Preview: 58th Carolinas Senior Amateur Championship

SOUTHERN PINES, N.C. (September 26, 2019) -- The Carolinas Golf Association will conduct the 58th Carolinas Senior Amateur Championship at Mimosa Hills Golf & Country Club in Morganton, N.C. from September 30-October 2, 2019.

Related: Championship Web Site | Starting Times | Scoring | History

The Carolinas Senior Amateur Championship returns to Mimosa Hill Golf & Country Club for the first time in 40 years. Carolinas legend and hometown hero, Billy Joe Patton of Morganton, N.C. won the 1979 Carolinas Senior Amateur shooting 139 at Mimosa Hills. Patton went on to win the Championship two years later at Sea Gull Golf Club in Pawleys Island, S.C. The ’79 and ‘81 Carolinas Senior Amateur wins account for two of Patton’s nine CGA championship titles.

Last year’s champion, Todd Hendley of Columbus, N.C. is back in the field to defend his title. He’ll face off one of the strongest fields in the Championship’s history in his effort to claim back-to-back wins.

Last year’s runner-up, Paul Simson of Raleigh, N.C. is having another banner year with two CGA titles already under his belt. Simson also made it to the Round of 32 in this year’s U.S. Senior Amateur Championship where he faced off against fellow Carolinian, Steve Harwell of Mooresville, N.C.; Also in this year’s Carolinas Senior field. Harwell has a few wins of his own in 2019 including the North Carolina Senior Amateur, the National Senior Hall of Fame and the Coleman Senior Invitational. Simson and Harwell are ranked No. 1 and 2 respectively in the Carolinas Senior Men’s Rankings, therefore, this event could play a major role in determining our senior men’s player of the year.

Sitting in third place in the Carolinas Senior Men’s Rankings is Walter Todd Sr., of Laurens, S.C., who like Harwell, made it to the Quarterfinals of the U.S. Senior Amateur before being eliminated by the eventual champion. Todd finished in third place in this event last year and is hoping to claim what would be his fifth CGA championship title this week.

Two-time Carolinas Senior Amateur champion, Preston Edmonson of Morrisville, N.C., won the 2016 N.C. Senior Four-Ball Championship with partner Ed Byman of Raleigh, N.C. at Mimosa Hills. A victory this week would be his third win in the event in only four years.

 

Past Champions and Runners-Up in this Year’s Field

Carolinas Senior Amateur Champions (6): Paul Simson (2007, 2008), Russ Perry (2010), Jim Grainger (2014), Pat Thompson (2015), Preston Edmondson (2016, 2017), Todd Hendley (2018)

Carolinas Senior Amateur Runners-Up (4): Logan Jackson (2011), Jim Grainger (2012), Pat Thompson (2013, 2016), Paul Simson (2018)

The Carolinas Senior Amateur Championship is conducted at 54 holes of stroke play competition. After 36 holes, the field is cut to the low 60 scores and ties for the final round. An on-course play-off is used to break a tie for the championship. The top 30 scores will receive merchandise and are exempt into the 2020 Carolinas Senior Championship.

Entry is open to any male amateur golfer who has reached his 55th birthday by September 30, 2019, maintains a residence in North Carolina or South Carolina, is a member in good standing of a club which is a member of the Carolinas Golf Association (CGA) and has an active GHIN® USGA Handicap Index® at a CGA member club that does not exceed 10.4.

Schedule of Rounds:
Monday, September 30
Round 1 – 18 Holes of Stroke Play
Tee times begin at 8:00am/12:30 pm off #1 and #10 tees

Tuesday, October 1
Round 2 – 18 Holes of Stroke Play
Tee times begin at 8:00am/12:30 pm off #1 and #10 tees
Cut to low 60 scores and ties. Field re-paired according to score.

Wednesday, October 2
Round 3 – 18 Holes of Stroke Play
Tee times begin at 8:00am off #1 and #10 tees.
Awards ceremony immediately following play at scoreboard.