Southern Pines - (February 26, 2011) - Pinehurst's Rick Luzar emerged as the "top dog" in the Championship Flight competition of the Golfweek and Senior Amateur Golf Tours event held at Mid Pines today. This event is one of only two events all season that brings together players from both the Golfweek and Senior Tours. Playing from the same tees as the younger set, Luzar fashioned a 1-over 73 to edge Golfweek Tour newcomer Lance Jordan by 3 strokes.
Luzar's round was highlighted by an eagle on the 481 yard, 15th hole. "On the back side it seemed like I either birdied or bogeyed just about every hole", stated Luzar. "He reached the par-5 in two", said playing partner Ken Eichele, "but the young guys behind us were hitting 8-irons into that hole".
The largest flight of the day was the A Flight with 41 participants out of a total field of 123 Tour members. Golfweek Tour newcomer Ed Gregory of Cary, playing in his very first Tour event, used some of that "young-gun" power to take the top spot with a 75. Greensboro's Robin Gomez, playing in his second year on-Tour was only one back with a 76.
Improving his score by 14 strokes over his last Tour start, Joe Prairie of Asheboro once again proved that the Senior Tour is not one to be taken lightly, as his 79 was 2 stokes clear of Golfweek Tour rookie Roger Sullivan of Castalia and Fuquay-Varina's Tom Handy in B Flight competition. Prairie's 1-over 37 on the back nine was the key to his win.
The C Flight saw the young guys come out on top with the greatest margin of victory in any flight as Pinehurst's Ben Martin enjoyed a 6-stroke edge over his closest competitor with an 81. Jack Frazier of Clemmons took second.
Saturday was a good day for the Martin family, as Ben's son Tyler took first place in the D Flight competition with a 98. He finished a single stroke ahead of Raleigh's Bob Robinson who made it two runner-up finishes in a row, having placed second two weeks ago at The Legacy Golf Links.
"123 players is a nice way to start the season" said Tour Director Bruce Hallenbeck. "We're adding new members every week and 2011 looks like it's going to be a real successful year".
Any amateur golfer interested in either the Golfweek or Senior Amateur Tours, which will start individual schedules next week, can contact Hallenbeck at 336-495-6556, or by email at behgolf@aol.com.
THE GOLFWEEK AND SENIOR AMATEUR TOUR
MID PINES EVENT
TOP FIVE SCORES BY FLIGHT
CHAMPIONSHIP
Rick Luzar, Pinehurst 73
Lance Jordan, Pinehurst 76
Ken Eichele, Pinehurst 77
Gene Queen, Winston-Salem 77
Doug Masters, Clemmons 78
Gary Strickfaden, Southern Pines 78
Kevin Miller, Clayton 78
A FLIGHT
Ed Gregory, Cary 75
Robin Gomez, Greensboro 76
Bobby Elder, Randleman 77
Bob Rudolph, Raleigh 77
William Gwinn, Raleigh 79
Tom Fagerli, Yadkinville 79
Jeff Hughes, Charlotte 79
B FLIGHT
Joe Prairie, Asheboro 79
Roger Sullivan, Castalia 81
Tom Handy, Fuquay-Varina 81
Don Pate, St Paul 82
Edward Burton, Durham 83
Daren Green, Durham 83
C FLIGHT
Ben Martin, Pinehurst 81
Jack Frazier, Clemmons 87
Dale Rucker, Rockingham 88
Johnny Brooks, Youngsville 89
Steven Bell, Raleigh 89
D FLIGHT
Tyler Martin, Pinehurst 98
Bob Robinson, Raleigh 99
Prince Dozier, Raleigh 103
Amar Dass, Durham 107
Tony Cashatt, Toast 112