark Craige, Raleigh 75
Johnny Adams, Cary 77
Ron Hockensmith, Pinehurst 78
Trip Barclift, Raleigh 81
Rick LaFata, Raleigh 83
Doug Michal, Raleigh 83
A FLIGHT (6005 yds)
Joe Cox, Apex 81
Mark McKenna, Fuquay-Varina 82
Dale Casey, Zebulon 82
Robert Hubbard, Raleigh 83
Steve Smith, Pinehurst 83
Jim Alford, Zebulon 83
Randy Bunn, Zebulon 83
B FLIGHT (6005 yds)
Randy Robbins, Smithfield 79
David Niehaus, Whispering Pines 81
Gus Alford, Zebulon 82
Benny Miller, Raleigh 82
Neil Bleau, Durham 83
Jerry Widdowson, Durham 83
C FLIGHT (6005 yds)
Jim Tesch, Raleigh 83
Richard Hartley, High Point 87
Marty Carpenter, Southern Pines 89
Dick Schuler, Pittsboro 90
Dennis Bryant, Sophia 90